A Brief History of Judo

Judo is a Japanese Martial art which uses leverage, momentum, and technique to throw an opponent to the mat or ground, as well as techniques used for ground fighting, joint locks, and other submission techniques.  Judo uses leverage, gravity, and skill to achieve victory, allowing the potential for a smaller, weaker, person to defeat a much larger, stronger person.  Judo is a grappling art, not a striking art. 

Judo’s literal translation is "the gentle way", however it's correct translation is more complicated.   It is a martial art that was founded in 1882 by Dr. Jigoro Kano.  Jujutsu was the military style of hand to hand combat used by the Samurai on the battlefield against other armored warriors, Kano created Judo from Jujutsu for self defense and physical education. Kano became a professor and soon Judo was taught in public schools and all over the world.  Dr. Kano developed the modern belt ranking system, the Gi, a way to practice safely, and several other things that most other Asian Martial arts still use today. The original Judo school that Kano created is called the Kodokan, and it is still in operation today in Japan. In Japan, when Dr. Kano was a young man many changes to Japanese society were happening because of Western (Britain, the USA, and others)  influences. A major change was the overthrow of the Shogun (Japanese military leadership) and the Emperor coming back into power in what is known as the Meiji (May-jee) restoration.  This time period was from 1868 to 1912 and was responsible for the growth of Japan as a modern nation.  Many of the old ways were left behind.

One result of this change in power was the decline of the warrior class known as the Samurai (like Japanese Knights). Up until this time, the Samurai could kill another (lower ranked) person for the slightest offense, really for any reason. In the case of common people, this usually meant immediate death for very minor offenses. After the Meiji restoration this type of behavior was not allowed and the carrying of swords was outlawed. Styles of dress, and behavior changed very quickly. This led to a decline in teaching and learning Jujutsu because it was seen as something from the old way, outdated, even shameful.  Similar to how we do not have duels with swords or pistols in the US anymore. 

Kano was a small person, and had been bullied as a youth, which led him to search for a Jujutsu teacher.  Jujutsu was not being taught and part of the Japanese culture was dying. So Kano (and others) tried to revive Jujutsu but changed the focus from war to exercise, defense, and character development.   Kano created Judo from styles of Jujutsu that he had studied. This is the reason for name change from Jutsu (art or technique) to Do (path or way). Kano was a school teacher and he meant for Judo to be both physical training for physical education as well as a path towards building good moral character. Part of Kano's vision for Judo was for it to be a guide in all aspects of life and lead to greater harmony. This is reflected in one saying from Judo, "Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort for the Mutual Welfare and Benefit of All".  Click to read more about the Philosophy of Judo

Judo has been in the United States since the early 1900’s; President Theodore Roosevelt was one of the first students.  But it did not start to spread until the 1930’s starting in Hawaii and California. Judo began to really take off after WWII when US Servicemen brought it back from Japan to the US with them, in fact it became required of all US servicemen to learn Judo after WWII! Today Judo is practiced all over the world both as a sport and as a self defense art. Judo was accepted into the Olympic Games in 1964 and since that time, most Judo training emphasizes the competitive/sport aspects.  CCUMC Judo places much more emphasis on the traditional purposes of physical training, self defense,  and building good moral character in our students. 

Brazilian Jujitsu evolved from Judo in Brazil when one of Dr Kano’s best students, named Maeda,  went to Brazil to demonstrate Judo. Brothers Helio & Carlos Gracie saw it and became Judo students, they developed Brazilian Jujitsu from Judo!  BJJ focuses more on ground work, where Judo’s focus is more on throws but Judo and BJJ both come from Japanese Jujutsu. As you learn and progress in Judo at CCUMC you will also learn Jujutsu techniques, and maybe even some boxing!