Judo

/ˈdʒuːdoʊ/ noun

Definition

A Japanese martial art and Olympic sport focused on throwing and grappling techniques, emphasizing using an opponent's strength against them.

Etymology

From Japanese 'jū' (gentleness/flexibility) and 'dō' (way/path), literally meaning 'the gentle way.' Created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano as a modern martial art emphasizing technique over brute strength.

Kelly Says

Judo's philosophy of 'maximum efficiency, minimum effort' perfectly captures Eastern martial philosophy—instead of matching force with force, you redirect your opponent's energy, which is why a smaller person can throw a larger one. It's physics meeting philosophy.

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