A man named Dr. Jigoro Kano (the only person ever to reach 12th dan) studied jujitsu to strengthen his body in the late 1800s. In 1882, he established his own school in Tokyo called the Kodokan where he began to teach a new style he called judo. The style emphasized the sporting and health aspects of martial arts, and was considerably safer than Karate. Kano was drawn to jujitsu because it relied on skill, not size and strength. "The gentle way" (judo) is meant to be more than self-defense; it is a way of life.
Kodokan is now only one of several styles of judo taught throughout the world. Great Britain, Italy and later Russia and France embraced the sport. It was even studied by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt (1858 1919).
Since the sport originated in Japan, all referee calls and languages are made in Japanese. No matter where an athlete studies judo, an integral part of their training involves using those Japanese terms.
Hence, it was only fitting that the first Olympic judo competition was held at the 1964 Games in Tokyo. As the host country, Japan was allowed to include one sport of its choice on the Olympic Programme. In 1972, judo became a permanent Olympic sport with five weight categories and an open category for men. Today, men and women compete in seven weightclasses each with no open categories. The 1996 Olympic Games marks the second time women were invited to participate in judo.
This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Jennifer Knight and Dianna Drayson.
| The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July). |