The Olympic sport of Judo Judo is a grappling sport, based on the skills of attack and defence.
2012 Summer Olympic Judo Events Key facts
Venue: ExCeL
Dates: Saturday, 28 July – Friday, 3 August 2012
Gold medals: 14
Athletes: 386
Judo: A history of the sport
Judo developed from Jujitsu – the hand-to-hand combat technique of ancient samurai warriors. Its name, which means ‘the gentle way’ in Japanese, reflects its moral code of politeness, courage, sincerity, self-control, honour, modesty, friendship and respect.
Judo was established as a modern physical activity in Japan, 1882, when Professor Jigoro Kano founded his ‘Kodokan Judo’. Responsible for education, he was aware that physical education in his country at that time was sadly lacking.
Kano was also a prominent figure in the Japanese Olympic movement.
The first Judo club to open in Europe was the Budokwai in London. Founded in 1918, it still operates today.
Judo is now the most popular martial art in the world, with 13 million participants in 111 countries.
Judo at the Games
Judo made its first Games appearance at Tokyo 1964 in its home country of Japan. Japanese athletes won three of the four Judo events at those Games. It was not included in the Mexico 1968 programme but was reinstated in 1972.
Since then, the programme has been extended to include seven weight classes for men and seven for women.
The women’s event was a demonstration sport in Seoul in 1988 and a full Olympic sport from the Barcelona 1992 Games.
How to play – and win
In Judo competitors use recognised moves to force their opponent to the floor.
Fights take place on a 8sq m mat, known as a ‘tatami’. Competitions are held in weight classes for both men and women.
A contest can be won immediately if a competitor – ‘judoka’ – scores ‘ippon’ (the maximum 10 points). Otherwise points are given for lesser scores and at the end of five minutes the competitor with the greatest number of points wins. If the contest is even it continues into ‘golden score’ when the first person to score wins.
Jargon buster
* Judoka: An expert or practitioner of judo
* Dojo: Practice hall
* Rei: Bow
* Hajime: The referee’s command to start a Judo fight
* Soremade: The referee’s command to end a Judo fight
* Obi: A judoka’s belt
* Matte: A command to wait or stop
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