is a
modern martial art,
combat and
Olympic sport created in Japan in 1882 by
Jigoro Kano (嘉納治五郎). Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the objective is to either
throw or
takedown an opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue an opponent with a
pin, or force an opponent to submit with a
joint lock or a
choke.
Strikes and thrusts by hands and feet as well as weapons defenses are a part of judo, but only in pre-arranged forms (
kata, 形) and are not allowed in judo competition or free practice (
randori, 乱取り). A judo practitioner is called a
judoka.