Judo
/ˈdʒuː.doʊ/noun
A modern Japanese martial art emphasizing throws, pins, and joint locks.
Did you know?Judo was coined in 1882 by Kanō Jigorō from Japanese 柔道, replacing the older jujutsu label to frame combat as a disciplined “way” rather than mere technique.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
yeu-
“to be soft, pliant, or bendable”
Classical Chinese
Chinese
道
“way, path, principle, or method”
Japanese
Japanese
柔道
“the “gentle way,” a martial discipline using softness and yielding”
1882
Japanese
jūdō
“Kanō Jigorō’s modernized name for his martial art”
Modern English
English
judo
“a Japanese martial art and combat sport”