Getting Started
Judo is a fascinating Olympic sport. More than that, it is an art form. It is now practiced in almost every country of the world .
Judo was developed in Japan by Dr Jigoro Kano towards the end of the 19th century and has evolved from being a martial art into one of the world’s most popular sports. Since its inclusion in the 1964 Olympic Games Judo has progressed rapidly and is without doubt the worlds most popular combat sport. Judo is however much more than a sport, it is also seen to be effective as an educational system in both physical and moral spheres.
Judo training is an ideal form of physical exercise and it serves as a great cardiovascular workout, which improves stamina, general health and overall fitness. Physical strength is also improved as a direct result of trying to control and dictate the movement of the opponent and as well as enhanced power; a Judo player will also improve their flexibility. For the same reasons the balance and posture of a player will also be enhanced. Physical co-ordination can be seen to develop dramatically from participation in Judo and reflexes are also improved together with mental reaction time.
Kit you'll need
Most sports shops and many cubs supply Judogi (Judo suits) at reasonable rates and second-hand kit is often available from clubs. The Judogi is reinforced in all the right places and consists of a jacket, trousers and belt. The only other personal equipment required would be a pair of zori, which are Japanese style slippers and are needed for walking to and from the training or contest mat (a lot of people use flip-flops for this purpose).
What's Good
Judo is an ideal sport for all ages, males or females and attracts very many disability groups. Confidence and self-esteem are enhanced as a player progresses through the ranks and the very nature of the grading system ensures that the next goal is always realistic and achievable with effort. The grading system also ensures that regardless of their skill level all Judo players can actively compete with players of similar ability and hence they have a reasonable chance of emerging victorious.