Kodokan

The Kodokan is the judo institute in Tokyo where judo was founded, opened by Jigoro Kano in 1882 as a school for studying the way.

  • Japanese name: Kodokan, judo institute in Tokyo where judo was founded (judoinfo.com terms list).
  • Founded: 1882 by Jigoro Kano, who says so in his 1932 lecture reproduced on judoinfo.com.
  • Today: the Kodokan publishes the official definitions of judo techniques and the official technique videos used on this glossary.

What does Kodokan mean?

In his 1932 lecture on judoinfo.com, Kano explains: in 1882 I started a school of my own and called it Kodokan. Kodokan literally means a school for studying the way, the meaning of the way being the concept of life itself. He also explains there why he named the subject judo instead of jujutsu: ju means gentle or to give way, jutsu an art or practice, and do a way or principle.

The judoinfo.com terms list keeps the short version: judo institute in Tokyo where judo was founded. The same list has kodansha, high-ranking judoka of 5th dan and above, a different word that shares the ko.

What is the Kodokan's place in judo history?

  1. Donn Draeger's lecture on judoinfo.com traces the kyu and dan belt system to Kano at the Kodokan, with the first awards probably in 1883.
  2. Judoinfo.com's Kimura biography records that Kimura was promoted to 5th dan in 1935 by defeating eight consecutive opponents at the Kodokan.
  3. The 1905 Kodokan tournament rules on judoinfo.com show how early contests were decided.
  4. Bjjheroes.com describes Mitsuyo Maeda, who taught Carlos Gracie, as a Kodokan jiu-jitsu and judo expert, which makes the Kodokan part of BJJ's story too.

Why does the Kodokan matter in competition?

The IJF Sport and Organisation Rules score a throw only when it is a Kodokan classified technique or a recognised variation, and point to the Kodokan's official channel for the videos of every technique.

Why does the Kodokan matter to you?

The Kodokan definitions of judo techniques are the standard this glossary uses for every judo throw, pin and submission, and the Kodokan's official videos are the ones we link. When two coaches disagree about what counts as uchi mata, the Kodokan definition settles it.

If you are working through the Kodokan syllabus, write it down as you go. Our grappling training journals are built for logging techniques by name.

For a full book on these techniques, see Kodokan Judo: Throwing Techniques by Toshiro Daigo, one of our picks in the best judo books for BJJ players.

Sources

  1. His 1932 lecture on judoinfo.com, JudoInfo
  2. Judoinfo.com terms list, JudoInfo
  3. Donn Draeger's lecture on judoinfo.com, JudoInfo
  4. Judoinfo.com's Kimura biography, JudoInfo
  5. 1905 Kodokan tournament rules on judoinfo.com, JudoInfo
  6. Bjjheroes.com describes Mitsuyo Maeda, BJJ Heroes
  7. Kodokan definitions of judo techniques, Kodokan Judo Institute
  8. IJF Sport and Organisation Rules, International Judo Federation

Related terms

Jigoro Kano, Kyu and dan grades, Gokyo (the 40 Kodokan throws), Dojo, Masahiko Kimura.

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