Judo

Judo meaning "gentle way", is a modern Japanese martial art (gendai bud?) and combat sport, that originated in Japan in the late nineteenth century.

The founder Professor Jigoro Kano (see Culture/Legends) opened the Kodokan Dojo in Tokyo, Japan in the year 1882 and started to train students in Nippon-Den-Kodokan-Judo.

Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling manoeuvre, or force an opponent to submit by joint locking the elbow or by executing a choke. Strikes and thrusts (by hands and feet) — as well as weapons defences — are a part of judo, but only in pre-arranged forms (kata) and are not allowed in judo competition or free practice (randori).

Practitioners of judo are called j?d?ka, though traditionally only those of 4th Dan or higher were called "judoka"

The meaning of the word Ju (gentleness) denotes not resisting the strength of the opponent, but adapting to it, and taking advantage of it by turning it to one’s own ad-vantage. The meaning of the word Do (way) denotes not just methods or techniques, but also signifies adherence to strict moral principles which are essential in striving for “self-perfection as a human being”.