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Jigoro Kano and Kyuzo Mifune (restoration).jpg
Kyuzo Mifune (left) and Jigoro Kano (right)
HardnessFull Contact
Country of originJapan Japan
CreatorJigoro Kano
Famous practitionersTsunejiro Tomita, Theodore Roosevelt, Shiro Saigo, Mitsuo Maeda, Kyuzo Mifune, Keiko Fukuda, Masahiko Kimura, Gene LeBell, Gokor Chivichyan, Fedor Emelianenko, Anton Geesink, Yasuhiro Yamashita, Erik Paulson, Neil Adams, Hidehiko Yoshida, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Dong Hyun Kim, David Douillet, Kosei Inoue, Teddy Riner, AnnMaria De Mars, Jimmy Pedro, Vladimir Putin, Ronda Rousey, Donnie Yen, Anderson Silva, Gegard Mousasi, Bas Rutten, Norman Parke, Kayla Harrison
ParenthoodVarious koryū Jujutsu schools, principally Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū and Kito-ryū
Descendant artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu, Kosen judo, Sambo, Nippon Kempo
Official websiteInternational Judo Federation (IJF)
The Kodokan
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Jigoro Kano and Kyuzo Mifune (restoration).jpg
Kyuzo Mifune (left) and Jigoro Kano (right)
HardnessFull Contact
Country of originJapan Japan
CreatorJigoro Kano
Official websiteInternational Judo Federation (IJF)
The Kodokan



History and philosophy[edit]

Early life of the founder[edit]

Jigoro Kano

The early history of judo is inseparable from its founder, Japanese polymath and educator Jigoro Kano (嘉納 治五郎 Kanō Jigorō?, 1860–1938), born Shinnosuke Kano (嘉納 新之助 Kanō Shinnosuke?). Kano was born into a relatively affluent family. His father, Jirosaku, was the second son of the head priest of the Shinto Hiyoshi shrine in Shiga Prefecture. He married Sadako Kano, daughter of the owner of Kiku-Masamune sake brewing company and was adopted by the family, changing his name to Kano, and ultimately became an official in the Bakufu government.[3]

Jigoro Kano had an academic upbringing and, from the age of seven, he studied English, Japanese calligraphy (書道 shodō?) and the Four Confucian Texts (四書 Shisho?) under a number of tutors.[4] When he was fourteen, Kano began boarding at an English-medium school, Ikuei-Gijuku in Shiba, Tokyo. The culture of bullying endemic at this school was the catalyst that caused Kano to seek out a Jujutsu (柔術 Jūjutsu?) dojo (道場 dōjō?, training place) at which to train.[4]


In 1877, as a student at the Tokyo-Kaisei school (soon to become part of the newly founded Tokyo Imperial University), Kano learned that many jujutsu teachers had been forced to pursue alternative careers, frequently opening Seikotsu-in (整骨院?, traditional osteopathy practices).[6] After inquiring at a number of these, Kano was referred to Fukuda Hachinosuke (c.1828–1880),[7] a teacher of the Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū (天神真楊流?) of jujutsu, who had a small nine mat dojo where he taught five students.[8] Fukuda is said to have emphasized technique over formal exercise, sowing the seeds of Kano's emphasis on randori (乱取り randori?, free practice) in judo.

On Fukuda's death in 1880, Kano, who had become his keenest and most able student in both randori and kata ( kata?, pre-arranged forms), was given the densho (伝書?, scrolls) of the Fukuda dojo.[9] Kano chose to continue his studies at another Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū school, that of Iso Masatomo (c.1820–1881). Iso placed more emphasis on the practice of kata, and entrusted randori instruction to assistants, increasingly to Kano.[10] Iso died in June 1881 and Kano went on to study at the dojo of Iikubo Tsunetoshi (1835–1889) of Kitō-ryū (起倒流?).[11] Like Fukuda, Iikubo placed much emphasis on randori, with Kitō-ryū having a greater focus on nage-waza (投げ技?, throwing techniques).[12]

Founding of the Kodokan[edit]

Eisho-ji temple, Tokyo.

In February 1882, Kano founded a school and dojo at the Eisho-ji (永昌寺?), a Buddhist temple in what was then the Shitaya ward of Tokyo (now the Higashi Ueno district of Taitō ward).[13] Iikubo, Kano's Kitō-ryū instructor, attended the dojo three days a week to help teach and, although two years would pass before the temple would be called by the name Kodokan (講道館 Kōdōkan?, "place for expounding the way"), and Kano had not yet received his Menkyo (免許?, certificate of mastery) in Kitō-ryū, this is now regarded as the Kodokan founding.

The Eisho-ji dojo was a relatively small affair, consisting of a twelve mat training area. Kano took in resident and non-resident students, the first two being Tsunejiro Tomita and Shiro Saigo.[14] In August, the following year, the pair were granted shodan (初段?, first rank) grades, the first that had been awarded in any martial art.[15]

Judo versus Jujutsu[edit]

"Judo" (柔道 jūdō?), written in Kanji.

Central to Kano's vision for judo were the principles of seiryoku zen'yō (精力善用?, maximum efficiency, minimum effort) and jita kyōei (自他共栄?, mutual welfare and benefit). He illustrated the application of seiryoku zen'yō with the concept of jū yoku gō o seisu (柔よく剛を制す?, softness controls hardness):


Kano realised that seiryoku zen'yō, initially conceived as a Jujutsu concept, had a wider philosophical application. Coupled with the Confucianist-influenced jita kyōei, the wider application shaped the development of judo from a martial art (武術 bujutsu?) to a martial way (武道 budō?). Kano rejected techniques that did not conform to these principles and emphasised the importance of efficiency in the execution of techniques. He was convinced that practice of Jujutsu while conforming to these ideals was a route to self-improvement and the betterment of society in general.[17] He was, however, acutely conscious of the Japanese public's negative perception of Jujutsu:


Kano believed that "Jūjutsu" was insufficient to describe his art: although Jutsu (?) means "art" or "means", it implies a method consisting of a collection of physical techniques. Accordingly, he changed the second character to (?), meaning way, road or path, which implies a more philosophical context than jutsu and has a common origin with the Chinese concept of tao. Thus Kano renamed it judo (柔道 Jūdō?).[19]

Judo waza (techniques)[edit]

There are three basic categories of waza (?, techniques) in judo: nage-waza (投げ技?, throwing techniques), katame-waza (固技?, grappling techniques) and atemi-waza (当て身技?, striking techniques).[20] Judo is most known for nage-waza and katame-waza.[21]

Judo practitioners typically devote a portion of each practice session to ukemi (受け身?, break-falls), in order that nage-waza can be practiced without significant risk of injury. Several distinct types of ukemi exist, including ushiro ukemi (後ろ受身?, rear breakfalls); yoko ukemi (横受け身?, side breakfalls); mae ukemi (前受け身?, front breakfalls); and zenpo kaiten ukemi (前方回転受身?, rolling breakfalls)[22]

The person who performs a Waza is known as tori (取り?, literally "taker") and the person to whom it is performed is known as uke (受け?, literally "receiver").[23]

Nage waza (throwing techniques)[edit]


Nage waza are typically drilled by the use of uchi komi (内込?), repeated turning-in, taking the throw up to the point of kake.[26]

Traditionally, nage waza are further categorised into tachi-waza (立ち技?, standing techniques), throws that are performed with tori maintaining an upright position, and sutemi-waza (捨身技?, sacrifice techniques), throws in which tori sacrifices his upright position in order to throw uke.[27]

Tachi-waza are further subdivided into te-waza (手技?, hand techniques), in which tori predominantly uses his arms to throw uke; koshi-waza (腰技?, hip techniques) throws that predominantly use a lifting motion from the hips; and ashi-waza (足技?, foot and leg techniques), throws in which tori predominantly utilises his legs.[27]

Harai goshi (払腰?, sweeping hip), a koshi-waza
Nage-waza (投げ技?)
throwing techniques
Tachi-waza (立ち技?)
standing techniques
Te-waza (手技?)
hand techniques
Koshi-waza (腰技?)
hip techniques
Ashi-waza (足技?)
foot and leg techniques
Sutemi-waza (捨身技?)
sacrifice techniques
Ma-sutemi-waza (真捨身技?)
rear sacrifice techniques
Yoko-sutemi-waza (橫捨身技?)
side sacrifice techniques

Katame-waza (grappling techniques)[edit]

Katame-waza is further categorised into osaekomi-waza (押込技?, holding techniques), in which tori traps and pins uke on his back on the floor; shime-waza (絞技?, strangulation techniques), in which tori attempts to force a submission by choking or strangling uke; and kansetsu-waza (関節技?, joint techniques), in which tori attempts to submit uke by painful manipulation of his joints.[28]

A related concept is that of ne-waza (寝技?, prone techniques), in which waza are applied from a non-standing position.[29]

In competitive judo, Kansetsu-waza is currently limited to elbow joint manipulation.[30] Manipulation and locking of other joints can be found in various kata, such as Katame-no-kata and Kodokan goshin jutsu.[31]

Juji gatame (十字固?, cross lock), a kansetsu-waza
Katame-waza (固技?)
grappling techniques
Osaekomi-waza (押込技?)
holding or pinning techniques
Shime-waza (絞技?)
strangulation techniques
Kansetsu-waza (関節技?)
Joint techniques (locks)

Atemi-waza (striking techniques)[edit]



Randori (free practice)[edit]

Judo pedagogy emphasizes randori (乱取り?, literally "taking chaos", but meaning "free practice"). This term covers a variety of forms of practice, and the intensity at which it is carried out varies depending on intent and the level of expertise of the participants. At one extreme, is a compliant style of randori, known as Yakusoku geiko (約束稽古?, prearranged practice), in which neither participant offers resistance to their partner's attempts to throw. A related concept is that of Sute geiko (捨稽古?, throw-away practice), in which an experienced judoka allows himself to be thrown by his less-experienced partner.[33] At the opposite extreme from yakusoku geiko is the hard style of randori that seeks to emulate the style of judo seen in competition. While hard randori is the cornerstone of judo, over-emphasis of the competitive aspect is seen as undesirable by traditionalists if the intent of the randori is to "win" rather than to learn.[34]

Randori is usually limited to either tachi waza (standing techniques) or ne waza (ground work) and, when one partner is thrown in tachi waza randori, practice is resumed with both partners on their feet.[citation needed]

Kata (forms)[edit]

Jigoro Kano and Yoshiaki Yamashita performing Koshiki-no-kata
See also: Kata


There are ten kata that are recognized by the Kodokan today:[35]


Competitive judo[edit]

History of competitive judo[edit]


Contest (試合 shiai or jiai with rendaku?) is a vitally important aspect of judo. Early examples include the Kodokan Monthly Tournament (月次試合 Tsukinami jiai?) and the biannual Red and White Tournament (紅白試合 Kohaku jiai?), both of which started in 1884 and continue to the present day.[citation needed]


In 1916, additional rulings were brought in to further limit kansetsu waza with the prohibition of ashi garami and neck locks, as well as do jime.[52] These were further added to in 1925, in response to Kosen judo (高專柔道 Kōsen jūdō?), which concentrated on ne waza at the expense of tachi waza. The new rules banned all remaining joint locks except those applied to the elbow and prohibited the dragging down of an opponent to enter ne waza.[citation needed]

The All-Japan Judo Championships (全日本柔道選手権大会 Zennihon jūdō senshuken taikai?) were first held in 1930 and have been held every year, with the exception of the wartime period between 1941 and 1948, and continue to be the highest profile tournament in Japan.[citation needed]


The first time judo was seen in the Olympic Games was in an informal demonstration hosted by Kano at the 1932 Games.[53] However, Kano was ambivalent about judo's potential inclusion as an Olympic sport:



Current international contest rules[edit]

Main article: Judo rules

The traditional rules of judo are intended to provide a basis under which to test skill in judo, while avoiding significant risk of injury to the competitors. Additionally, the rules are also intended to enforce proper reigi (礼儀?, etiquette).[citation needed]


Weight divisions[edit]


Weight divisions
MenUnder 60 kg60–66 kg66–73 kg73–81 kg81–90 kg90–100 kgOver 100 kg
WomenUnder 48 kg48–52 kg52–57 kg57–63 kg63–70 kg70–78 kgOver 78 kg

Competition scoring[edit]

A throw that places the opponent on his back with impetus and control scores an ippon (一本?), winning the contest.[56] A lesser throw, where the opponent is thrown onto his back, but with insufficient force to merit an ippon, scores a waza-ari (技あり?).[56] Two scores of waza-ari equal an ippon  (技あり合わせて一本 waza-ari awasete ippon?).[56] A throw that places the opponent onto his side scores a yuko (有効?).[56] No amount of yukos equal a waza-ari, they are only considered in the event of an otherwise tied contest.[56]

Ippon is scored in ne-waza for pinning an opponent on his back with a recognised osaekomi-waza for 20 seconds or by forcing a submission through shime-waza or kansetsu-waza.[56] A submission is signalled by tapping the mat or the opponent at least twice with the hand or foot, or by saying maitta (まいった?, I surrender).[56] A pin lasting for less than 20 seconds, but more than 15 seconds scores waza-ari and one lasting less than 15 seconds but more than 10 seconds scores a yuko.[56]





Minor rules infractions are penalised with a shido (指導?, literally "guidance"). This is treated as a warning and anything up to three shidos make no contribution to the overall score. A fourth shido[citation needed] or serious rules violation yields a hansoku make (反則負け?, literally "foul-play defeat"), resulting in disqualification of the penalised competitor.


Representation of scores[edit]




In mixed martial arts[edit]

Main article: Mixed martial arts

Several judo practitioners have made an impact in mixed martial arts. Notable judo trained MMA fighters include Olympic medalists Hidehiko Yoshida (Gold, 1992), Naoya Ogawa (Silver, 1992), Pawel Nastula (Gold, 1996), Makoto Takimoto (Gold, 2000), Satoshi Ishii (Gold, 2008) and Ronda Rousey (Bronze, 2008), former Russian national judo championship Bronze medalist Fedor Emelianenko, Karo Parisyan, Antonio Silva, Rick Hawn, Hector Lombard, Yoshihiro Akiyama and Dong-Sik Yoon.



Many MMA fights are ended by submission holds most of which derive from judo. “Chokeholds are common in Jujitsu, judo and submission grappling, and most trainers discuss how fighter need to experience these techniques in order to learn how to resist them” [57]

“Judo resembles MMA's grappling aspects, particularly when both fighters are on the ground. MMA fans would easily recognize judo's submissions -- a fighter might "tap out," or concede the fight, when caught in a chokehold or an armbar” [58]

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is derived from Judo, which was brought to Brazil by Esai Maeda, but with reduced emphasis on throws and increased emphasis on groundwork and submissions compared to modern Judo.

The Japanese found judo superior to Japanese Jujitsu due to proof in competition where it involved both stand up and grappling techniques. After a match-up between older styles of ju-jitsu and judo at the Tokyo police headquarters, judo was named the national martial art in Japan.[citation needed] It was the official art used by law enforcement in the late 1800s, and continues to be popular to this day. During World War II, many U.S. soldiers were exposed to the art of judo and brought it back to America with them. The first issue of Black Belt magazine in America (1961) featured a sketch of a judo throw and was a special judo issue” [59]

Ronda Rousey, a female MMA champion, won a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Olympics. “Rousey eventually got an offer to try MMA and had her first professional fight in 2011. She has since defeated all but one of her opponents with a judo arm lock and is now a champion in the combat sport”.[60]

Related arts and derivatives[edit]




Kansetsu and shime waza[edit]


Nage waza[edit]

Safety in the practice of throwing techniques depends on the skill level of both tori and uke. Inexpertly applied throws have the potential to injure both tori and uke, for instance when tori compensates for poor technique by powering through the throw. Similarly, poor ukemi can result in injury, particularly from more powerful throws that uke lacks the skill to breakfall from. For these reasons, throws are normally taught in order of difficulty for both tori and uke. This is exemplified in the Gokyo (五教?, literally "five teachings"), a traditional grouping of throws arranged in order of difficulty of ukemi. Those grouped in Dai ikkyo (第一教?, literally "first teaching") are relatively simple to breakfall from whereas those grouped in dai gokyo (第五教?, literally "fifth teaching") are difficult to breakfall from.[citation needed]

Judoka (practitioner)[edit]

A practitioner of judo is known as a Judoka (柔道家 jūdōka?, judo practitioner), though traditionally only those of 4th dan or higher were called "Judoka". The suffix -ka (?), when added to a noun, means a person with expertise or special knowledge on that subject. Other practitioners below the rank of 4th dan used to be called kenkyu-sei (研究生?, trainees). The modern meaning of "Judoka" in English refers to a judo practitioner of any level of expertise.[64]

A judo teacher is called sensei (先生?).[64] The word sensei comes from sen or saki (before) and sei (life) – i.e. one who has preceded you. In Western dojo, it is common to call any instructor of dan grade sensei. Traditionally, that title was reserved for instructors of 4th dan and above.[citation needed]

Judogi (uniform)[edit]

Main article: Judogi

Judo practitioners traditionally wear white uniforms called keikogi (稽古着, keikogi) practice clothing or judogi (柔道着 jūdōgi?, judo clothing).[65] sometimes abbreviated in the west as "gi". It comprises a heavy cotton kimono-like jacket called an uwagi (上衣?, jacket), similar to traditional hanten (半纏?, workers jackets) fastened by an obi ( obi?, belt), coloured to indicate rank, and cotton draw-string zubon (ズボン?, trousers).[66] Early examples of keikogi had short sleeves and trouser legs and the modern long-sleeved judogi was adopted in 1906.[67]





Rank and grading[edit]

Main article: Judo ranks and grades
Two children training Judo techniques

Judo is a hierarchical art, where seniority of judoka is designated by what is known as the kyu ( kyū?) -dan ( dan?) ranking system. This system was developed by Jigoro Kano based on the ranking system in the board game Go. Beginning students progress through kyu grades towards dan grades.

A judoka's position within the kyu-dan ranking system is displayed by the color of their belt. Beginning students typically wear a white belt, progressing through descending kyu ranks until they are deemed to have achieved a level of competence sufficient to be a dan grade, at which point they wear the kuro obi (黒帯?, black belt). The kyu-dan ranking system has since been widely adopted by modern martial arts.[71]

The highest grade ever awarded jūdan (tenth degree black belt) has no formal requirements and is decided by the president of the Kodokan, currently Kano Jigoro's grandson Yukimitsu Kano. As of 2011, fifteen Japanese men have been promoted to this rank by the Kodokan, three of whom are still alive;[71] the IJF and Western national federations have promoted another seven who are not recognized (at that level of rank) by the Kodokan. On July 28, 2011, the promotion board of USA Judo awarded Keiko Fukuda the rank of 10th dan, who is the first woman to be promoted to judo's highest level, albeit not a Kodokan-recognized rank.


See also[edit]


  1. ^ Inman (2005) p. 10
  3. ^ Kano (2008) pp. 46–47
  5. ^ a b Kano (2008) p. 2
  6. ^ Hoare (2009) p. 44
  7. ^ Fukuda (2004) p. 145
  8. ^ Kano (2008) pp. 3–4; Hoare (2009) pp. 45–47; Fukuda (2004) pp. 145–152. Keiko Fukuda 9th Dan (born 1913) is the grand-daughter of Fukuda Hachinosuke, and is the last surviving direct student of Kano: Davis, Simon, "Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful - Keiko Fukuda", United States Judo Federation, retrieved March 12, 2011 
  10. ^ Kano (2008) pp. 9–10
  11. ^ Kano (2008) p. 11
  12. ^ Kano (2005) p. 23
    "Way to Eisho-Ji Temple", Kodokan, retrieved March 14, 2011 
  14. ^ Kano (2008) p. 20
  15. ^ Lowry (2006) p. 49
  16. ^ Kano (2005) pp. 39–40
  18. ^ Hoare (2009) p. 56
  19. ^ Judo had been used before then, as in the case of a Jujutsu school that called itself Chokushin-ryū Jūdō (直信流柔道?, Sometimes rendered as Jikishin-ryū Jūdō), but its use was rare.
  20. ^ Daigo (2005) p. 8
  22. ^ Kano (1994) pp. 45–54
  23. ^ Ishikawa and Draeger (1999) p. 179
  26. ^ Takahashi (2005) pp. 39–43
  27. ^ a b Daigo (2005) p. 10
  30. ^ Adams (1991)
  33. ^ Ishikawa and Draeger (1999) p. 84
  38. ^ Kano (1994) pp. 173–191
  39. ^ Kano (1994) pp. 192–203
  41. ^ De Crée and Jones (2009a, 2009b, 2009c)
  42. ^ Kano (1994) pp. 220–223
  43. ^ De Crée (2012) pp. 56–94
  44. ^ De Crée (2012) pp. 56–107
  45. ^ Kano (1994) pp. 224–238
  46. ^ Kano (1994) pp. 239–251
  47. ^ De Crée and Jones (2011a, 2011b, 2011c)
  48. ^ Fromm and Soames (1982) pp. 71–72, 109
  49. ^ Mifune (2004) pp. 211–220
  50. ^ Fromm and Soames (1982) pp. 71–72, 108–109
  51. ^ a b Hoare (2005) pp. 4–7
  52. ^ Hoare (2009) p. 109
  53. ^ The Contribution of judo to Education by Kano Jigoro (judoinfo.com)
  54. ^ Koizumi (1947)
  56. ^ a b c d e f g h Takahashi (2005) pp. 18–20
  57. ^ a b Downey, G. (2007). "Producing pain: Techniques and technologies in no-Holds-barred fighting. Social Studies of Science, 37(2), 201-226.". 
  58. ^ Dure, B (June 12, 2008). "Do judo stars have MMA chops?". USA Today. 
  59. ^ http://www.jiu-jitsu.net/history.shtml
  60. ^ Cheng, M. (July 10, 2012). "For some judo Olympians, MMA could be 2nd career". Associated Press Worldstream. 
  61. ^ Kashiwazaki (1997) pp. 14–15
  62. ^ "The History of Sombo – European Judo is really Japanese Sambo?" by Brett Jacques and Scott Anderson [1] [2] [3]
  63. ^ Kano, Jigoro. "The Contribution of Judo to Education". Retrieved 10 September 2012. 
  64. ^ a b Inokuma and Sato (1987) p. 253
  66. ^ Lowry (2006) p. 39
  67. ^ Hoare (2005) p. 8
  68. ^ a b "Introduction of the Blue Judogi". International Judo Federation. 
  69. ^ "Judogi Guidace", International Judo Federation, January 2011, retrieved March 11, 2011 
  70. ^ International Judo Federation, retrieved March 13, 2011 


External links[edit]

Research articles[edit]

Body composition and fat percentage of Thai judo athletes * [4]

Callister R. Physiological characteristics of elite judo athletes * [5]