What is Judo?

Judo is a Japanese martial art and Olympic sport founded in 1882 by Professor Jigoro Kano. It teaches students to use an opponent's own momentum against them, making it effective for people of all ages, sizes, and fitness levels.

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Starting with the Samurai

Judo's roots stretch back to feudal Japan, where the Samurai, the dominant warrior class, trained in JuJutsu, an unarmed combat system designed for the battlefield. It was powerful, effective, and dangerous.

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In the 1880s, a young scholar named Jigoro Kano began studying Jujutsu out of personal necessity. He was small, frail, and frequently bullied. What he discovered changed martial arts forever.

Kano didn't just learn JuJutsu. He studied it deeply, separated the dangerous techniques from the practical ones, and in 1882 opened the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo. His new system, Judo (meaning the Gentle Way), kept the power of JuJutsu while making it safe enough to practice at full speed.

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Judo spread rapidly throughout Japan, became the training system for the Japanese National Police, and, in 1964, became an Olympic sport. It has held that status ever since.

 

How Judo Actually Works

Despite the name "Gentle Way," Judo is far from soft. The gentle refers to strategy, not effort. Judo teaches you to use an opponent's own momentum and energy against them, making strength less important than timing, balance, and technique.

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This is what makes Judo uniquely effective for people of all sizes and ages.

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There are three core areas of Judo:

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Throwing (Nage-waza): The signature of the sport. Judoka learn to off-balance an opponent and use leverage, timing, and hip mechanics to launch them to the ground. A clean throw earns an instant win, called Ippon, in competition. These techniques look spectacular, but they are built on precise fundamentals learned over time.

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Ground fighting (Katame-waza): Once on the ground, Judo uses pins, joint locks, and chokes to control or submit an opponent. This is the direct ancestor of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. BJJ was developed in the early 1900s by a student of Kano's top disciple.

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Traditional strikes (Atemi-waza): Strikes are part of classical judo kata but are not used in sport competition, which keeps daily training safe and high-intensity.

 

Judo for Kids: More Than Just a Sport

At Mile High Judo Club in Littleton, CO, children's classes begin with ukemi (learning to fall safely) before any throwing or grappling is introduced. This patience-first approach lays the foundation for everything else.

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For children, Judo is one of the most developmentally complete activities available. Beyond the physical benefits:

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• Discipline: Students learn to follow instructions, be coachable, and respect partners and coaches

• Confidence: Progress is visible and earned. Every stripe on a belt represents real work

• Emotional regulation: Judo teaches children to stay calm under pressure, manage frustration, and recover quickly

• Focus: The complexity of the technique demands full mental attention, a welcome contrast to screens

• Resilience: Falling and getting back up, literally and figuratively, is the core lesson of every class

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Many parents tell us Judo is the first activity their child has ever truly stuck with. Progress is tangible, community is real, and every class is different.

 

Judo for Adults: A Different Kind of Workout

Adult judo is intense, technical, and endlessly deep. Most adults describe their first few classes as the hardest workout they have had in years, and keep coming back because it is also the most interesting.

 

A single training session builds:

• Explosive full-body strength

• Cardiovascular endurance

• Flexibility and mobility

• Balance and body awareness

• Mental sharpness and strategic thinking

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Unlike gym workouts, Judo never gets routine. There is always a new technique to sharpen, a new partner to figure out, or a competition to prepare for. Many adult beginners at Mile High Judo also discover genuine self-defense capability that no amount of treadmill time can provide.

 

The Belt System: Progress You Can See

Judo uses a structured belt ranking system that makes progress clear and meaningful. Students begin at white belt and advance through yellow, orange, green, blue, and brown before reaching black belt (Shodan), the first level of mastery.

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At Mile High Judo, each promotion requires demonstrated technical skill, mat time, and a character component. Students must complete a character assignment before each belt test, reinforcing that Judo builds people, not just athletes.

 

Judo vs. Other Martial Arts

Wondering how Judo compares?

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• vs. Karate/Taekwondo: Judo is live grappling from day one. You train against real resistance, not just patterns and forms. The self-defense application is immediate and practical. For students with a striking background, Judo fills a critical gap. Karate and Taekwondo practitioners who add Judo gain the ability to close distance, control an opponent, and take the fight to the ground on their terms — skills that striking arts alone do not develop.

• vs. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: BJJ descended from Judo and focuses primarily on the ground. Judo adds the standing, throwing dimension. At Mile High Judo, you will develop strong fundamentals in both areas. The two arts have a natural relationship, and cross-training is extremely common at the competitive level. BJJ practitioners who train in Judo become significantly harder to take down and develop explosive entry into ground positions, while judoka who study BJJ gain deeper submission awareness and longer-range ground strategy.

• vs. Wrestling: Wrestling and Judo share similar physical demands, but Judo adds submission techniques and a deep philosophical tradition around respect and personal development. The two arts complement each other exceptionally well. Wrestlers who train in Judo gain powerful hip throws and grip strength that translate directly to takedowns. At the same time, judokas with a wrestling background bring elite athleticism and scrambling ability to the mat. Many competitive athletes train both deliberately.

 

Why Families in Littleton Choose Mile High Judo

Mile High Judo Club is conveniently located in Littleton, CO, just minutes from Roxborough, Stonegate, Sterling Ranch, and Highlands Ranch. We offer structured, high-quality judo instruction for students ages 7 through adult.

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No prior experience needed. No contracts. No commitments.

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Your first two weeks are completely free.