What is Judo
Article by Dr. Andrew Moshanov, 6 Dan, British Judo Technical Director

Origin. The term "judo" first appears in the 1st century chronicles of Chinese emperor Kuang Wu and means the "gentle way". The first part of the word, ju, means gentleness or pliancy, and reflects the fact that judo emphasises yielding to an opponent"s strength to overcome them, rather than attempting to defeat them by force. Do is a Japanese term meaning "the way" and is similar to the Chinese Tao.

The origin of Judo which is regarded as Japan’s traditional martial art is vague, and what we know of it is more a legend than a fact. However, the Takenouchi-ryu martial art system founded in 1532 is considered the beginning of Japan"s jujitsu forms. The system"s founder taught jujitsu in a structured and methodical manner. For the next several hundred years, the martial arts were refined by Samurais who made a lifetime study of some twenty or thirty martial arts. Of these arts only one was based on self defence without weapons - jujitsu. By the mid-1800"s more than 700 different jujitsu systems existed. The most popular were Takenouchi-ryu, Jikishin-ryu, Kyushinryu, Yoshin-ryu, Mirua-ryu, Sekiguchi-ryu, Kito-ryu, and Tenshin-shinyo-ryu; the last two were instrumental in Judo"s development.

Jigoro Kano. Modern Judo was developed in Japan from the older schools of jujitsu, a term meaning "gentle technique." In the 19th century, various judo schools in Japan began to develop techniques differing from jujitsu. Dr. Jigoro Kano (1860-1938), the founder of modern judo appeared to be the most successful in re-thinking of the jujitsu legacy, he combined the features of the various schools of the sport and codified the rules. Also Kano stressed the philosophical tenets of judo and eliminated many of the dangerous parts of jujitsu. Kano developed what is termed Kodokan judo, opening his first school, or dojo, in 1882.

Kodokan. The term "Kodokan" breaks down into ko (lecture, study, method), do (way or path), and kan (hall or place). Thus it means "a place to study the way." Kano established his Judo school, called the Kodokan, in the Eishoji Buddhist temple in Tokyo, which grew in size and later moved. The first Kodokan had only 12 mats (12 feet by 18 feet), and nine students in the first year. Today the Kodokan has over 500 mats and more than a million visitors a year. The categorisation of Kodokan Judo was completed about 1887. Kodokan had three broad aimes – physical education, contest proficiency and mental training. At the same time its structure was such that it could be practiced as a competitive sport. Blows, kicks, certain joint locks, and other techniques too dangerous for competition, were taught only to the higher ranks.

Syllabus. As Kodokan grew there was a need to provide a standard teaching means and methods across all its branches and affiliated dojo’s. The first Judo technical programme or syllabus (Go Kyo No Waza) was designed in 1895 by Kano and contained initially 15 throws arranged in 5 sets of 3 throws each. During over the hundred years of Judo development as Olympic sport Go Kyo underwent few amendments and additions of throws, and nowadays it is largely a legacy. International Judo Federation recognises 99 IJF techniques. With further international promotion of judo as a “sport for all” different judo nations created spectrum of technical programmes of their own, which are tailored around the needs of various interest groups including young children, women, masters, disabled, nevertheless all those based on the fundamental judo techniques selected initially.

Principles. Judo’s main aim is to shape the human body and character together, through spiritual, moral, and physical discipline. This is done through a number of techniques and gymnastic exercises that are designed specially to foster a balanced development of the human body. However the final aim of Judo is viewed much broader than just someone’s athletic achievement and is there to provide the personal development to the aspirant while practicing and progressing through the ranks in Judo.

Methods. Kata, Randori and Shiai are the three primary forms of practice in Judo. "Kata", meaning shape/form, consists of a predetermined moves that taught the basics of attack and defence. "Randori", meaning free practice, involved the fighters being grouped in pairs, as in a real match. "Shiai" is the contest. Conditions had to be observed, however, the fighters are not aimed to injure each other, and the Judo ceremonial was followed.

Judo philosophy. The motif of personal development is central in Judo philosophy. There are two major principles that everyone practicing judo needs to comprehend and become assimilated with.
"Kyoto keoi-key"- idea of a mutual benefit. Possible interpretations: do care about your partner while practice, do not apply dangerous moves and mindless actions; express the respect to your opponent by bowing (rei), regardless of the rivalry and the outcome of contest.
"Seiroyoko Zenyo" – maximum efficiency with minimum effort. Possible interpretations: skills overcome the power; not opposing but yielding, etc

International promotion. Since 1889 Kano started to introduce judo internationaly. He personally opened first dojo in France, where his student M.Kawaishi later was very instrumental in shaping the French judo, so was Genji Koizumi in UK. Judo was introduced in America, Germany, Italy, Spain and also appeared in Russia, however this an appearance was surrounded with controversial facts and its further development was marked with certain rivalry with the russian style wrestling Sambo, which has little difference in technical terms, but was lacking philosophical and educational in-depth. The first international matches took place in 1918 in Russain Far East between Russian Club “Sport” (Vladivostok) and Japanese team from Osaka, and in 1926 in Europe between the British Judo school Budokwai of London and a German national team.

In 1951 International Judo Federation was founded and Risei Kano (Jigoro Kano"s son) took its first presidency.
In 1956 Tokyo hosted the first World Championships, where 31 athlete representing 21 nations took part.
In 1964 Judo became an Olympic sport

Women participate in competitive judo since the first World Championships held in 1980 in Nwe York, USA. Women"s judo also became an Olympic discipline since 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

There are 178 nations-membrs of International Judo Federation today. Japan holds the biggest membership of more than 4,000,000 individuals, while over 20,000,000 practice judo all over the globe.