Kodokan Judo was founded in 1882 in Japan when Jigoro Kano, at the age of 22,opened his first practice hall,the
Kodokan Judo Dojo inside the Eishoji Temple.
Teacher, professor,educator,sportsman,philosopher,
humanitarian,politician and Shihan,these were the titles earned in one lifetime by Kano.
At 18, he began a study of Jujitsu and years later,he integrated what he considered to be the best of their
techniques and new and advanced principles into what is now the modern sport of judo.
Judo emphasizes throwing and grappling skills, throws using the arms, hips or legs and holds, strangles
and locks applied to achieve submission.
Judo is actually comprised of two words: JU, meaning gentle and DO, meaning way, " the gentle way".
Judo is also an excellent method of self defense and physical exercise and the variety of techniques and
principles makes it an excellent martial art and a way of life.
Within a few years of founding Judo,the numbers of students rapidly increased,from all over Japan,many having
left jujutsu masters.Eventually Judo displaced Jujitsu in Japan,although the word has survived overseas.
At a specially convened tournament on June 10th, 1886, at police headquarters,the judo system of training
proved its superiority conclusively against that of jujitsu by scoring twelve wins, two losses and one draw out
of 15 contests.This event was the turning point for securing public recognition of judo and establishing it on a firm basis.
