What is Judo?

Judo is a thinking sport, with strategy in every step and movement, guided by the principle of maximum efficiency and minimum effort.

The Japanese word for Judo is made up of two characters Ju 柔 meaning gentle or to yield or to give way, and Do 道 which means The way. So Judo means the way of yielding or giving way. Judo is a dynamic sport that does not rely on strength, but is based on a combination of balance, coordination and reaction - all skills that help performance across other sports.

Judo is a defensive sport involving two players, each of whom uses specific techniques and quick reflexes, plus balance, power and movement to get the other partner off-balance and take them down onto the mat. The art of Judo is to leverage the opponent's momentum and energy to your advantage. Judo requires quick thinking and quick action, as an opponent attempts to throw you to the ground, in a split second you can react to avoid the throw and hopefully use their action to apply a counter throw. For may Judo players this is the beauty and excitement of the art of Judo.

The place where judo training occurs is called a dojo, which means a place to learn the way. The traditional dojo is floored with mats called tatami. Judo players wear a uniform called a judogi The judogi is made of heavy cotton material and consists of a jacket, trousers and a belt. The colour of the belt signifies the 'grade' or experience of the player. Judo was created in 1882 by Jigoro Kano, who combined the best elements of various jujutsu styles. 

Rigorous Physical Activity

Judo is a rigorous physical activity. The practice of judo techniques helps people develop physical fitness in a number of ways, such as the development of strength, flexibility, agility, speed, dynamic and static balance, explosive power and endurance.

The practice of active attack and defence helps develop reaction time, coordination and overall physical self-confidence. Judo students become physically bigger, stronger and faster, through their practice of judo. The learn a variety of techniques to throw their opponents to the ground with force, speed and control.

While judo students are often exposed to a variety of throwing techniques in their judo careers, they usually master only a handful, and a handful is generally all that is needed to be successful in competitions. Judo students also learn the fundamental principles and dynamics of subduing their opponents on the ground through the application of pinning and submission techniques. Their prowess both on the ground and on their feet combined with a considerable physical fitness gained from regular judo practice, affords judo students with a considerable repertoire of techniques, skills, knowledge and abilities. This allows them to be excellent athletes, with a sound physical base of fundamental skills, and formidable and imposing opponents in competition.

Much More To Learn

Judo is much more than the learning and application of combat techniques. It is a wonderful system of physical, intellectual and moral education. Judo has its own culture, systems, heritage, customs and traditions. The principles of gentleness are carried from the judo mats and into most students' lives, in their interactions with their friends, family, work colleagues and more. Judo gives its students a code of ethics,  a way of living, and a way of being.

Practiced today by over 20 million people, judo is undoubtedly the most popular combat sport in the world. Judo is the second most popular sport of any sport in the word, soccer being number one. In terms of national organisations worldwide, judo is the largest sport, with the greatest number of member nations in the International Judo Federation (IJF).

It is a part of the physical education systems of many countries, and practiced in local clubs, junior high and high schools, colleges, regional and national training centres, and in many other areas in the country and across the world. Millions have discovered the spectacular enriching sport and way of life we know as judo.