In Japan Judo is one of the many martial arts forms and is an offshoot of Jujitsu, a much older martial art. Judo is one of Japan’s most popular forms of martial art, but I must admit that it’s not something I have much experience of apart from a few sessions as a P. E. option at secondary school. As I remember it seemed to consist mostly of attempting to grab your opponents judo suit while trying to prevent him grabbing yours and ended with both parties grovelling around in the dust.
Personally, I prefer Aikido, which I practised at university but not with any degree of proficiency. I do still have my “boken” (wooden practice sword), but it has languished unused for several years now.
Anyway, setting aside my personal prejudices, one thing that Judo and Aikido have in common is that they both emphasize using an opponent’s force against him. In this way, it is quite possible for a smaller, lighter person to deal with a heavier assailant.
I’d like to welcome back guest blogger Troy Macraft, who has contributed an article about Japanese Judo and the Olympics.
Over to you, Troy…
Jigoro Kano (right) and Kyuzo Mifune
Originally, judo was practiced in feudal Japan as a fighting method known as Jujitsu. Jujitsu began in the 1530′s, and by the mid-1800′s there were over seven hundred different Japanese jujitsu systems. In 1882, Dr. Jigoro Kano, then the President of University of Education in Tokyo, Japan, combined the best and most effective techniques from the numerous forms of jujitsu to form the marital art known as Judo.
Here is a short clip of Jigoro Kano demonstrating some disarming techniques which give an indication of the origins of Judo in the older forms of Jujitsu.
For years, Japanese judo students have enjoyed learning this martial art for reasons of fitness, conditioning, knowledge of self-defense, and increased self confidence. The first time judo was seen in the Olympics was at the 1932 Games in Los Angeles, where Kano and some Japanese judo students gave a demonstration. However, judo was not included in the Olympics as a competitive sport until the 1964 games in Tokyo, Japan.
At this time, only twenty-seven countries participated in the judo events. Only men were allowed to compete in the judo competitions, and there were three weight categories.
Since then, the popularity of judo as an Olympic event has grown considerably. Women were first given the opportunity to compete in the judo events at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in Spain. Seven weight categories for both men and women were available in 1992, with the men’s categories ranging from 60 – 100+ kilograms and the women’s categories ranging from 48 – 78+ kilograms.
Judo, like other martial arts, requires specialized clothing, supplies, sparring equipment, and protective gear. Judo uniforms are made for comfort and ease of movement. It is important that judo uniforms do not hinder the speed or concentration of the judo student or competitor. During judo training, sparring equipment and protective gear is used to allow the student to imitate judo moves without causing injury. Although judo does not employ the more forceful moves of other martial arts forms, there is still a chance that the student will suffer an injury during practice.
Protective gear includes mouth-guards, padded headgear, and chest and stomach protectors. Sparring equipment for the judo practitioner includes padded shields for the sparring partner to hold. This helps to prevent injury to the sparring partner.
Troy Macraft is an independent content writer who specializes in the martial arts. Troy’s passion is in the mixed martial arts as he is working for The MMA Zone as the online martial arts supplies store. Shop The MMA Zone for great prices on all your Sparring Gear!
, sparring equipment, protective gear, and uniforms.