Judo or Judo is a martial art of Japanese origin and which in turn comes from Jiu Jitsu. At the same time, it is a competitive sport that is practiced all over the world today and is part of the Olympic sports.
The term judo etymologically means path of softness or flexibility. The principle that governs this martial art is to use the opponent's force and energy against him or, in other words, not to resort to one's own force but to apply a series of keys and movements to destabilize and defeat the opponent.
Judo uses the whole body and is a combination of strength, combat tactics and technique, for which it is necessary to have adequate physical preparation, both aerobic and anaerobic. As a sports discipline, it is an activity of physical contact in which it is necessary to maintain discipline, respect the opponent and accept defeat with a sporting spirit. Although the purpose of the judo is to defeat the opponent in such a way that his back contacts the ground, it is not necessary to inflict damage on the opponent and at all times the rules and instructions of the judge must be respected.
Like all martial art, judo has its specific terminology
The person who practices it is the yudoka, the costume used is the yudogi, the dojo is the room where it is practiced and the tatami is the mat on which the yudokas face. On the other hand, each technique has its name (for example, ne waza are floor techniques and te waza are hand techniques). As the yudoka is formed in a long process, it acquires a greater degree of skill or dan and its learning is guided by a teacher or sensei.
Judo culture
Since its origins in the 19th century, judo has maintained a series of principles that make up a culture. The fundamental idea is the maximum efficiency of the body and the mind. As a complement, the yudoka has to practice respect for the opponent and softness instead of strength. And all this must be accompanied by a moral code inspired by ideals such as courtesy, sincerity, modesty and personal self-control. Finally, the honor of the yudoka is also an essential aspect in his behavior. This set of techniques, values and principles make up a culture and in some way a way of understanding life.
The origins of judo
Jigoro Kano is the founder of judo. He was a brilliant student and later a cultured and respected man in his community.
Initially he was interested in physical education but later he focused on the study of Jiu Jitsu, which ended up becoming judo. Jigoro Kano was the first Japanese to join the International Olympic Committee.
Judo proved to be more than just a martial art and sport in its early days, since it was introduced as an educational method in Japanese schools. At the beginning of the 20th century, a large group of judo masters traveled to Europe to spread this discipline and in a few years judo became one of the sports with the most practitioners in the world.
Photos: iStock - AndreyKaderov / Solovyova
