Jigoro
Kano |
The
origins of Judo date back to the mid 19th century when Japan was
going through the Meiji Restoration. During this time of cultural
revolution, Japan ended its policy of National Seclusion and began
to open up to the West. It was also during this time that the
Samurai (warrior class of feudal Japan) began to lose their role
in society and were forbidden to carry swords. Thus with declining
skill in the weapon arts, Jujitsu (unarmed fighting methods),
once a minor technique became the main ability for the anachronistic
fighting class. During this intense period of modernization the
Jujitsu schools began to lose popularity with the Japanese public.
This was the setting in which a man named Jigoro Kano took up
Jujitsu in his youth. Kano, who later became to be a Professor
of education with degrees in literature, politics and political
economy, realised that the declining Jujitsu had some important
strengths that should not be lost. In
1882 Professor Kano developed Judo, based on Jujitsu, and established
the Kodokan ("place for studying the way").
Kano made Judo more efficient and less dangerous to practice than
Jujitsu by refining the techniques used and adding some of his
own. He intended judo to be training for the mind, body and character,
not just a system of fighting.
From its very beginning, competition has been an integral part
of Judo. This ensures that Judo's techniques are continually refined
as the unrealistic techniques are discarded in favor of effective
and efficient ones.
Judo
quickly spread in popularity throughout Japan, and after the Second
World War, Judo spread throughout the world. The International
Judo Federation was formed in 1951 and the first World Championships
(for men only) were held in Japan in 1956. Judo was included in
the Olympic Games at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics (again for men only).
At this event Ted Boronovski of Australia won a bronze medal.
The first Womens' World Championships were held in New York in
1980. Judo for women was included as a demonstration sport at
the 1988 Seoul Olympics. At these games Sue Williams and Julie
Reardon won gold and bronze respectively for Australia. (Judo
for women is now an official Olympic Sport).
Today Judo continues to grow in popularity throughout the world
as people take up Judo for fitness, sport and self defence.
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