Judoka

A judoka is a person who practises judo, one who studies judo, from a child at a first class to an Olympic champion. Judoinfo.com translates it as one who studies judo, and the word covers everyone from a child at their first class to an Olympic champion.

Japanese name: judoka, one who studies judo.
Related words on judoinfo.com: yudansha (a person who has earned the black belt), mudansha (students below black belt), kodansha (high-ranking judoka, 5th dan and above).
In BJJ: the equivalent is jiujiteiro, or just grappler.

What does judoka mean?

The judoinfo.com terms list gives judoka as one who studies judo. The ending -ka marks a person who does something, so a judoka is to judo what a practitioner is to any discipline. The same list has a related phrase, judo ichidai, a judo life, spending one's life in the diligent pursuit of judo, which is what the word judoka quietly points toward.

The word carries no grade. A white belt who trains twice a week is a judoka. The grade words are separate: yudansha for those who hold a dan grade, mudansha for those who do not yet, and kodansha for the high dan grades.

Where do you hear judoka?

In English judo writing and commentary, where judoka is used in place of judo player.
On judoinfo.com and in tournament reports, where it is both singular and plural: one judoka, two judoka.
In club names and team names.
On patches, shirts and gifts for people who train.

What does the IJF call a judoka?

The IJF Sport and Organisation Rules list judoka in their official terminology and translate it as "judo player".

How do you use the word judoka?

Judoka works for one person or many; adding an s is common in English and nobody minds. Use it for anyone who trains, whatever their grade, and use judo player if you prefer plain English. The one thing it should never be is a boast: calling yourself a judoka says you turn up and train, and that is the whole claim.

For the judoka in your life, our judo gifts collection is where to start.