"The aim of Judo is to utilize physical and mental strength most effectively. Its training is to understand the true meaning of life through the mental and physical training of attack and defense. You must develop yourself as a person and become a useful citizen to society."

--Jigoro Kano, founder of Kodokan Judo

"Judo" is a Japanese word meaning "gentleness" or "giving way." Judo is derived from the ancient martial art of jujitsu, in which the dangerous holds and blows of karate and sumo were excluded.

The underlying concept of Judo is that an advantage can be most effectively obtained by giving way to an attacking force. An opponent's own movements are utilized to obtain an unbalanced position from which the other contestant may execute a successful technique.

The objective of Judo is to employ specialized principles of movement, balance and leverage to:

Judo also is a method of training for the mind and body, to be used throughout one's life and daily affairs. Mutual welfare and benefit is the ultimate end, and maximum efficiency is the means to attain that end.

The aim of Kodokan Judo is to perfect one's self and thereby contribute to the welfare and benefit of mankind.

Dr. Jigoro Kano was the founder of Kodokan Judo. He was born in the seaside town of Mikage, Japan, in 1860. At the age of 18, he started studying the art of jujitsu in order to strengthen his body. In 1882 he established his own school in Tokyo called the Kodokan and started teaching his own system - calling it Judo. Kano structured judo by taking the good points of the various existing schools and adding his own techniques for the purpose of physical conditioning and mental training.

When the Kodokan was started, its dojo (exercise hall) consisted of 12 mats. The Kodokan Cultural Society was established in 1922 under the slogans: Seiryoku Zenyou (maximum efficiency) and Jita Kyouei (mutual welfare and benefit). These slogans represent the fundamental principles of judo.

Initially the Japanese considered skill and technique (not force) as the main aspects for success in Judo. For this reason, early competitions did not have weight categories.

The first World Championships were held in Tokyo, Japan, and were won by the Japanese. Olympic Judo (male) competition was first held at the Tokyo Games in 1964, when the host country was allowed to include a sport of its choosing. There was no judo at the 1968 Games in Mexico City, but the 1972 Games included competition in five weight categories and the open category.

Prior to the Summer Olympic Games of 1984, a Judo athlete was permitted to compete in a weight category plus the open. This procedure was abolished effective for the 1984 Games. Currently in the Olympic Games, an athlete cannot "double compete;" in the World Championships, however, "double competing" is permitted.

Nearly 6 million people practice judo in Japan.