Helston Judo Kwai

The History of Judo

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Judo is many things to different people. It is a fun sport, an art, a discipline, a recreational or social activity, a fitness program, a means of self-defence or combat, and a way of life. It is all of these and more.

Judo comes to us from the fighting system of feudal Japan. Founded in 1882 by Dr Jigero Kano.

Judo is a refinement of the ancient martial art of Jujutsu. Dr. Kano, President of the University of Education, Tokyo, studied these ancient forms and integrated what he considered to be the best of their techniques into what is now the modern sport of Judo.

Judo was introduced into the Olimpic games in 1964 and is practiced by millions of people throughout the world today. People practice Judo to excel in competition, to stay in shape, to develop self-confidence, and for many other reasons. But most of all, people do Judo just for the fun of it.

1500 BC to 720 AD

This is the period when the Japanese Nation came into existence. There are references in history to the art and techniques of wrestling and the use of competitive strength.

721 to 1140

During this time Sumai techniques of kicks, chops, throws developed as a means of killing one's opponent. The sport of Sumo, which is still very popular in Japan today, was invented and introduced by Sukune Nomi.

1156 to 1526

The Samurai became the influential class in Japan and took political control of the country.

The study of Bushido and fighting techniques involving the use of armour, helmets and many different weapons became widely spread throughout the samurai with many new theories of fighting being introducer.

The armour that was used gradually improved and it therefore became more difficult to kill and opponent. It was necessary for the warriors to develop new skills to take advantage of any weaknesses in the armour and it was during this time that the fighting arts were greatly improved.

1598 to 1881

Jujitsu developed as an unarmed means of self defence based on the Samurai techniques.

There were over 300 different theories of Jujitsu by the end of this period with many influential teachers.

1882 to 1967

Jigaro Kano was born in 1860. As a young man he studied three different forms of Jujitsu and then devised his own theory and called it Kodokan Jiu-do

Ko - teaching; Do - the way; kan - hall

In 1882, at the age of 23, Jijaro Kano opened a school for Judo and named it Kodokan

Dr Kano was on the Japanese Olympic Committee and whenever he visited a foreign country he would introduce Judo to its people.

Dr Kano died on 5th May 1938 on board the ship "Hikawa Maru" at the age of 79. Having just discussed bringing the Olympic Games to Japan. Judo is now an official Olympic sport.

The Butoku Kwai was founded in Kyoto in 1895 for the study of Judo, Kendo, Aikido, Kyudo, etc as well as all the Japanese Samuri arts.