Judo is a Japanese word which means the "gentle way".  It is based on an old form of unarmed Japanese combat Jujitsu. It is also used as a means of self-defence.
Judo means the " easy way" in Japamese. It was developed in Japan from the ancient schools of Jujitsu by Dr Kano in the later half of the 19th century. Kano visited Britain in 1885 and one of his outstanding pupils Yamashita began teaching judo in the USA in 1902. By 1905 judo had reached France where it was first taught to the Paris police. However, it gained popularity in Europe only after Koizumi founded the Bondukwai in London in 1918. The International Judo Federation was founded in 1951.

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