Judo History

Dr. Jigoro Kano

Judo was founded in 1882, in Japan, by Professor Jigoro Kano. He envisioned Judo as a way of becoming physically fit through disciplined training. Judo was composed of a combination of techniques from various martial arts that Professor Kano had mastered. Judo was designed so that it could be practiced by males and females of all ages. In addition to being a martial art, judo evolved into an international sport.

Quick Facts

Men’s Judo has been in the Olympics since 1964. Women’s Judo was a demonstration sport in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and has been a full medal sport since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Judo is the most widely practiced martial art on the planet. Judo is the second most practiced sport worldwide (Soccer is number one). According to the American College of Sports Medicine, Judo is the safest contact sport for children under the age of 13.

Judo Competitions

Players attempt to throw an opponent mostly onto his or her back with control, skill, and force, in order to score a full point, or “Ippon”. This is equivalent to a pin in wrestling or to a knockout in boxing.

“Ippon” can also be scored by holding an opponent down, with control, for 25 seconds. Partial points are also awarded if throws do not have enough force, speed, or control, or if opponents escape from a hold down in less than 25 seconds. In adult competition, an Ippon can also be scored by applying choke-holds or elbow joint locks until the opponent submits.

If a full point has not been scored by the end of the time limit, the player with the most partial points wins; if tied, they go into golden score and then if tied the referee(1) and judges(2) decide who is the winner.