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 The
Kodokan was founded in 1882 by the late Prof. Kano who himself had established
Judo. Judo was derived from Jujitsu which had many names and schools. Jujitsu is
an art for either attacking others or defending oneself with nothing but one's
own body. Prof. Kano adopted the superlative parts of all the Jujitsu schools,
got rid of precarious parts, and established the new Kodokan Judo based on his
own insight and arrangement.
It started with only nine disciples and a twelve-mat dojo. The Kodokan Judo was
recognized in a few years to be excellent since its students overwhelmed the
Jujitsu athletes at the Police Bujitsu Contest. This really was the first step
for its future rapid progress.
Prof. Kano promoted judo as a physical exercise from a wide national point of
view. Proceeding with the organization of the Kodokan and enacting the
regulations of Judo, he became the first Asian member of the International
Olympic Committee in 1909 and worked for the spread of Judo world-wide. Judo
became an official event in the Olympic Games of 1964, backed by Judo fans and
sport promoters all over the world. It is now a very popular sport almost
anywhere in the world. |
