Akshay Kumar in Judo

JUDO

Judo, meaning "gentle way", is a modern Japanese martial art and combat sport, that originated in Japan in the late 19th century.

Judo's most prominent feature is its object to either 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 executing a choke. Strikes and thrusts (by hands and feet), as well as weapons defenses, are a part of judo, but only in pre-arranged forms and are not allowed in judo competition or free practice.

The central principle behind judo lies in using the opponent’s strength and momentum against him. After breaking the attacker’s balance, a variety of throws may be used to score on your opponent. However, before learning to throw, judo students must learn to fall without injuring themselves. Practitioners of judo, known as jūdōka, learn how to use their arms and legs as shock absorbers to absorb the shock of a fall. Ground techniques divided into holding techniques, strangling or choking techniques, and arm lock techniques are also used in judo.

By the mid 19th Century more than 700 different styles of ju-jutsu were being taught throughout Japan. Kano Jigori studied many of these systems of unarmed combat. He later formulated a plan for the founding of a reformed method to turn the deadly techniques of jujitsu into a sport that would help practitioners to develop a strong mind, body and spirit.

By 1882, Kano began teaching ju-do when he opened his first dojo, the Kodokan. The formulation of the Kodokan style was completed by 1887 when his new style was accepted by the Japanese Ministry of Education, which adopted judo as a sport within the school system.

Judo began to gain popularity in the western world by the early 1900’s and was included as a sport for the first time at the 1964 Olympic Games.

Ultimately, the philosophy and subsequent pedagogy developed for judo became the model for almost all modern Japanese martial arts that developed from "traditional" schools (koryū).

Today judo is one of the world’s most popular forms of martial arts. In addition, the worldwide spread of judo has led to the development of a number of other disciplines such as Sambo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.