Professor Jigoro Kano — Founder of Judo, 1882

From a Tokyo Dojo
to the World Stage

Judo was created in 1882 by Professor Jigoro Kano, a Japanese educator and martial artist who wanted to develop a form of physical and mental training that anyone could practise safely. Drawing from the ancient Japanese art of jiu-jitsu, Kano refined the most effective throwing, grappling, and control techniques — and crucially, removed the most dangerous strikes — to create a system built on skill, balance, and intelligent movement rather than brute strength.

He named it Judo — meaning “the gentle way” — and founded the Kodokan Institute in Tokyo as its home. Within decades, judo had spread across the world.

In 1964, it became an Olympic sport at the Tokyo Games, and today it is practised by millions of people in over 200 countries, making it one of the most widely practised martial arts on the planet.

What Is Judo Today?

At its heart, judo is a dynamic combat sport and martial art in which two players — known as tori (the attacker) and uke (the receiver) — use grip, balance, timing, and technique to throw, pin, or submit each other.

There are no punches or kicks. Instead, judo rewards intelligence, precision, and physical awareness. A well-executed throw — one that sends the opponent cleanly onto their back — scores ippon, the highest possible score, and wins the contest outright.

Ne-waza — judo’s groundwork techniques in action

Tachi-waza

Standing Techniques

A rich library of throwing techniques using the arms, hips, legs, and feet to unbalance and project the opponent to the ground. Throws such as o-soto-gari, seoi-nage, and uchi-mata are among the most spectacular movements in all of sport.

Ne-waza

Groundwork

Once on the mat, judo continues. Players use pins (osaekomi-waza), chokes (shime-waza), and joint locks (kansetsu-waza) to control and submit their opponent.

Kata

Formal Practice

Pre-arranged sequences of techniques practised with a partner, used to develop precision, understanding, and the deeper principles of the art.

Seiryoku-Zenyo

Maximum Efficiency, Minimum Effort

Use skill and intelligence, not force, to achieve your goal. This principle teaches judoka to work smarter, not harder — a lesson that applies in every area of life.

Jita-Kyoei

Mutual Welfare and Benefit

Train to improve yourself, and in doing so, help those around you improve too. Judo is a community — every session makes both partners better.

Who Is Judo For?

Judo is for everyone. It is one of the few martial arts that can be safely and meaningfully practised from the age of five to well into adulthood. Because technique always overcomes strength, smaller and lighter players can — and regularly do — defeat larger opponents.

Judo is practised competitively at every level from local club tournaments to the Olympic Games, and recreationally by people who simply want a challenging, rewarding, and sociable way to stay fit and sharp.