Judo is a combat sport that has its roots in Japan. The word Judo comes from Japanese and literally translates to "gentle way". The practitioner of judo is called a judoka, or judoka in English. Japanese names are used for all techniques.

The origin of judo is in the ancient Japanese martial arts, especially in the art called jiu-jitsu. These were self-defense techniques and included punches, kicks, throws, levers and even sword or knife attacks. In the second half of the 19th century, Professor Jigoro Kano developed a new system based on this art and called it Kodokan Judo. For Professor Jigoro Kano, however, it was not only techniques that were important. He also placed great emphasis on the principles that judo was meant to convey:

• The most effective deployment of spirit and body.
• Mutual assistance for mutual benefit.
• Victory by submission.
  
  

Today, judo is an Olympic sport that has captivated thousands of people around the world. Despite the changes brought about by its natural evolution, judo remains an art that is based on the principles of Professor Kano and leads practitioners to be considerate of others and respectful of their sporting partners.

For more information see: https://www.ijf.org/, https://www.eju.net/ a https://www.czechjudo.org/