What is Judo?

Judo means “the gentle way” in Japanese. Of course, it is derived in part from jujitsu, the hand-to-hand combat technique of ancient samurai warriors, and everything is relative. While throwing opponents to the floor wins most matches, it is the only Olympic sport where submission holds allow choking an opponent or breaking an arm.

Developed by Dr Jigoro Kano in the 1880s, the sport broke into the Olympic Games in 1964 at Tokyo. The host country could add one sport, and Japan chose judo. Four weight classes were established, and Japanese entries promptly won three.

However, in the fourth, the open class, a 1.98-metre Dutchman named Anton Geesink defeated three-time Japanese national champion Kaminaga Akio before 15,000 people at Nippon Budokan Hall. And then he beat him again. It followed victories earlier in the year over other top Japanese opponents, deeply bruising the theory that a skilled judoka could defeat any opponent of any size.

Judo is loved by all generations.
You can see people of all ages from six to over eighty years, and people of all professions, nationalities and sexes enjoying Judo at the Kodokan.

They all have their own purposes.
Some of them want to be strong, some want to be healthy, some want to strengthen their mind, some want to appreciate the pleasant feeling after perspiring, some want to be able to defend themselves, some want to become instructors of Judo, and some are already devoted to training others.

Why is Judo attracting people of all ages and people with so many different  purposes?
Prof. Kano created Judo from Jujutsu as the means to learn the great principle of humanity, not only to learn Waza.He named the training institution “Kodokan”.
The word “Kodo” means to learn, prove and practice the principle.
The fact that Prof. Kano named Judo “Kodokan Judo” shows us how he made much of the principle and made it a principal objective of life to learn.Prof. Kano himself said that the purpose of Judo is to strengthen body by practicing attack and defense, to complete the personality by training the mind, and finally to devote oneself to society.The principle and ideal of Judo :
“Maximum-efficiency” and “Mutual welfare and benefit.”

The Principles of Waza
Waza is based on the fundamental principle of Judo, that is, “Maximum Efficient Use of Mind and Body”.The theories of Tsukuri and Kake are expressing the principle from Waza’s viewpoint. Tsukuri is made up of Kuzushi which means to destroy your opponent’s posture or balance, and “holding yourself ready” to make your attack easier.To actually apply your contemplated technique, when his posture has already been broken by Tsukuri, is called Kake. Tsukuri and Kake can also be called technical principles of Judo. While you are practicing Tsukuri and Kake, both depend upon the fundamental principle of “Mutual welfare and benefit” and “Maximum efficiency,” you can understand and master the principle which can be applied to all phases of human life.You proceed from Waza to Way by practicing Judo.

Kata and Randori
There are two principal ways of practicing Judo : Kata and Randori.Kata, which literally means “form,” is practiced following a formal system of prearranged exercise, while Randori, meaning “free exercise” is practiced freely.Kata of Judo is the best way of defense and attack in various cases, being theoretically systematized