Judo History

Judo and Karate are the two most famous forms of Martial arts today. Judo is truly an international sport. It is believed that Japan is a land of judo as well as karate fanatics. However the truth is volleyball, baseball and swimming are much more popular sports in Japan. Despite of widespread familiarity of judo and karate, there are still many misconceptions about them in the West. It became popular only after 1920s in Japan.

The international appeal of judo is such that it was included in the Olympics in the year 1964 and 1972 and the first Open Class Gold Medal was won by a non-Japanese, named Anton Geesink from Dutch. Karate is also famous in abroad.

Judo evolved from jujutsu, a form of hand-to-hand combat. Originating in sixteenth century and intended to be used by unarmed samurai. Jujutsu was mainly developed to use in the battlefield. In 1882 a teacher named Jigoro Kano devised a standard version of jujutsu methods named as judo "the gentle way." And it consists of two basic techniques: grappling and throws. Using these techniques a weaker man can take advantage of a stronger opponent. In no time he can throw him off   his feet. Kano emphasized on changing the discipline from moral development, emotional stress, intellectual to hand to hand  combat of self protection. He is founder of now world famous Kodokan School and institute. These are based on belt and degree system of ratings. It is also surprising to know that judo and karate were invented in India by a Buddist Monk and later refined in china and further developed in Okinawa. Judo lovers are generally attracted by the gentler aspects of the sport where as karate fans are invariably taken with the flashier and more violent side of the sport "art of the empty hand."

In the U.S. it gained foothold in the early 1950s and today it claims millions of devotees growing rapidly. Surviving interest in karate has been sparked by the movies of the late judo karate idol BRUCE Lee in 1970s. He started the kung-fu mania in the world. It is been widely practiced in western countries and at present there are many judo clubs in almost every part of the world. Japanese words such as waza (technique), ki (spirit), and kata (form) are now used in a number of languages. During World War II every Japanese male was forced to study judo or kendo (art of sword fighting with sticks). Such things are no longer in practice. Naginata, another form of stick fighting traditionally learned by women, as well as yumi (archery) have also lost their earlier popularity. Today only few Japanese are skilled in one or more of the country's martial arts.

New converts are mainly impressed with the ability of karate masters as they smash bricks, boards, and bottles with the edge of the palm in which they learn how to make use of their own feet, fists and elbows to be called as deadly weapons. Students of judo however learn one basic thing n that is the ultimate reward of their efforts in a spiritual way by attaining oneness of body and mind.