judo
(ˈdʒuːdəʊ)
Also formerly jiudo, ju-do.
[Jap., f. ju gentleness, ad. Chinese jou soft, gentle + Jap. dō, ad. Chinese tao way.]
A refined form of ju-jitsu introduced in 1882 by Dr. Jigoro Kano, using principles of movement and balance, and practised as a sport or form of physical exercise. Also attrib.
| 1889 Trans. Asiatic Soc. Japan XVI. 192 The art of Jiujutsu, from which the present Jiudo..has sprung up. Ibid. 204 In Judo, which is an investigation of the laws by which one may gain by yielding, practice is made subservient to the theory. 1892 Trans. & Proc. Japan Soc. I. 9 It is due to the study of Jū-do that the Japanese police..are so skilful in seizing malefactors. 1905 Hancock & Higashi Compl. Kano Jiu-Jitsu p. xi, Jiudo is the term selected by Professor Kano as describing his system more accurately than jiu-jitsu does. 1921 Glasgow Herald 1 Jan. 9/1 This ‘Judo’ is practised all over Japan. 1931 E. V. Gatenby in Studies in Eng. Lit. (Tokyo) XI. 515 There is at least one jûdô society in London. 1953 Encounter Oct. 24/1 She ties it in front like a judo jacket. 1958 Radio Times 7 Feb. 9/4 A judo club. 1971 R. Busby Deadlock xiii. 193 A pair of judo pyjamas. 1972 Oxford Mail 1 Aug. 10/4 Judo is a way of learning to control yourself and your opponent. Ibid., The first judo club in England was founded in 1918 in London. |
Hence ˈjudogi, the costume worn for judo; ˈjudoka, one who practises, or is expert in, judo.
| 1952 Time 22 Dec. 40/2 France, center of the European cult, now has 150,000 judo wrestlers (called judoka). 1954 E. Dominy Teach yourself Judo 190 Judogi,..Judo costume. 1961 New Statesman 22 Sept. 402/2 The thrower's..right hand lifts the lapels of the Uke's judogi—his canvas wrestling-jacket. 1964 Sunday Mail Mag. (Brisbane) 1 Mar. 7 The only major expense in Judo is {pstlg}3 for the uniform, which is known as a judogi. Ibid., The examiners..award various gradings to the different judoka. 1974 Times 9 Jan. 14/5 With tough agility, however, the British judoka emerged from a tight corner. |