Judo

Judo Throw

Judo is a powerful demonstration of technique. Few men or women can forcibly pick up another person and toss them at will. Judo teaches you to do just that. Speed, leverage, and skill gained through training will be the only path to greatness in this art. It will take years to learn and a lifetime to master. Once you discover the true power that you can harness through Judo, you will not abandon its practice. In competition, points are scored by throwing the opponent to his back for an immediate victory or by pins and partial throws. One can also win by choking or arm locking his/her opponent. A gi (training uniform) is essential to the practice of Judo. Colored belts representing rank are earned through hard work and dedication, and they are representations of skill level given to deserving students.  There are no set time limits in which a student will achieve a certain rank. 

Judo was founded in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Judo is a derivative of Japanese Jujutsu that concentrates on techniques of the throwing of one’s opponent to the ground. It was and still is a means of self defense, but is now practiced primarily as a sport. Judo is popular around the world as an Olympic sport, challenging the best athletes the world has known. Judo also employs many well know ground techniques such as pinning, chokes, and arm locks.
Judo , meaning "gentle way", is a modern Japanese martial art (gendai budō) and combat sport that originated in Japan in the late nineteenth century. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to throw one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an opponent to submit by joint locking the elbow or by applying a choke. Strikes and thrusts (by hands and feet) - as well as weapon defenses - are a part of judo, but only in pre-arranged forms (kata) and are not allowed in judo competition or free practice (randori).
Practitioners of judo are called judoka.