Judo

What is judo?

Judo is a Japanese martial art and self-defense discipline that was developed around 1882 by Jigoro Kano. The word judo means “the gentle way” and refers to a way of training and living in which technique, timing, and control are more important than brute force. A practitioner is called a judoka.

In judo, you learn to use an opponent’s speed and strength instead of meeting them head-on. The aim is to unbalance and throw an opponent under control, or to control them on the ground with a hold, chokehold, or joint lock. The competitive sport is popular worldwide and has been part of the Olympic program since 1964.

Judo is not just about winning. Self-control, respect, cooperation, and learning to train safely form its foundation. Training sessions and competitions begin and end with respect for your partner, your opponent, and the tatami.

The core of the sport

The two classic principles of judo are seiryoku zenyō, maximum efficiency with minimum effort, and jita kyōei, mutual prosperity and general well-being. On the mat, this means moving efficiently, choosing the right action at the right moment, and training together to improve. You throw your training partner, but are then thrown yourself as well. This makes judo both an individual challenge and a shared learning experience.

From jiujitsu to judo

Jigoro Kano was born in 1860 in Mikage, Japan. A small, slight boy who was often bullied, he began practising traditional jiujitsu. He studied, among others, Tenjin Shinyo-ryu and Kito-ryu and combined their useful techniques into a safer and more systematic system: judo.

In 1882, Kano founded the Kodokan in Tokyo. He removed the most dangerous techniques from traditional jiujitsu and developed randori, free practice with resistance, as the basis for safe yet realistic training. This combination of technique, physical development and mental education made judo different from an ordinary collection of fighting techniques.

The philosophy of Jigoro Kano

• Seiryoku zenyō - achieving maximum effect with minimum effort. Use your energy efficiently and learn to use an opponent’s strength to your advantage.
• Jita kyōei - mutual benefit and general welfare. You learn judo together, with respect for your partner and responsibility for each other’s development.

Technique over brute strength

In the original ideal, a smaller and physically weaker person should be able to defend themselves against a larger attacker through technique. In competitive judo, strength obviously plays a role, but timing, balance, grip, posture and technical choices still determine who wins an exchange.

Judo goes worldwide and becomes an Olympic sport

Kano spread judo internationally through demonstrations and training programmes. In 1964, judo became an Olympic sport at the Tokyo Games. The first World Championships for men were held in 1956, and the first World Championships for women in 1980. From 1987 onwards, the tournaments were combined. The International Judo Federation (IJF) is the sport’s international governing body.

The Dutch judo tradition gained worldwide recognition through Anton Geesink, who won Olympic gold in Tokyo in 1964, Wim Ruska, who won two gold medals in 1972, and Mark Huizinga, who became Olympic champion in 2000.

Important developments in judo

Judo began as a system for personal development and self-defense, grew into an international competitive sport, and remained connected to traditional dojo values. The Kodokan safeguards its technical and historical foundation, while federations and competition organizations continue to develop the sport for different ages and skill levels.

The Dutch contribution

Anton Geesink achieved more than just a historic Olympic victory. The use of white and blue judogi in major competitions became more important partly due to his influence, as this makes it easier for referees, spectators, and viewers to see which judoka is performing which action. In smaller competitions and in Japan, red and white belts are also used to distinguish the judoka from one another.

The rare 10th dan

The 10th dan is an exceptional rank that historically has been awarded to only a very small group of judoka. Well-known holders include Kyuzo Mifune, Yoshitsugu Yamashita, Anton Geesink, Charles Palmer, Toshiro Daigo, Ichiro Abe, Yoshimi Osawa, Jaap Nauwelaerts de Agé, and George Kerr. The red belt represents the highest dan ranks; the precise awarding and recognition may vary by federation.

Judo for everyone

Judo is practiced by children, adults, and seniors. Recreational judo emphasizes safe movement, learning to fall, cooperation, and enjoyment. A-judo for athletes with a disability is integrated into the sport, with adapted training and competitions where necessary.

Training in judo

Judo lessons take place in a dojo on a tatami mat. Training traditionally begins in seiza, the kneeling position, and includes a bow toward the mat. Judoka also show respect when leaving the tatami. It is a simple habit with a clear message: train hard, but treat your surroundings and training partner with care.

Learning to break falls and move safely

Ukemi-waza, the techniques for breaking a fall, is one of the first and most important parts of judo. A judoka learns to fall safely backward, sideways, and forward before throws and randori become more demanding. Good ukemi protects the body and makes it possible to train with confidence.

The main technique families

• Nage-waza - throwing techniques, including leg throws, hip throws, shoulder and arm throws, and sacrifice throws.
• Katame-waza - grappling techniques on the ground, including holds, arm locks, and chokes.
• Atemi-waza - striking, punching, and kicking techniques. These are not permitted in randori or shiai, but appear in some kata.

The judoka performing a technique is called tori. The judoka receiving the technique is called uke. These roles constantly alternate. You learn judo not only by performing techniques, but also by receiving them safely and understanding them.

Randori, shiai, and kata

During randori, judoka train freely and with resistance. An official match is called shiai and requires tactics, fitness, grip fighting, and control under pressure. Kata are set forms in which techniques are performed formally and precisely. Together, these three training formats form the technical backbone of judo.

Judo around the world

Judo has grown into a global sport with national federations, local clubs, international championships, and a permanent place in the Olympic Games. The IJF organizes World Championships in non-Olympic years and, together with the national federations, oversees the international competition structure.

The sport has several levels. Beginners mainly train falling, movement, gripping, and basic throws. Advanced judoka work on combinations, counters, groundwork, and competition tactics. At the highest level, strength, fitness, video analysis, competition experience, and a highly refined sense of timing come together.

Clubs, federations, and judo schools

A judo school can be an independent gym or an association. Children and adults train there under the guidance of a judo instructor, often in groups organized by age, experience, and level. Many clubs organize internal competitions and also invite judoka from other schools.

In the Netherlands, the Judo Bond Nederland is the national federation. In Belgium, this is the Royal Belgian Judo Federation, with Judo Vlaanderen and the Ligue Francophone Belge de Judo as its constituent organizations. National federations connect clubs with international organizations and oversee grading exams, competitions, and selections for international tournaments.

Judo as a lifelong sport

The combination of safe falling, controlled contact, discipline, and cooperation makes judo suitable for people of many different ages. Not every judoka chooses to compete officially. For many practitioners, its value lies in staying fit, building confidence, learning to deal with resistance, and growing together in the dojo.

Judo in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has a strong judo tradition and has produced several world and Olympic champions. Anton Geesink became Olympic champion in 1964, Wim Ruska won two gold medals in 1972, and Mark Huizinga won Olympic gold in 2000. Their achievements raised judo's profile among a broad audience and strengthened the Dutch judo culture.

The Judo Bond Nederland (JBN) is the national federation for judo in the Netherlands. Judo schools and clubs form the foundation of the sport. There, children and adults learn to move safely, train together, and prepare for exams and competitions.

The Dutch ranking system

In the Netherlands, the ranking system progresses from the lower kyu grades to the higher dan grades. The color of the belt indicates the level. The kyu grades range from 6th kyu through 1st kyu. These are followed by the dan grades, from 1st dan through 10th dan.

• 6th kyu - white
• 5th kyu - yellow
• 4th kyu - orange
• 3rd kyu - green
• 2nd kyu - blue
• 1st kyu - brown
• 1st through 5th dan - black
• 6th through 8th dan - red-white
• 9th and 10th dan - red

For children, schools sometimes use stripes or half-belts. These show how close a judoka is to the next grade and keep their development clear and motivating. The waiting period between kyu grades is at least six months, but in practice it may vary by school and examination date.

Exams and the JBN

Kyu exams are often held within the judoka's own judo school. For a dan grade, an exam through the Judo Bond Nederland is required. Exams for 1st through 3rd dan are conducted by regional examination committees; the 4th and 5th dan are assessed by national examination committees. Higher grades are increasingly awarded based on contributions to the sport of judo, depending on the applicable rules.

From black belt onward, stripes are no longer used. A dan exam includes kata and a free section with standing and ground techniques. A national judo association membership and judo passport are important for participating in higher-level competitions or earning a dan grade.

Kata: the formal side of judo

Kata are fixed forms in which judo techniques are performed formally, precisely, and in an agreed sequence. You can think of kata as the grammar of judo: they make the technical principles visible and help judoka develop posture, timing, distance, control, and movement with precision.

Performing kata is a mandatory part of the dan examination, but kata are also practiced separately. Many judoka begin practicing them around the age of thirteen and from 2nd kyu onward. The partner who performs the technique is called tori; the partner who receives the technique is called uke.

Important Kodokan kata

• Nage no Kata - fixed forms for throwing techniques.
• Katame no Kata - ground control techniques.
• Ju no Kata - forms centered on yielding and fluid movement.
• Kime no Kata - techniques for defense and decisive control.
• Koshiki no Kata - ancient techniques with a direct link to traditional martial arts.
• Kodokan Goshin Jutsu - forms for self-defense.
• Itsutsu no Kata - a kata based on the five laws of nature.

Other kata

• Seiryoku Zenyo Kokumin Taiiku no Kata - exercises for maximum efficiency.
• Go no Kata - strength techniques.
• Joshi Goshin Ho - self-defense for women.
• Gonosen no Kata - counter techniques.
• Hikomi no Kata - standing reversal techniques.

Kata does not require competition pace, but attention to detail. Every posture, movement, and technique conveys the purpose of judo. That is why kata remains important for judoka who want to refine their technique, even when they do not participate in official competitions.

Match: shiai

An official judo match is called shiai. Judoka are grouped by age and weight so that the match is as fair and safe as possible. For seniors, a match generally lasts four minutes. For juniors, the match duration is usually between two and four minutes, depending on age.

The referee's commands

• Hajime - begin. The match and match time start.
• Mate - wait. The match and time are interrupted.
• Sono-mama - do not move. The judoka remain in their positions, for example during a hold-down.
• Yoshi - continue. The match resumes from the same positions as before sono-mama.

Scores and judging

A throw is judged on control, force, speed and the way the opponent lands. The main match scores are ippon, waza-ari and yuko. An ippon ends the match immediately. A waza-ari is a strong but incomplete score; multiple scores may determine the result according to the applicable competition rules.

• Ippon - a full score for a convincing technique with control and a clear landing or other decisive action.
• Waza-ari - a high score for a well-executed technique that does not meet all the requirements for ippon.
• Yuko - a lower score under the applicable competition rules.

Standing techniques and groundwork

In tachi-waza, standing techniques, attention is paid, among other things, to breaking the opponent's balance, control during the throw and the landing. In ne-waza, ground techniques, a hold-down may score when the opponent is controlled on their back or shoulder and the person applying it maintains pressure from above. The exact score and duration follow the current rules of the governing body or competition organiser.

Jonai and jogai

An action is jonai, or in bounds, when the result of the technique is clearly within the contest area. In a standing technique, the landing may take place outside the area if the technique was initiated within it. In groundwork, the action remains in bounds as long as a judoka maintains physical contact with the contest area. If the action is jogai, or out of bounds, the referee stops the match with mate.

Weight categories

• Men: under 60 kg, 60–66 kg, 66–73 kg, 73–81 kg, 81–90 kg, 90–100 kg and over 100 kg.
• Women: under 48 kg, 48–52 kg, 52–57 kg, 57–63 kg, 63–70 kg, 70–78 kg and over 78 kg.

The exact categories may vary by age, competition and current international regulations. Therefore, the regulations of the organising governing body always take precedence.

Penalties in judo

Penalties are intended to correct unsafe, passive, or unsportsmanlike behavior. The two main penalty names are shido for a minor violation and hansoku-make for a serious violation or disqualification. The exact application may vary by age category and the current competition rules.

Shido

A shido may be given for behavior that improperly disrupts the flow of the contest. Examples include excessively defensive or passive judo, a false attack, unnecessarily stepping outside the contest area, a one-sided grip without an immediate attack, speaking during the contest, and continually avoiding a genuine judo grip.

Rearranging your own judogi or that of your opponent, bringing your hands or feet toward the face, unnecessarily interrupting the grip fight, and performing techniques that are not permitted in a particular age category can also result in a shido. Under the competition framework provided, three shidos are equivalent to hansoku-make.

Hansoku-make

A direct hansoku-make follows a serious violation and means loss of the contest. Depending on the violation, exclusion from the rest of the tournament may also follow. An indirect hansoku-make results from three shidos and basically leads to loss of the contest.

• performing an arm lock anywhere other than on the elbow joint;
• deliberately attempting to injure an opponent or acting against the spirit of judo;
• gripping the judogi below the belt or wearing metal objects;
• ignoring the referee or displaying contemptuous behavior;
• lifting an opponent who is already lying on the mat and immediately throwing them again;
• from a standing position, gripping one or both legs, i.e. grabbing, when no exception applies;
• diving headfirst into a standing technique, i.e. diving.

Grabbing and diving

The ban on grabbing was introduced to make the distinction between judo and other wrestling sports clearer. According to the competition framework, a first violation may be penalized with a shido and a repetition with hansoku-make. Diving, in which a judoka dives headfirst into a throw, is also heavily penalized. The exact exceptions and consequences always follow the current rules of the organizing federation.

How a contest ends

• an ippon through a throw, hold-down, arm lock, or choke;
• three shidos or a direct hansoku-make for the opponent;
• concession, for example by tapping out or calling maita;
• a higher score at the end of regular contest time;
• golden score when the score is tied and a decision is still required.

In golden score, the contest continues until a score or penalty determines the result. Different rules may apply to youth contests, including different treatment of a tied score.

Youth Rules and Safety

Safety is highly important in judo. That is why youth competitions, including the under-12 category, have additional rules. The aim is for young judoka to gain competition experience in an environment suited to their age, development, and physical capacity.

Key differences for youth

• Arm locks are not allowed.
• Chokes are not allowed.
• A match usually lasts two minutes when no overtime is required.
• First-aid staff may enter the mat as often as necessary, including at the judoka's request.
• Techniques performed on one or both knees are not allowed.
• Sacrifice throws in which the opponent is pulled over the thrower's body are not allowed.

Because youth competitions also have an educational purpose, explanations are often given sooner and a shido is imposed less quickly. The usual safety rules still apply. Grabbing, diving, and other prohibited actions also remain forbidden. Avoiding a valid grip may be penalized severely and immediately under the youth rules.

First aid during competitions

At youth competitions, first-aid staff may enter the mat whenever necessary. Stricter procedures apply to older judoka, and doing so without the referee's invitation may affect the match. The referee may call for first aid in cases including an injury to the head, back, or neck, an injury to the scrotum, a torn nail, or a bleeding wound.

According to the provided framework, a bleeding wound may be bandaged up to twice. In the event of a third bleed, the judoka may lose the match. The exact application of the first-aid rules and the consequences for the match always follow the current regulations of the organizing federation.

Safety starts on the mat

Good youth training starts with breakfalls, clear agreements, and controlled contact. Coaches, referees, parents, and judoka share responsibility for a safe atmosphere. Technique, respect, and enjoyment are just as integral to judo as winning.