Judo
Judo is a Japanese martial art and Olympic sport in which you throw your opponent to the mat and control them on the ground with pins — and, for older students, chokes and armlocks. Jigoro Kano created it in the late nineteenth century; the name means the gentle way, using your partner's strength and balance against them. It is trained barefoot on mats, in a heavy cotton jacket and trousers called the judogi.
What it is for
Section titled “What it is for”- Balance, coordination and timing: throws work by breaking your partner’s balance, not by force alone.
- Strength and endurance for the whole body, especially the grip, legs and back.
- Learning to fall safely — a skill that is useful for life.
- Discipline and respect, with a clear system of grades.
- The basics of self-defence and self-confidence.
Equipment
Section titled “Equipment”- A judogi: a thick jacket, trousers and a belt. White is standard; blue is also used in competition. Many clubs lend one, or let beginners start in sports clothes without zips or buttons.
- You train barefoot; bring sandals for walking off the mat.
- Short nails, no jewellery, and long hair tied back.
- The mats (tatami) are at the club.
How training goes
Section titled “How training goes”- 60–90 minutes. It starts and ends with a bow, and many terms are in Japanese.
- A warm-up, then breakfalls (ukemi): falling backwards, sideways and forwards safely. Beginners spend a lot of time on them.
- Throws (nage-waza): repeated entries without completing the throw (uchi-komi), then throws onto a partner.
- Groundwork (ne-waza): pins, turn-overs and escapes; chokes and armlocks come only for older students.
- Free practice (randori), standing and on the ground, at a pace that suits both partners.
- Belts go from white through coloured grades (kyu) to the black belt (dan); the colours vary by country. You move up at a grading.
Who it suits best
Section titled “Who it suits best”- Children: judo is a classic first sport, and learning to fall is valuable. Many clubs take children from an early age.
- Adults who want a sport with a clear technical path and a strong community.
- People of any size: technique counts, and in competition you meet people of your own weight.
- Anybody interested in self-defence without strikes — see also Sambo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
- It is less suited to anybody with back, neck, shoulder or knee problems, as throws and falls are part of every session — ask a doctor and tell the coach.