Judo was founded by Jigoro Kano, a practitioner of ju-jitsu who opened his own school in the late nineteenth century. Kano was a highly educated philosopher who was trained by the ju-jitsu masters. Kano’s teachings, known as ‘Judo’, became incredibly popular, and by 1886 the Japanese government had approved Judo as an officially supported sport. It was later used in the training of the Japanese military and was one of the tools used by Japanese troops in both World Wars. For this reason Judo was banned by occupation forces in Japan after World War II, and this ban remained in place until 1951. Fortunately the occupation forces recognised that Kano’s Judo was a moral as well as physical discipline, and in the later years of the ban the restrictions were relaxed.
In the early years of the twentieth century Judo made its way across the globe to the UK, and in 1920 the Budokwai Judo School was founded. In 1948 the popularity of the sport had spread to the point that the British Judo Association was founded – one year before the Japanese Judo Federation was formed (in 1949). 1948 also saw the founding of the European Judo Union, and in 1951 the International Judo Federation was initiated. The success of the sport was solidified in 1964 when it was officially included into the Olympic Games Summer schedule, and it has since then gone from strength to strength. The sport is now popular with both men and women of all ages and grades.
In the early years of the twentieth century Judo made its way across the globe to the UK, and in 1920 the Budokwai Judo School was founded. In 1948 the popularity of the sport had spread to the point that the British Judo Association was founded – one year before the Japanese Judo Federation was formed (in 1949). 1948 also saw the founding of the European Judo Union, and in 1951 the International Judo Federation was initiated. The success of the sport was solidified in 1964 when it was officially included into the Olympic Games Summer schedule, and it has since then gone from strength to strength. The sport is now popular with both men and women of all ages and grades.