Strive to survive

By improving one’s self, the whole community benefits. All unselfish intention is right. - Jigora Kano

According to Jigaro Kano, who founded Judo in 1882: "Judo is the way to the most effective use of both physical and spiritual strength. By training you in attacks and defenses it refines your body and your soul and helps to put the spiritual essence of Judo into every part of your body. In this way you are able to perfect yourself and contribute something of value to the world. This is the final goal of the Judo discipline" Judo roughly translates to the "Gentle Way". It is a martial art which focuses on physical discipline and strength of character. It is an ideal sport for people of all ages and physical abilities.

Although Judo is a martial art, its practice and methods are based around gentleness. Giving way to the strength of the opponent, adapting to and using it to your advantage will achieve victory over the opponent.

“When a stronger man pushes me with all his might, I will be beaten if I simply go against him. If, instead of opposing his pushing I retreat more then he pushes or turn aside the direction of his pushing, he naturally leans forward through his own pushing and loses his balance, and if utilizing his pushing strength I apply a certain technique on him, it is quite possible to make him fall, as he is losing his balance. Sometimes he will fall merely if I turn my body skillfully. This is one simple instance of how, by giving way, a contestant may defeat his opponent. There in lies the principle of gentleness”. Jigoro Kano, What is Judo, Kodokan, 1947.

A main referee and two more judges arbitrate a Judo contest. All officials are of equal status and calls are decided by vote. The main referee calls all points and penalties while performing the designated hand gestures.
The two judokas – one in a white and one in a blue uniform - compete for five minutes. To win the contest a judoka must score an Ippon (a degree equalling 10 points) by using a successful technique. If none of the judokas completes an Ippon by the end of the game, the winner is the one to have scored the greatest value.