Brief History of Judo

Ju-jitsu is a form of traditional unarmed combat, developed by the Japanese feudal warriors, the samurai.

A Japanese scholar, Dr. Jigoro Kano, invented judo. He studied several styles and combined the skills and knowledge he had acquired to produce judo, which means the gentle way. In 1882 he opened the first judo school, the Kodokan, in Tokyo. Dr. Kano became a very wise and important person in Japan. He was the first Japanese to serve on the International Olympic Committee. He died in 1938.

Judo spread widely during the early decades of this the 20th century, being introduced to Europe by Gunji Koizumi who founded the Budokwai club in London in 1918.

 

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