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Kodokan Judo

The art which is now practiced under the term "Judo" should properly be called "Kodokan Judo" 
The Kodokan Judo practiced today is based upon the ancient art of Jujitsu.  The founder of Judo,
Prof. Jigoro Kano, studied several styles of jujitsu as a young man.  Based on his practical
experience and theoretical studies, at the age of 22 Kano founded Kodokan Judo in 1882 at
Eisho-ji, a small Buddhist temple in the Shimo-tani section of Tokyo. 

Prof. Kano was born October 28, 1860 in Mikage, a small fishing village overlooking Osaka Bay. 
After his mother's death in 1869, his father moved the family to Tokyo. Those were the years in
which Japan witnessed a series of revolutionary changes, including the collapse of the feudal system
and restoration of Imperial Rule. The ordinance prohibiting Samurai from wearing swords signaled a
swift decline in the martial arts.  Jujitsu was no exception, and tottered on the brink of ruin. 

Prof. Kano was unsatisfied with the manner of the art of Jujitsu...and the entrance of commercialism
upon the scene.  He decided to create a new concept based upon the principles of Jujitsu,
maintaining the effective techniques, modifying others, and eliminating harmful techniques.  He
presented this new set of Dojo rules, values and standards.  From this simple beginning Judo was
founded...the Gentle Way.

Principles of Judo
Judo is a physical and mental discipline. It's lessons are readily applicable to the management of our daily lives. This fundamental principle of Judo, one that governs the techniques of attack and defense, is whatever the objective it is best attained by the maximum efficient use of the mind and body for that purpose. Judo is a grappling art, utilizing throwing, choking, striking and joint-locks. It is very physical in nature. There are essentially two methods of training, Kata and Randori. Kata which means "form" is a system of pre-arranged movements that teach the fundamentals of attack and defense. Randori which means "free practice" refers to partners working with one another as they would in an actual match. Judoka will throw, pin, choke and armlock as though they were in an actual match. (children are not allowed to choke or arm-lock.)
Judo's Decisive Battles
I. Judo endured and overcame almost every imaginable hardship. Finally in 1886 Judo gained its greatest and most brilliant glory in most dramatic fashion. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Board was taking an active interest in the revival of Jujitsu. A keen rivalry developed between the two schools, (Judo and Jujitsu) and culminated in a great tournament in 1886 under the auspices of the Chief of Metropolitan police. defeat would have been fatal to the Kodokan and would have arrested the progress of Judo. The tournament results were devastating. Each side sent fifteen select men and the Judo representatives won thirteen of the fifteen matches. This breathtaking victory permanently established the supremacy of Kodokan Judo, not only in theory but in practice. II. Later, during the 1940s and 1950s there was a tremendous rise in the popularity of Judo and other martial arts. During this time another great contest was fought. Helio Gracie, co-founder of Cracie-Jujitsu in Brazil, had challenged and defeated many martial artists of that day. He then challenged the World and All-Japan Judo Champion , Masahiko Kimura. It was to be a Jujitsu match in Brazil. Over 60,000 people came to see the match. The match lasted thirteen minutes, with Kimura throwing and holding Gracie with many techniques. By most accounts, the match ended when Gracies corner threw in the towel after Kimura had broken Gracie's arm with a bent-arm crushing technique (ude-garame). This match was seen as a tremendous victory for Judo.
Toshi-Ryu Jujitsu
Toshi Dojo, which has been the premier grappling Dojo in the Louisville area for many year, has developed its own self-defense fighting system, called Toshi-Ryu Jujitsu. Toshi-Ryu has taken the best Kodokan Judo and Jujitsu grappling forms and merged them with basic striking and pressure point control techniques from various styles. This class which is taught by the Judo instructors, includes over 13 black belts in various martial arts ( Judo, Jujitsu, Aikido, Kung-fu, Karate, and Taekwonddo). This class is for adults only.

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