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LëtzebuergeschWhat is Judo?
A modern Olympic sport and a way of life, born in Japan and practised across the world.
The "gentle way"
Judo (柔道, jūdō — "the gentle way") is a martial art and Olympic sport created in Japan in 1882 by Professor Jigoro Kano. Its principle is deceptively simple: use skill, balance and timing rather than brute strength to unbalance and control an opponent. Practitioners — judoka — learn to throw (nage-waza), pin, and control on the ground (katame-waza), always with the safety of their training partner in mind. Every technique begins and ends with respect: judoka bow when they step onto the mat and to one another before and after practice.
From Kano to the Olympic Games
Jigoro Kano distilled the most effective techniques of traditional ju-jutsu into a coherent educational system he called Kodokan Judo. His goal was not only physical skill but "maximum efficiency, minimum effort" (seiryoku zenyo) and "mutual welfare and benefit" (jita kyoei). Judo grew into a truly global sport: it became an Olympic discipline for men at the Tokyo 1964 Games and for women at Barcelona 1992. Today the International Judo Federation (IJF) unites more than 200 national federations, making judo one of the most widely practised sports on earth.
The moral code of judo
The International Judo Federation promotes a moral code — a set of values that every judoka carries far beyond the dojo, into school, work and life.
Courtesy
To be polite to others.
Courage
To do what is right.
Sincerity
To express yourself honestly.
Honesty
To be honest with yourself.
Modesty
To speak about yourself without pride.
Self-control
To master your emotions.
Respect
Without respect, no trust can be born.
Friendship
The purest of human feelings.
What Judo Club Luxembourg offers
At JCL we teach judo as Kano intended: a complete education for body and mind. Our programme spans playful discovery classes for young children, structured belt progression for juniors, technical and competitive training for teens and adults, and dedicated kata and recreational sessions. Beginners are always welcome — you do not need to be fit, flexible or experienced to start. Our coaches, all nationally graded black belts, adapt every session to the age and level of the group, so that each judoka progresses safely and with confidence.
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