Judo
/ˈdʒuː.doʊ/noun
A Japanese martial art focused on throws, grappling, and using an opponent’s force against them.
Did you know?Judo’s name reflects its central principle, ju, meaning suppleness or gentleness: Kano Jigorō transformed older jujutsu techniques into a disciplined educational system in 1882.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
柔道
“The gentle or yielding way; a philosophical expression later read in Japanese as jūdō”
Ancient Japan
Japanese
柔
“Soft, supple, yielding, or gentle”
Ancient Japan
Japanese
道
“Way, path, method, or discipline”
19th Century
Japanese
柔術 ( jūjutsu )
“柔術, or techniques of suppleness; the older martial tradition from which judo developed”
1882
Japanese
柔道 ( jūdō )
“Kano Jigorō’s systematic martial and educational discipline, established at the Kodokan”
Modern English
English
judo
“A Japanese martial art emphasizing throws, grappling, pins, and controlled technique”