What is a great guide to Judo?

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Judo is a modern Japanese martial art. The name judo means “gentle way.” While some martial arts focus on punching and kicking an opponent, judo focuses more on throwing and then subduing an opponent. The only time strikes and thrusts can be used in judo is during a kata, a routine of choreographed movements. Katas may be done as exhibits during tournaments, but strikes and thrusts cannot be used in competition or practice.

• Judo
• Judo for Blind Athletes
• Official Olympic Judo Page 

The founder of judo was Jigoro Kano in 1882. Kano was a student of Fukuda Hachinosuke for only a year, switching to the school of Iso Masatomo after Hacinosuke’s death. There Kano became a master instructor, but soon left to study under Iikubo Tsunetoshi. The styles of his teachers varied, so Kano learned technique, kata, and throwing. He soon began creating his own techniques based upon his education. Having briefly studied jujitsu, he sought to reform the dying form with his own new techniques and principles.  

With just nine students, he began teaching at a Buddhist temple. He originally called his new martial art Kano Jiu-Jitsu and Kano Jiu-Do. It later became known as Kodokan Jiu-Do, which was simplified to Jiu-Do and then was shortened to simply judo. 

• Biography of Jigoro Kano
• Jigoro Kano – The Contribution of Judo to Education
• Photos of Jigoro Kano

Someone who practices judo is known as a judoka and the instructor is known as the sensei. Both student and instructor wear a uniform known as a judogi or simply gi. Because much of judo consists of throwing and grappling, the gi jacket is made of a heavy material. The jacket is open, so it is fastened with a belt, which usually signifies the person’s rank. The belt colors begin with white, then the student progresses to yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and black, with black having several levels of rank. The pants of the gi are tied with a string and usually fall above the ankle to allow for ease of movement.

• Belts and Promotions
• How to Wear the Gi
• Size Requirement of the Gi

The throws of judo may fall into the standing techniques or the sacrifice techniques. The standing techniques are divided into three sections: hand, hip, and foot and leg techniques. The sacrifice techniques include falling directly backwards and to the side. There are also ground fighting techniques. This includes attacks against the joints (sometimes known as joint locks) as well as chokeholds, strangleholds, and pinning the opponent.

• Virtual Culture - Judo
• Judo Techniques
• Judo Study Guide 

During sparring, the two opponents usually attack each other with a grappling technique or try to throw one another. The objective is to throw the opponent on his or her back, pin an opponent to the ground, or force her or him to give up. In the case of a chokehold or a joint lock, an opponent can submit by tapping out. That is, when the opponent feels he or she can no longer stand the hold, he or she taps the opponent and the match is over. For safety, chokeholds can only be used by opponents 13 years or older and arm locks can only be used by opponents 16 years or older. Points are awarded for different techniques used to determine the winner if an opponent does not submit.

Judo is a great way to learn speed and agility as well as train both the body and the mind. Students learn how to fall without injuring themselves and how to use balance and timing to overcome an opponent. Judo is taught to many military and police personnel as a form of personal defense.

• Kodokan Judo Institute
• Judo Terminology
• 2008 Judo Hall of Fame Inductees
• Learning the Modern Dynamics of Judo

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