Judo was designed as a martial sport derived from jujutsu. Created by Jigoro Kano in the 1880s, it enjoyed much popularity as its practitioners routinely defeated students of other arts. In 1882 Kano created the Kodokan Judo Institute as the governing body for the sport. Later, it was adopted into the curriculum of Japanese public schools. Judo became an Olympic sport in 1964, when the games were held in Tokyo.

Judo training emphasizes throwing an opponent to the ground by grasping his body or uniform. Once down, a variety of chokes and joint locks may be used to effect a submission. Two important parts of judo training—character development and morality—make judo a preferred martial art for children to practice.


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