With more than 600 000 members in France, judo has already seduced the sporting heart of the French. This martial art from Japan is as much a sport as a philosophy of life. Its followers practice a "good use of their energy", and owe each other "mutual help and prosperity", according to the principles stated by Jigorō Kanō, the creator of judo .
Judo is a sport created in 1882 by Jigorō Kanō, a martial arts master who promoted a more moral, less brutal method of fighting. According to legend, it was while observing the snow lying on the trees that Jigorō Kanō imagined a martial art where smaller people could defeat stronger opponents, using their flexibility and energy. The weight of the snow would break the large tree branches, while the softer ones would simply bend and drop their load. An idea taken up and developed by the master of combat.
Judokas compete in duels on a tatami, during five-minute fights (for adults). There are several ways to score points and win the fight. Generally speaking, the goal is to succeed in knocking down the opponent and immobilizing him on the ground, notably by performing an arm lock.
In France, judo arrived in the 1930s, but it developed especially after the Second World War. It was not until 1972 that judo became a permanent part of the Olympic Games, and it was not until 20 years later that women's events were added to the program.
This sport is divided into weight categories and by gender. In 2024, there are seven tournaments for women (-48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, -70kg, -78kg, +78kg), seven for men (-60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, -100kg, +100kg) and one mixed team tournament. The events will take place at theArena Champ de Mars, between July 27 and August 3.
If France loves judo so much, it's because we excel at it! In the world championships, Teddy Riner is the most medal-winning judoka in history, with 11 medals, including 10 gold. He is far ahead of the Japanese Naoya Ogawa (seven medals, including 4 gold). And that's not all! On the third step of the podium, we find two Japanese, and another Frenchman: David Douillet, with his four gold medals.
Among women, success is also at the rendezvous: Clarisse Agbégnénou is fourth in the world, according to the classification of the greatest number of gold medals (five titles), and third in the world according to the greatest number of medals (five gold, two silver).
During the Olympic Games, too, the Blues stand out. Here, the champion remains - for the moment - Tadahiro Nomura. The Japanese is the only judoka to have obtained three times the status of Olympic champion in individual. He triumphed in 1996, 2000 and 2004. But Teddy Riner follows him a little, with two Olympic titles in individual, and one in mixed team. In 2024, the French intend to shine again. The master Teddy Riner intends to enter the legend of his sport.
Do you also want to take up judo? There are more than 5,000 clubs in France, including more than 1,000 in the Paris area. To find one near you, visit the French federation website.
