A Guide to Understanding Judo

"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:

1. Throw the opponent to the mat;
2. Hold the opponent on the mat;
3. Apply arm bar (elbow joint locking) techniques (keeping in mind that joint locks other than the elbow constitute a serious infringement of the rules); or
4. Choke the opponent, but avoid any action which might injure the neck or spinal vertebrae of the opponent.

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.