Judo in USA

Living in the USA, Judo has a long and rich tradition. If you’re considering taking up Judo soon, then you’ll be becoming a living part of that tradition, dating all the way back to the feudal era and the time of the samurai. In fact, in order to understand the history of Judo in the United States, it’s useful to go back that far.

For several hundred years, Japan operated under a system of feudalism, in which warlords protected their holdings with specially trained warriors known as samurai. Although the samurai’s principle weapon was the sword known as the katana, no warrior is complete without an empty-hand component to their art. The empty-handed fighting techniques practiced by the samurai were known as jujutsu.

In 1882, Dr. Jigoro Kano studied traditional manuals of samurai jujutsu and isolated what he felt were the most practically useful techniques for debilitating an opponent, as well as the ones that were most healthful to practice. His modernization of these jujutsu techniques become known as Judo.

During the middle of the 20th century, many American soldiers were stationed in Japan, and many of them took pleasure in learning Japanese fighting arts such as Judo. When they eventually returned to the United States, they brought Judo with them. A few decades later, in the 1970s, the popularity of martial arts films from Hong Kong would earn Judo even greater recognition.

In 1964, Judo achieved perhaps its greatest recognition: it became an official Olympic sport enjoyed by athletes across the globe! Taking part in USA Judo is taking part in an international community!