The story of judo

For younger readers: ages 8 to 11, read aloud if you like. Switch to for teenagers and adults.

1. 1Who taught Jigoro Kano?Japan's old fighting schools were disappearing, and a young man set out to find the teachers who were left. · 4 min
2. 2What happened on 12 mats in a temple?In 1882 Kano opened his own school in a Tokyo temple, gave his art a new name, and gave the world its first Dan grades. · 4 min
3. 3How did the gentle way prove itself?Kano's students took on police jujutsu teams, Kano helped write the first contest rules, and judo went into Japan's schools. · 4 min
4. 4How did Kano carry judo round the world?Kano joined the Olympic movement, travelled abroad again and again, and showed judo beside the masters of the Kodokan. · 3 min
5. 5How did jujutsu reach the London stage?Japanese teachers came to London from 1900, wrestled challengers in the music halls, and helped open Europe's oldest Japanese martial arts club. · 3 min
6. 6Who built judo in Britain?After the war a London club called the meetings that started British and European judo, and London hosted the birth of the world federation. · 3 min
7. 7How did judo get to the Olympic Games?A vote in Rome, a Dutch champion in Tokyo, and the British judoka who have stood on the podium since. · 3 min

Written from checked sources, listed on the sources page. Pictures are drawn, with computer help, under our direction; none shows a real child. Recorded chapters and words are read by a computer voice; a word not yet recorded uses your device's own voice.