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History of Judo Timeline

(1882–Present)

This timeline traces judo’s origins, development, international spread, and evolution into a major modern martial art and Olympic sport. Less

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Go to: Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Origins and development

Kano begins training with Fukuda

1877

Kanō was referred to Fukuda Hachinosuke, a teacher of Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū jujutsu, who taught five students in a small nine-mat dōjō.

Kano learns jujutsu

1877

While studying at the University of Tokyo, Kanō Jigorō learned that many jujutsu teachers had been forced into other careers, often opening traditional osteopathy practices called Seikotsu-in.

Fukuda dies and Kano receives his scrolls

1880

After Fukuda Hachinosuke died in 1880, Kanō, his keenest and most able student in randori and kata, received the densho, or teaching scrolls, of the Fukuda dōjō.

Kano studies under Iso Masatomo

1880

Following Fukuda's death, Kanō continued his Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū studies at the school of Iso Masatomo.

Kano studies Kitō-ryū

1881

After Iso's death, Kanō studied at the dōjō of Iikubo Tsunetoshi, a teacher of Kitō-ryū jujutsu.

Iso Masatomo dies

Jun 1881

Iso Masatomo died in June 1881, prompting Kanō to continue his martial arts education elsewhere.

Judo is created

1882

Kanō Jigorō created judo as an eclectic modern Japanese martial art, distinguishing it from earlier jujutsu systems through an emphasis on randori, or free practice.

Image source: Judo

Judo is created

Kano founds the Kodokan

Feb 1882

Kanō founded a school and dōjō at Eisho-ji, a Buddhist temple in Tokyo's former Shitaya ward. This institution became the Kodokan, the central school of judo.

Jiro Nango orders a judo exercise

1943

An exercise completed in 1943 was developed under the order of Jirō Nangō, the second president of the Kodokan.

Rules and institutions

Jujutsu contest rules are drafted

1899

Kanō was asked to chair a Dai Nippon Butoku Kai committee responsible for drawing up the first formal set of contest rules for jujutsu.

Kodokan adopts amended contest rules

1900

The Kodokan adopted the contest rules in 1900, amending them to prohibit all joint locks for kyu grades and adding wrist locks to the prohibited kansetsu-waza for dan grades.

Kansetsu-waza restrictions expand

1916

Further rulings restricted kansetsu-waza by prohibiting ashi garami, neck locks, and do jime.

Judo restrictions are expanded again

1925

The restrictions on judo techniques introduced in earlier rule changes were further expanded in 1925.

Kano discusses adding striking

1927

Kanō spoke about the need to integrate striking into the judo ruleset, noting that striking had been fundamental to many jujutsu schools.

The International Judo Federation is founded

1951

The International Judo Federation, the international governing body for judo, was founded in 1951.

Kano Yukimitsu becomes IJF president

1980 - 2009

Kanō Jigorō's grandson, Kanō Yukimitsu, served as the fourth president of the International Judo Federation from 1980 until 2009.

The hantei rule is removed

Jan 2013

In January 2013, hantei was removed and Golden Score was changed so that it no longer had a time limit.

IJF announces scoring changes

2017

In 2017, the International Judo Federation announced changes to the evaluation of points.

Culture and practice

Kosen judo becomes popular

1900 - 1920

Kosen judo, a Kodokan judo competition ruleset emphasizing groundwork, became popular in the early twentieth century for championships among Japanese Special High Schools at Kyoto Imperial University.

The modern long-sleeved judogi is adopted

1906

Early keikogi had short sleeves and trouser legs. The modern long-sleeved judogi was adopted in 1906.

Colored belts appear at the Budokwai

1926

Archives of London's Budokwai record the use of colored judo belts at its ninth annual display in 1926.

Colored rankings are recorded at the Budokwai

Jun 1927

The Budokwai Committee Minutes of June 1927 included a list of ranked colored judokas, documenting the early use of colored belt rankings.

Kawaishi visits the Budokwai

1928

Mikinosuke Kawaishi visited London and the Budokwai. He was probably inspired there to bring the colored belt system to France.

Sanshiro Sugata is released

1943

Akira Kurosawa released Sanshiro Sugata, also known as Judo Saga, a film centered on a young jujutsu practitioner who becomes involved with judo.

Sanshiro Sugata Part II is released

1945

Akira Kurosawa released Sanshiro Sugata Part II, also known as Judo Saga II.

Blue judogi is proposed for competition

1986

Anton Geesink first suggested the modern use of the blue judogi for high-level competition at the 1986 Maastricht IJF DC Meeting.

Throw Down is released

2004

Johnnie To released Throw Down, a film whose Chinese title references judo.

Mental training research is published

2005

Boris Blumenstein, Ronnie Lidor, and Gershon Tenenbaum published the first judo-specific practical mental-training approach based on sports-training principles.

Mental training research reaches the IJF journal

2022

Caio Gabriel published the first article on mental training in The Arts and Sciences of Judo, the scientific journal of the International Judo Federation.

International competition

Judo appears at the 1932 Olympics

1932

Kanō hosted an informal demonstration of judo at the 1932 Olympic Games, the first time judo was seen at the Olympics.

The IOC votes to include judo

Aug 22, 1960

At its 57th general session in Rome on 22 August 1960, the International Olympic Committee formally decided to include judo among Olympic events.

Men's judo debuts at the Olympics

1964

Judo was first contested as an Olympic sport for men at the 1964 Games in Tokyo.

Judo is dropped from the 1968 Olympics

1968

The Olympic Committee initially dropped judo from the 1968 Olympics, a decision that prompted protests.

Israeli judo gains prominence

1986

Israeli judo took an early step toward prominence in 1986 when Moshe Ponte won a silver medal at the Belgian Open.

Women's judo debuts as an Olympic demonstration

1988

Women's judo was introduced at the 1988 Olympics as a demonstration event.

Judo enters the Paralympics

1988

Judo was introduced as a Paralympic sport at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul.

Judo enters the Commonwealth Games

1990

Judo became an optional sport at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

Women's judo becomes an Olympic medal event

1992

Women's judo became an official Olympic medal event at the 1992 Games.

Women's Paralympic judo begins

2004

Women's events were contested for the first time at the 2004 Summer Paralympics.

Judo enters the Youth Olympics

2010

Judo was introduced in the Youth Olympic Games at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore.

Judo enters the Commonwealth Youth Games

2017

Judo was introduced in the Commonwealth Youth Games at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau.

The Commonwealth Games make judo a core sport

2022

From 2022, judo became a core sport in the 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and was also planned as a core sport for the 23rd edition in Glasgow.

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Key Facts

  1. Jigoro Kano founded the Kodokan in Tokyo in 1882, establishing judo as a system of physical education, moral training, and self-defense.
  2. Kano developed judo from techniques of several traditional Japanese jujutsu schools while emphasizing safe practice through throwing and grappling methods.
  3. The Kodokan helped standardize judo, and the art spread internationally during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
  4. Judo became an official Olympic sport for men at the 1964 Tokyo Games and for women at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
  5. The International Judo Federation governs worldwide competition, while judo continues to develop through changing rules, global participation, and its educational principles.

Source

This History of Judo timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

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