Judo is a form of martial art that originated in Japan. It was created by Jigoro Kano with self-defence in mind; hence the name translates to “Gentle Way”. The purpose of this sport is to restrain your opponent through a series of powerful and elegant throwing techniques and dynamic groundwork, like arm locks and strangles.

This sport has been widely advertised and introduced as a suitable self-defence art for women in America; indeed the very first classes were for women only. Whether it was because Judo techniques focused on impairing movement rather than attacking, or because Jigoro Kano was known to have been a thin, sickly teenager, for a long time Judo was considered a women-only sport in western countries. Nowadays, the sport has become very popular among people of all ages and genders. In fact, Judo is a preferred sport for children because of its focus on character development and morality.

These days, you can take up judo in many parts of the world, as its popularity skyrocketed after becoming an official Olympic sport in 1964. There are many reputable instructors ready to help you learn how to defend yourself and also gain self-confidence.

Judo has always been an art of mystery; possibly due to the ease with which people get thrown to the ground, not to mention how fast they get up without showing any signs of injury! While the martial art focuses on throwing techniques and ground work, falling is generally the first thing you learn in a judo class.

Judo techniques are good for self-defence because you learn how to restrain someone who is bigger than you.