In May 1882 Jigoro Kano was inspired by traditional forms of combat to create a method of physical, intellectual and moral education, which he named judo.

Initially considered as a self-defence system, judo is step by step recognized for its educational value, its benefits for the development of the body and the character.

Judo became an Olympic sport in the Tokyo Games in 1964, and thus became universal. The International Judo Federation today brings together more than 200 national federations and 5 continental unions.

Jujutsu: The Kano Method

In the early twentieth century, the Western world discovered the artistic beauty and the military power of Japanese civilization and the effectiveness of strong Japanese soldiers based on their warrior spirit, thebushido, and their fighting techniques,Jujutsu. In many countries, the Japanese art is introduced in military curriculum.Jujutsu also appears on the stage of music halls, circuses and fairs.

Jujutsu in the World

In the USA and in many countries of the world,Jujutsu first spreads in the army and the police. At the same time, the martial art is taught in fitness centers (Sandow in England Desbonnet in France, the McFadden in the USA, etc.)

Jujutsu and the Media

Present in cartoons and songs,Jujutsu is used in numerous commercials and books or even correspondence courses that promise the technical secrets that make you invincible.

Jujutsu and Women

The art of the ‘weak against the strong’ is not reserved for men, and women start practicing the Japanese art early on. In London, the "jujutsuffragettes" used the Japanese art as a tool in the service of their political struggle to gain the right to vote.

The Judo of Kano: Philosophy and Education

Small and bullied by his classmates, Jigoro Kano wanted to strengthen his body and learn to defend himself. He studiedJujutsu but soon realized that the fight focused on a powerful body and not on the spiritual and educational dimension of people.

Kano removed the dangerousJujutsu techniques, by improving the art of falling. He imposed that both fighters grab each other and created his own method by synthesizing the oldest forms of defence. In 1882, he opened a dojo that he called theKodokan, the "Place where the way is studied".

Kodokan Judo

Judo techniques were divided into three categories: throws ornage waza, controls orkatame wazaand kicks oratemi waza. In competition,atemi waza are not allowed.

Judo is taught throughrandori, free practice,kata, imposed forms, andmondo, exchanges based on the values, the philosophy or any subject related to judo, between the students and their teacher.

The emblem of theKodokan is an octagonal mirror, the symbol of truth, the central red circle expressing a right and sincere spirit.

In 1922, Kano created the Cultural Society of theKodokan. He writes the two maxims that define the philosophy of his method:Seiryoku zenyo ("The best use of energy") andJita Kyoei ("Mutual welfare and benefit").

In 1909, Kano was appointed to the International Olympic Committee. He became the first IOC Asian member and devoted his life to the development of education through judo and through sports in Japan and around the world.

Kano’s Journeys

• 1889 Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin
• 1912 5th Olympic Games in Stockholm, Vienne, Paris, London
• 1920 7th Olympic Games in Anvers, Paris, London
• 1928 9th Olympic Games in Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Rome, China
• 1932 10th Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Vancouver, Seattle, Hawaii
• 1933 Moscow, Stuttgart, Berlin, London, Paris, Madrid
• 1934 Moscow, Warsaw, Vienna, Belgrade, Paris, London, Naples, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai
• 1935 and 1936: Czechoslovakia
• 1936 11th Olympic Games in Berlin, Seattle, Vancouver, New York, Bucharest, Paris, London
• 1938 Singapore, Vancouver, Cairo

Judo in the World

Thanks to the efforts of Kano and his disciples,Kodokan Judo, developed within the Japanese emigrant communities (USA, Brazil, Canada) as well as in Germany, Britain and the British-influenced countries.

In France, from 1940, a westernized variant of the Kano method was developed by professorKawaishi, with the assistance of an engineer,Moshe Feldenkrais.

TheKawaishiMethod is very successful in Europe and throughout the French-influenced countries.

TheKawaishi Method

The belt colour embodies the expertise of the judoka. Beginners successively wear a white belt, yellow, orange, green, blue and brown before passing a special examination (technical and competition) to obtain the rank of black belt, or dan (1st to 10th dan). The colour belt system was developed in England in the mid-1920s and gained in popularity thanks to theKawaishi Method.

Women's Judo

In 1923, Jigoro Kano opened a women's section of theKodokan. He focused on the technical study and on kata but did not allow the practice in competition considered dangerous to the health of future mothers.Keiko Fukuda, granddaughter ofHachinosuke Fukuda, who taughtJujutsu to Kano, dedicated her life to spreading women's judo worldwide.

Judo as a Sport

Official sporting events started to take place in the early 20th century. And was in Germany on August 11th, 1932, that theEuropean Judo Union was created. The first European Championships were held in Dresden in 1934. The Kano Method was chosen as a demonstration sport for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1940, which never took place because of the Second World War. It was not until the 1964 Olympic Games that judo officially entered the Olympic programme.

European Judo Union and International Judo Federation

The European Judo Union was reconstituted after World War II. On July 11, 1951 in London, its representatives (Great Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland) received the candidacy of Argentina and the International Judo Federation was created. The Italian Aldo Torti became the first President of the IJF.

Presidents of the International Judo Federation

• 1951-1952Aldo Torti, Italy
• 1952-1965Risei Kano, Japan
• 1965-1979Charles Palmer, Great Britain
• 1979-1987Shigeyoshi Matsumae, Japan
• 1987-1989Sarkis Kaloghian, Argentina
• 1989-1991Lawrie Hargrave, New-Zealand
• 1991-1995Luis Baguena, Spain
• 1995-2007Yong Sung Park, South Korea
• 2007-…Marius L.Vizer, Austria

Olympic Judo

Judo as a sport grew rapidly in the years following World War II.

• 1951: European Championships in Paris
• 1956: 1st World Championships in Tokyo (Competition without weight category)
• 1961: 3rd World Championships in Paris (Competition without weight category)
• 1964: Olympic Games in Tokyo (-68 kg ; -80 kg ; +80 kg ; Open)
• 1980: 1st female World Championships in New-York
• 1988: Female judo is present in the Seoul Olympic Games as a demonstration sport
• 1992: Since the Barcelona Olympic Games, both male and female competition are part of the Olympic programme.