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History of Judo

In 1882 Professor Kano developed Judo, based on Jujitsu. Kano made Judo safer to practice than Jujitsu by refining the techniques used and adding some of his own. From its very beginning, competition has been a large part of Judo. This ensures that Judo's techniques are efficient ones. Judo quickly spread in popularity throughout Japan, and after the Second World War, Judo spread throughout the world.

The International Judo Federation was formed in 1951 and the first World Championships (with men only) were held in Japan in 1956. Judo was included in the Olympic Games at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics (again for men only). The first Women's World Championships were held in New York in 1980. Judo for women was included as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. (Judo for women is now an official Olympic Sport). Today Judo continues to grow in popularity throughout the world as people take up Judo for fitness, sport and self defence.

History of Dr. Jigioro Kano

The founder of Judo Jigoro Kano was born in 1860, he graduated with a degree in literature from Tokyo Imperial University in 1881. Apart from being the founder of judo, Kano was a leading educationalist and a prominent figure in the Japanese Olympic movement. When Kano began his study of ju-jutsu whe he was young, the ju-jutsu masters of the martial arts were struggling to earn a living. Although they were willing to teach the skills handed down to them over many generations, there was little interest among people of the succeeding generation, additionally the demise of the samurai class had reduced the need for instruction.

At the age of 18 Kano studied the ju-jutsu of the Tenshin Shinyo Ryu under Fukudo and Iso, both instructors at the prestigious Komu Sho. Following the death of Fukuda, Kano remained briefly with master Iso before finishing his pupillage with master Ilkubo. By 1883, Kano had clarified his analysis of ju-jutsu and related methods to the point at which he felt able to instruct the public through a school of his own. To that end he borrowed a small room at Eishoji temple and opened the first Kodokan for the study of Kano judo.

Judo entered many countries from 1902 to the 1930's. In the United States judo gained an early foothold because of the interest shown by President Theodore Roosevelt. As an expression of goodwill Kano sent Yoshiaki Yamashita, a high ranking member of the Kodokan, to America in 1902 to be his personal instructor. Roosevelt trained regularly , if clumsily and in due course a room was set aside at the White House for judo purposes. It was thirty-odd years, however, before an American reached dan grade in the USA itself. The first clubs were set up in Seattle in 1903 and Los Angeles in 1915, eventually leading to the large number of clubs found throughout the United States.

Judo in the Magic Valley started in 1962 with Guy Matsuoka and Wesley Dobbs instructing in various locations throughout Twin Falls until 1985 when we moved to the College of Southern Idaho.

Research By Megan Carlson