Judo (literally: "gentle way") is a Japanese martial art developed and founded by Dr. Jigoro Kano in 1882. Japanese Judo is very similar to Chinese Shuai Jiao, and its practitioners are called judoka. Judo is an Olympic event and one of the four most popular forms of wrestling, recognized by FILA (International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles).
Details
Judo was founded by Kano Jigoro (1860–1938). He came from a wealthy family and studied at Tokyo Imperial University. When Kano was young, he was a very frail boy who was often bullied. He began training in jujitsu, which was very popular in Japan at that time.
At the age of 18, Kano started studying literature at Imperial University while also training under Hachinosuke Fukuda. Only one year after joining Fukuda’s school, his teacher died, so he moved to Tsunetoshi Iikubo’s school, where he soon earned a master title and became an assistant instructor.
By the age of 21, Kano was already developing his own style, selecting jujitsu techniques (especially throws), improving them, and making them more scientific. At 22, he took nine of his students and taught them his modified techniques and improved throws in a temple called Eishoji Temple. Later, his former instructor, Tsunetoshi Iikubo, also came to the temple to help Kano teach his new style. This eventually became known as the Kodokan (“Place for Learning the Way” or Judo Training Hall).
Judo spread quickly and reached America and Europe by the end of World War II.
In 1956, the first international judo competition was held in Tokyo, Japan, with 31 athletes from 21 countries participating.
In 1964, judo became an Olympic event in the men’s division. Kano, the founder of judo, was a member of the Olympic Committee for over 30 years.
In 1992, judo became an Olympic event in the women’s division.
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