Pop Japan

Judo literally means the gentle way, contrary to a popular belief that judo is a form or wrestling. The literal translation of the name of this sport actually best describes the techniques in judo, wherein instead of punches and kicks, the opponent is just literally pinned down to the ground by the use of his or her body weight.

The martial art was developed by Kano Jigoro in Shiga Prefecture in 1882. This man is actually not originally a fighter but an educator and a polymath, whose expertise span on a variety of subject matters.

Photo by Korean Culture and Information Service. Licensed under Creative Commons. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en)

Tags: sports, judo, wrestling, martial art, kano jigoro, shiga prefecture, gentle way, fighter, polymath, japan