Judo originated in Japan and is a form of unarmed fighting mainly using throws, arm locks, strangles and holds. Judo is translated as “The Gentle Way”
Jigoro Kano, was born in 1860, and is the founder of Judo as we know it today.
Kano developed Judo from Ju-Jitsu, removing the brutal parts to leave an art, that could be practised with control and relative safety.
In 1886 The Japanese Government arranged a Special Match between the Top 15 Ju-Jitsu fighters and the Top 15 Judoka, which resulted a win for Kano’s Judo, and was therefore accepted as the Governments approved Sport.
It was later taught in Schools and Colleges as part of the Education System in Japan.
