Half a Century of Heritage

Judo originated and developed in Japan. It is not bujutsu (martial art) but a budo — a martial way — and a sport that today prevails across the world.

Dr. Kano Jigoro (嘉納治五郎), the founder of judo, was born in 1860 in Higashinada-ku, Kobe. While attending the Tokyo Imperial University he began to learn Tenjin Shinyo-ryu and later Kito-ryu of Jujutsu. With this foundation he set out to transform jujutsu in a scientific manner, naming his system judo to distinguish it from the older tradition and to align it with the spirit of sport.

Dr. Kano established the Kodokan in 1882. He introduced the dan ranking system and, the following year, a formal accreditation for judo athletes. In 1900 he laid down the rules and regulations for referees of competitions, maintaining that shiai — the contest — is a vital aspect of judo. He urged students to train hard and to compete often.

Through the techniques of judo, Dr. Kano believed, the practitioner cultivates physical and mental strength and gradually embodies the essence of the Way — good character, right etiquette and manners, self-control, the pursuit of one's profession, and the betterment of nation and society.

Judo became part of the school curriculum in 1911, and the Government of Japan helped spread the sport across the country. In the 1930s Dr. Kano travelled to Europe to make judo known beyond Japan.

Judo was officially announced as an Olympic event at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games — and from that moment, the way of judo belonged to the world.

Geographically close to Japan, judo was soon introduced to Hong Kong by local Japanese and overseas Chinese from Japan, first as a recreational activity. In 1940 a judo course was attached to a bodybuilding and fitness centre (莫理素健身院), aimed at foreign residents. In 1960, Mr. Fung Ngai (馮毅) and a group of expatriates organised judo courses with the YMCA (西青會).

In 1964 Mr. Koon Fook Cheung (管福祥) established the Far East Judo Club (遠東柔道會) and Mr. Stephen Tsai Teh Bei (蔡德培) set up the Judo Department of the South China Athletic Association (南華會). The Kowloon branch of Caritas opened judo classes in 1965, and in 1966 Mr. Takeo Iwami (岩見武夫) became the first Japanese teacher to establish a judo school in Hong Kong. From this point onward judo in Hong Kong was developed systematically and substantially.

Judo eventually developed into a sport in its own right — one of the reasons it has grown so vigorously across the world. Exchange and the refinement of technique are essential to its progress.

Founded in 1970, the Judo Association of Hong Kong, China has since devoted tremendous effort to hosting local and international tournaments, training junior and elite athletes, and conducting courses for coaches and referees. The development of the sport has been inspiring and fruitful, with Hong Kong achieving excellent results in international competitions in recent years — and, we trust, in the years to come.