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What is Kodokan Judo?

The Kodokan was founded in 1882 by the late
Prof. Kano who himself had established Judo.
Judo was derived from Jujitsu
which had many names and schools.
Jujitsu is an art for either attacking others
or defending oneself with nothing
but one's own body.

Prof. Kano adopted the superlative parts of
all the Jujitsu schools, got rid of precarious parts,
and established the new Kodokan Judo
based on his own insight and arrangement.
It started with only nine disciples and
a twelve-mat dojo.

The Kodokan Judo was recognized
in a few years to be excellent
since its students overwhelmed the
Jujitsu athletes at the Police Bujitsu Contest.
This really was the first step for its
future rapid progress.

Prof. Kano promoted judo as a physical exercise
from a wide national point of view.
Proceeding with the organization of
the Kodokan and enacting the regulations of Judo,
he became the first Asian member of
the International Olympic Committee
in 1909 and worked for the spread of Judo
world-wide.

Judo became an official event in the
Olympic Games of 1964, backed by Judo fans
and sport promoters all over the world.
It is now a very popular sport
almost anywhere in the world.