(ENG-version)

Judo (柔道, Jūdō, “gentle way) is modern martial art created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the objective is to either throw or takedown an opponent to the ground, immobilise or otherwise subdue an opponent with a pin or force an opponent to submit with a joint lock or a choke. In this specific martial art we are not use to strike and kick our opponent during competitions but only in pre-arranged forms called kata. A judo practitioner is named judoka (same stile is used for aikido, karateka, kendoka….).

Every judoka daily push himself throw the study of ancient techniques that derive from several old jujutsu styles, we can mainly divide in three categories: nage-waza (throwing techniques), katame-waza (grappling techniques) and atemi-waza (striking techniques). Each of these three categories divided itself in other sub-categories.

Judo practitioners  typically devote a part of each training to an ukemi session in order to prevent significant injuries.

Several types of break falls (ukemi) exist: mae-ukemi, zenbo kaiten-ukemi, ushiro-ukemi and yoko-ukem (in order: front b., rolling b., rear b. and side b.).

The rules concerning judo, aikido karate, kendo…. could be summarised in three fundamental principles which in Japan are identified with the words: sen (iniziative), sen no sen (contrast iniziative), go no sen (iniziative on the iniziative). 

The founder, Master Jigoro Kano sad: 

"Judo is the way (道) more effective to use the physical and mental strength. Train in judo means achieving the perfect knowledge of the spirit through the attack - defence training and diligent effort to obtain an improvement in physical and spiritual. The completion of the ego thus obtained will be referred to social services, which is the ultimate goal of Judo. 

Ju (柔) is a beautiful concept concerning the logic, virtue and splendour; is the reality of what is honest, good and beautiful. The expression of judo is through waza, which is acquired through technical training based on scientific study. » 

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(ITA-version)