JUDO

Judo - "Gentle way"

Focus: Grappling


Who is the Founder of Judo?
- Kano Jigoro from Japan


TERMS
Judoka - Practitioner

Judogi - Uniform

Randori - Sparring

Shihan - Master Instructor

Kodokan - place for teaching the way

Tenjin Shin'yo-ryu - divine true willow, traditional school of jujutsu

Kito-ryu - a traditional school of the Japanese martial arts of jujutsu


The founder of Judo became a student of three Masters. The First was Fukuda, a tenjin shin'yo-ryu, which emphasized technique over formal exercise (randori). The second was Iso Masatomo who put more emphasis on the practice of pre-arranged forms (kata). At the age of 21. he became the assistant instructor of Iso. The third master was Likubo Tsunetoshi of Kito-ryu. Like Fukuda, he put more emphasis on free practice, praticularly striking, throwing, joint locking and choking techniques.


Kano had in mind a major reformation of jujutsu, with techniques based on sound scientific principles, and with focus on development of the body, mind and character of young men in addition to development of martial prowess.


At the age of 22, when he was just about to finish his degree at the University, Kano took nine students from Iikubo's school to study jujutsu under him at the Eisho-ji, a Buddhist temple in Kamakura, and Iikubo came to the temple three days a week to help teach.


Judo originally known as Kano Jiu-Jitsu or Kano Jiu-Do, and later as Kodokan Jiu-Do or simply Jiu-Do or Judo. In the early days, it was also still referred to generically simply as Jiu-Jitsu.