Courtesy of Dave Quinn, www.worldjudo.org

Judo is that system of physical education founded by Dr KANO Jigoro in 1882.   He named his school/premises Kodokan (a place for teaching the way) and the formal name of his system NIPPON DEN KODOKAN JUDO, which implies that the Judo of the Kodokan incorporated the best there was in Japan.

Judo concentrates on the grappling arts ie throws, pins, strangles and locks.   This does not imply that the striking arts are left out, just that they do not form the main practice system, and are not permitted in competition.

Judo is generally practiced in two ways: KATA or prearranged, formal practice (this is where the blows, leglocks and wristlock/throws are practiced) and RANDORI or free practice (where only the more controllable techniques are practiced, although players may agree to allow techniques forbidden in contest when training).   Competition, SHIAI, is in the form of randori generally, but competitions as to who performs the best in kata are also held.

The rules of competition concentrate on safety and action. Since 1948 competition has expanded in Judo with World Championships for men and women and inclusion in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. Competition has, therefore, become the focus of Judo, however, recently efforts are being made by many people to reverse this trend and return to a more balanced training, as intended by the founder. Many skills practiced in the 1930s have been neglected by the Judo world, but recent trends, hopefully, will restore this traditional training while still allowing the excitement of competition.

Judo is a surprisingly complete art. Shown below are a chart of some of the types of techniques which may be used in Judo. There is also a list of the approved Kata, which cover a wide range of technique and approach, extending even into philosophy, physically expressed.

Here is an example of Randori demonstrated by some children.   They use both throws and holds (children do not generally use strangles or armlocks in randori).   They are not moving around enough, but they give a very good idea of light randori or yaku-soku-geiko

JUDO BELT GRADING

Everyone has heard of the "black belt" but this is just the most well known.   When you start, you wear a white belt and have to pass various tests and win a number of contests to gain various coloured belts before you get to be a dan grade and wear the black belt.   That, though, is not the end.   There are 5 levels of black belt, then 3 levels of red and white belt, and finally 2 levels of red belt.

The highest level is the tenth dan.   Very few of these have been awarded in the 130 years of judo history, so few that the holders are world renowned in judo circles.

DOWNLOAD A LIST OF TENTH DANS

CHART OF WAZA (TECHNIQUES)

Nage-waza (throwing techniques)	Tachi-waza (standing techniques)	Te-waza (hand techniques)
		Koshi-waza (hip techniques)
		Ashi-waza (leg techniques)
	Sutemi-waza (sacrifice techniques)	Ma-sutemi-waza (direct sacrifice techniques)
		Yoko-sutemi-waza (flanking sacrifice techniques)
Katame-waza (grappling techniques)	Osae-waza (pinning techniques)	Kesa-gatame-kei (scarf-hold methods)
		Shiho-gatame-kei (face-down methods)
	Shime-waza (strangle techniques)	Kubi-waza (neck techniques)
		Do-jime (trunk techniques)
	Kansetsu-waza (joint techniques)	Ude-waza (arm techniques)
		Kote-waza (wrist techniques)
		Yubi-waza (finger techniques)
		Koshi-waza (hip techniques)
		Hiza-waza (knee techniques)
		Ashikubi-waza (ankle techniques)
		Sekizui-waza (spine techniques)
Ate-waza (smiting technique)	Atama-ate (head blows)
	Ude-waza (arm techniques)	Hiji-ate (elbow blows)
		Te-waza (hand techniques)	Tsuki-waza (thrusting techniques)
			Uchi-waza (striking techniques)
	Ashi-waza (leg techniques)	Hiza-ate (knee blows)
		Keri-waza (kicking techniques)

Here are some examples of throwing techniques:

SOME ALTERNATIVE CLASSIFICATIONS OF TECHNIQUES

CHART OF KATA

Unlike karate, the kata of Judo are performed with a partner, thus the effect of the technique may be seen and felt.

Note: The same kata may be described by somewhat different names eg: Kime-no-kata (Shinken-shobu-no-kata) and Koshiki-no-kata (Kito-ryu-no-kata).
   ¹ These 5 Kata are contested at IJF kata tournaments.
   ² This is an old kata which is under review by Kodokan and is vary rarely performed
   ³ Used only in the Kodokan women's division (joshi bu).
   ⁴ Used in schools and the Kodokan women's division.

There are also some kata which were never officially accepted by Kodokan.    Gonosen-no-kata (forms of countering) developed at Wasada University is often demonstrated in Europe; Nage-waza-ura-kenkyu (throw reversal study) developed by Kyozo Mifune, judan; Katame-no-ura-waza (grappling reversals) developed by Kazuo Ito, kudan; and Renkoho (arresting practice) developed by Sumiyuki Kotani, judan, are in books which they authored, but rarely demonstrated.

Here is an example of Kata.   This is Kodokan Goshinjutsu.    The video has been edited to show just the techniques.