This section will provide you an insight into the Japanese martial art judo and give you the opportunity to learn some basic techniques step by step. Jūdō lit. ‘the gentle way’ was created in 1882 by Jigoro Kano, who collected ancient techniques of the samurai and combined them with a new philosophy. In the 20th century Judo also spread in the western world and changed from its original spirit until it became an Olympic discipline focused on competitiveness. In Judo, both partners wear robust suits that are called judogi and fight in the Randori mode or learn a specific form, called kata. The main goal is to throw the partner on the floor while using his energy as efficiently as possible. Randori can be performed at different levels of intensity depending on the level of both partners. Once a Judoka falls, the fight can continue on the floor using grappling techniques, chokeholds, and joint locks. In this part of judo, called newaza, the goal is to force the partner to submit.

However, Judo involves not only training of the body but also the development of your mind and personal character. This aspect can not be emphasized enough because knowledge about these techniques brings a lot of responsibility as they have the potential to cause serious injuries. That’s why they can only be used for self-defense! Even while practicing with other judoka one should always be considerate and treat his partner with respect. With some dedication, the articles on this website will enable you to learn the basics of judo. However, if you want to become an advanced Judoka I would definitely suggest you look for a local dojo to be able to train with real partners and to be able to learn the philosophy behind it.