Judo

I

Introduction

Judo, martial art in which two opponents use movement, balance, and leverage to gain advantage over each other. Judo, which means “gentle way” in Japanese, emphasizes gaining an advantage by giving way to an attacking force. It was adapted from a traditional Japanese martial art known as jujutsu.

II

History

Judo was first developed in the early 1880s by Japanese educator Kano Jigoro. He regulated some jujutsu techniques and eliminated the more dangerous ones, introducing the new martial art in 1882. Kano established the first judo school, called the Kōdōkan, in Tokyo, Japan. In 1951 the International Judo Federation was formed as the sport’s governing body. The organization is now located in Seoul, South Korea. Judo first appeared as an event in the Olympic Games in 1964.

III

Technique and Training

Judo is typically practiced in several ways, including kata, which is prearranged, formal demonstration of technique; uchikomi, which is stationary exercise; and randori, or free practice (sparring). Competition is called shiai and is usually in the form of randori, but kata competitions are also held. In the Olympic Games only randori events are held.

As with other martial arts derived from jujutsu, such as aikido, judo techniques often involve using an opponent’s attack against him or her. The three most common categories of techniques used in competition are nage-waza (standing and throwing), katame-waza (grappling), and atemi-waza (striking). A judo contestant employs these techniques in various moves and combinations, trying to throw or pin an opponent to the mat or to apply holds that confine the opponent’s movement and cause him or her to submit.

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The judo uniform, known as a judo gi (pronounced ghee), consists of a white, off-white, or blue jacket secured by a belt and a pair of trousers. In 2000, major international competitions began using a dress code in which one competitor wears a white judo gi and the other a blue judo gi. As students gain expertise the belt color changes, with white worn by participants of the lowest rank and black by the highest. No shoes or socks are worn.

IV

Competition

Judo is primarily practiced in most places as a competitive sport involving two opponents. The two competitors use movement, balance, and leverage to gain advantage over one another.

Judo competition takes place on a mat that ranges in size from 14 to 16 m (45.9 to 52.5 ft) square and is divided into two zones. The center contest area is 8 to 10 m (26.2 to 32.8 ft) square, including a red border 1 m (3.3 ft) wide, called the danger zone, that marks the outside of the contest area. Surrounding the contest area is a safety area, which is 3 m (9.8 ft) wide.

Judo contests are officiated by one referee and two judges. The contests begin with a ceremonial bow between the two contestants, and the match lengths are determined by individual tournament rules. In world championship competitions and in the Olympic Games the time limit of a contest is five minutes.

A judo match is won when one contestant scores an ippon, which is awarded for several reasons: a clean, forceful throw; holding an opponent down for 25 seconds; or applying a successful choke hold or elbow lock. An ippon is also awarded if a contestant executes two waza-ari. A waza-ari is a move that narrowly misses qualifying for an ippon, such as a slightly inferior throw or holding the opponent down for 20 seconds. If a match reaches its time limit without an ippon, the result is decided by the accumulation of inferior throws and hold-downs of under 25 seconds, as well as the subtraction of penalty points for such infractions as avoiding combat or using the hands illegally.

Competitors are typically divided into seven weight classes. For men they consist of under 60 kg (132.3 lb), under 65 kg (145.5 lb), under 73 kg (160.9 lb), under 81 kg (178.6 lb), under 90 kg (198.4 lb), under 100 kg (220.5 lb), and over 100 kg. For women they are under 48 kg (105.8 lb), under 52 kg (114.6 lb), under 57 kg (125.7 lb), under 63 kg (138.9 lb), under 70 kg (154.3 lb), under 78 kg (172 lb), and over 78 kg.

Official Olympic judo competition for men debuted at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo. Judo was not an event at the 1968 Games in Mexico City, Mexico, but it returned to the Olympics in 1972. Women’s judo was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul and it became a medal event at the 1992 Olympics. Athletes from Japan have dominated international judo competition, although South Korea, France, and many countries of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) have also had considerable success.

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