Kodokan Judo Institute

35°42′27″N 139°45′12″E / 35.7076186°N 139.7534024°E / 35.7076186; 139.7534024

For the Special Historical Site in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, see Kōdōkan (Mito).

The Kodokan Judo Institute (公益財団法人講道館), or Kōdōkan (講道館), is the headquarters of the worldwide judo community. The kōdōkan was founded in 1882 by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo, and is now an eight-story building in Tokyo.^[3]^[4]

Etymology[edit]

Literally, kō (講) means "to lecture", dō (道) means "way," and kan (館) is "a public building". Together it can be translated as "a place for the study of the way."

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#2__titleDEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#2__descriptionDEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

The Kodokan Institute offers classes for those who want to master judo.^[5] The program is authorized as a non-regular school by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Its courses include the theories and practice of judo, and matters of general education. The course is divided into two parts: a general course for novices, and special courses for those who have completed the general course or its equivalent.^[6]^[7]^[4]

The Kodokan also issues ranks, and many judoka (practitioners of judo) around the world become Kodokan members and have their ranks registered with the Kodokan.^[8]

The Institute was founded with only nine disciples. The growth of judo in its early years is demonstrated by the growth of the Kodokan itself:^[9]

Today, the Kodokan has 1,206 mats across the five main dojo (training halls)—Main, School, International, Women's, and Boys'—plus a special dojo for retired judoka and special technique study purposes.^[4]^[8]^[10]^[6]

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#4__descriptionDEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#4__titleDEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

12 mats - May 1882, at the Eishōji, a Buddhist temple in

Ueno

40 mats - Spring 1887, at Shinagawa's house, Kōjimachi

107 mats - February 1894, at Koishikawa-chō, Shimotomisaka-chō

314 mats - January 1898, at Ōtsuka Sakashita-chō

986 mats - March 1958, at 2-chome, Kasuga-chō, , Tokyo

Bunkyō

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#5__titleDEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#5__descriptionDEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

1st Lab: Theoretical and historical study of judo.

2nd Lab: Psychological study of judo.

3rd Lab: Technical analysis of judo. Research on the physical strength of judo players.

4th Lab: Physiological study of judo.

Visiting the Kodokan[edit]

Short-term visitors to Tokyo can visit the Kodokan to watch or attend practice. Visitors may walk up to the main floor of the dojo to watch practice or competitions. Permission is required to attend the practice for transient students. One-time visitors are most likely to be allowed to take part in a randori session with foreign students.

Building[edit]

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__subtextDEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--0DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--0DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--0DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--1DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--1DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--1DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--2DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--2DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--2DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--3DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--3DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--3DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--4DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--4DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--4DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--5DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--5DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--5DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--6DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--6DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--6DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--7DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--7DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--7DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--8DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--8DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--8DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--9DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--9DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--9DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--10DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--10DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--10DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--11DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--11DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--11DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--12DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--12DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--12DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--13DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--13DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--13DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--14DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--14DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--14DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__quote--15DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__name--15DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

$_$_$DEEZ_NUTS#6__company_or_position--15DEEZ_NUTS$_$_$

Attire[edit]

Only white judogi (judo uniforms) are generally allowed in the Kodokan (except for special occasions and foreign guests for whom they may show some tolerance). Wearing blue or any other color judogi is considered disrespectful, as the white judogi is traditional and has cultural significance. Undershirts for men are not allowed.

Kōdōkan Shitennō

Jujutsu

List of Kodokan Judo techniques

Hombu dojo

(in Japanese and English)

Official website

- Judo history pages at JudoInfo.com

"Judo History"

Ohlenkamp, Neil (2006) basic reference on judo. ISBN 0-07-147534-6.

Judo Unleashed

Ohlenkamp, Neil - at JudoInfo.com

Kodokan Judo

- University of Montana Judo website.

A History of the Kodokan

- Description of life in the Kodokan Hostel.