judo

noun

ju·​do ˈjü-(ˌ)dō 

: a sport developed from jujitsu that emphasizes the use of quick movement and leverage to throw an opponent

judoist

ˈjü-ˌdō-ist 

noun

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Judo is a martial art that emphasizes the use of quick movement and leverage to throw an opponent. Its techniques are generally intended to turn an opponent's force to one's own advantage rather than to oppose it directly. The opponent must be thrown cleanly, pinned, or mastered through the application of pressure to arm joints or the neck. Judo evolved out of the older martial art jujitsu in late-19th-century Japan, but it is now practiced primarily as sport. It became an Olympic sport for men in 1964; women's judo was added in 1992.

Examples of judo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

White, for years, resisted including women in the UFC, but relented in 2013 thanks to the star power of Ronda Rousey, a blond, photogenic fighter who took bronze in judo at the 2008 Olympics. —Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2025

For example, athletics and swimming are available to all eligible impairments, whereas judo is specific to athletes with vision impairment and dressage contains a mix. —Charlotte Harpur, The Athletic, 28 Aug. 2024

Teddy Riner thrills home crowd to grab Olympic gold in judo. —New York Times, 2 Aug. 2024

In judo, meanwhile, the losers of the quarterfinals and semifinals go into a new bracket, competing until there are two athletes left, again awarding bronze medals to those athletes. —NBC News, 9 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Japanese jūdō, from jū weakness, gentleness + dō art

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

judo

noun

ju·​do ˈjüd-ō 

plural judos

: a sport developed from jujitsu in which opponents attempt to throw each other by using quick movements and leverage