What is Judo?
Judo, which means "gentle way" in Japanese, is a martial art created in Japan by Jigoro Kano in 1882 and derived from the ancient techniques of jiu-jitsu. It is the most widely practiced martial art in the world, and the second-most practiced sport worldwide behind soccer. Judo was introduced as an Olympic sport at the Tokyo 1964 games and is now practiced by people of all ages, genders and abilities worldwide.
Jigoro Kano’s explanation is that “Judo is the way to the most effective use of both physical and spiritual strength. By training you in attacks and defences it refines your body and your soul and helps you make the spiritual essence of Judo a part of your very being. In this way you can perfect yourself and contribute something of value to the world. This is the final goal of Judo discipline”.