Judo, which means "The Gentle Way", was founded in 1882 by Dr. Jigoro Kano as a form of training both the mind and body in a period of Japanese history where martial arts were strongly discouraged. He founded the original Kodokan Judo after studying many styles of jujitsu. Judo is many things to different people. It is a fun sport, an art, a discipline, a recreational activity, a fitness program, a means of self-defence, a way of life and more. Judo provides the means for learning self-confidence, self-control, concentration and leadership skills, as well as physical coordination, power and flexibility.
Judo is known for its spectacular throwing techniques but it also includes numerous techniques for controlling an opponent while on the ground. A good judoka, one who practices Judo, will first use timing and leverage to bring his opponent off balance and execute a throw. Once the judoka has thrown his opponent to the ground, he/she will use painful hold-down techniques, chokes, and armlocks to control and subdue the opponent. Judo is often compared to freestyle wrestling and while the two share many techniques, Judo retains many dangerous self-defence manoeuvres. The main principles of Judo are "Maximum Efficiency" and "Mutual Welfare and Benefit." The goal of maximum efficiency teaches a judoka to use the least amount of physical strength to throw an opponent. This is accomplished by proper use of technique and timing. The goal of mutual welfare and benefit was an extension of Dr. Kano's belief that Judo could help an individual become a better, more productive member of society through the use of personal disicpline taught through Judo.