Judo contests at the London 2012 Olympic Games will be a five-minute whirlwind of combat, with athletes attempting a combination of throws and holds in a bid to defeat their opponents.
Did you know?
Jujitsu, the sport on which judo is based, was the only samurai martial art that did not involve a weapon.
Striking was banned as a Judo technique in the mid-20th century, due to the sport’s original background as a method of self-defense.
Judo rules require competitors to bow when entering and leaving the mat – called a ‘tatami’ – and at the start and end of a fight.
The judo uniform is called a ‘judogi’. It is tied at the waist by a belt whose colour reflects the level of training achieved by an athlete (or ‘judoka’).
Key facts
Venue: ExCeL Dates: Saturday 28 July – Friday 3 August Medal events: 14 Athletes: 386
Developed from jujitsu and established as a sport in the late 19th century by Dr Jigoro Kano, Judo is a sport for which athletes are called upon to employ an intricate mix of attack and defence. The sport’s one-on-one battles can be tough, tense and explosive, as competitors grapple for command against equally determined opponents.
The basics
Judo contests last five minutes, with scores awarded for different throws and holds. However, a contest ends immediately if a competitor is awarded ‘ippon’ – the maximum score. If the scores are tied after five minutes, the contest enters a golden score period, when the first score of any sort wins.
All of the Judo events at the London 2012 Olympic Games – seven for men, seven for women – will be played in a knockout format. The winners of each contest will qualify for the next round, with the two finalists going head to head in the gold medal contest. The defeated quarter-finalists will compete in two 'repechage' contests, the winners of which will then go up against the two defeated semi-finalists to determine the winners of the two bronze medals in each event.
Olympic Judo, past and present
Judo made its first appearance as a medal sport at the Olympic Games at Tokyo in 1964. A women’s competition was eventually added to the Olympic programme at Barcelona in 1992.
For London 2012, the Judo competition will be held at ExCeL, a multi-purpose events venue that will also host a number of other Olympic and Paralympic sports.
Judo can be enjoyed by participants of all skill levels and abilities. To find out how and where to get started, contact the British Judo Association. The Active Places websites also allows you to search for sports facilities in England. For more on the sport in general, check the website of the International Judo Federation.
ExCeL is an existing exhibition and conference centre in London's Docklands. Its five arenas will host a range of Olympic and Paralympic sports during the London 2012 Games.
Who
Name: Ryoko Tani (née Tamura) Date of birth: 6 September 1975 Country: Japan Medals Ryoko burst onto the Olympic scene as a 16-year-old in Barcelona 1992 when she won a Silver Medal. In the eight years that followed she lost only one fight - the Olympic gold medal contest in Atlanta 1996. Ryoko finally won a gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Her second victory at Athens 2004 made her the only female judoka ever to retain an Olympic title.
Name: Colin Oates Date of birth: 17 June 1983 Country: Norwich , Great Britain Colin followed in his brother's footsteps taking up the sport of Judo. His achievements to date include gold at the Norway World Cup in 2008. Colin is part of 'Team 2012' - being supported in his quest for success at the 2012 Games.
