Some Interesting Facts About Judo as relating to MMA

General Facts and skills that are represented in Judo.

• -Originated in 1884 in Japan by Kano, Jigoro.
• -Made an Olympic sport in 1964.
• -3rd largest sport (not just martial art) in the world based on number of nations that have a governing body that participate in the Olympic Games.
• -The sport/martial art takes place both from feet and on ground. Hundreds of high amplitude throwing techniques can be used to transition to ground techniques (hold downs, arm bars, chokes).
• -The dominating countries in the sport vary and are never consistent due to the extremely varied styles that are represented in different areas of the world. For example: Japan uses classic techniques with their posture more upright with hips being inline with their shoulders vertically. In complete contrast to the Japanese, the Russian style is more bent over at the hips (like a wrestler) and pick ups are used more frequently. Gripping is much more abstract and strength is more of a factor.

*I go into detail on these two particular styles (the most popular) because if you decide to begin Judo, you will probably run into either the former or the latter as your only option when joining a Judo Dojo.

Judo is always evolving and in the present has undergone a major face lift with the inception of a myriad of new rules. Some are good, some are bad…but, the sport continues to evolve and in recent years has been heavily influenced by BJJ, wrestling and newer cross training similar to how many other fighting sports professionally train and varied methods (kettle bells, box jumping, swimming, yoga, etc).

Judo is great to build shoulders strength from gripping. Hip explosiveness due to the amount of throwing you will be doing. Learning how to fall properly, which is probably the most important and least recognized skill set implemented in Judo. Flexibility, conditioning, patience, mental toughness and countless other great attributes that you will pick up when becoming a “Judoka”.

Here is a list of Judoka that have and are fighting in MMA (not claiming them as Judo guys, but fighters who have fought in Judo)

ncomplete of course

• Hitomi Akano……………..15-6
• Yoshihiro Akiyama……….13-1
• Karl Amoussou……………11-2
• David Baron……………….16-3
• Justin Bruckman………….7-3
• Shonie Carter…………….48-21
• Antoni Chmielewski………18-5
• Nicolae Cury………………3-1
• Fedor Emelianenko………31-1
• Manvel Gamburyan………9-4
• Luke Harris……………….4-1
• Phillip Harris………………13-5
• Rick Hawn…………………2-0
• Mizuto Hirota……………..12-3
• Brian Johnston…………..5-5
• Jason Jones………………13-7
• Bu-Kyung-Jung…………..0-3
• Ferrid Kheder…………….13-5
• Akira Kikuchi………………16-4
• Sanae Kikuta……………..28-6
• Dong-Hyun-Kim…………..12-0
• Min-Soo-Kim……………..3-6
• Tsuyoshi Kosaka…………26-18
• Jon ‘Judo’ Krohn………….4-5
• Hector Lombard………….21-2
• Alexander Lungu…………2-1
• Kazuo Misaki……………..22-9
• Dokjonsuke Mishima……..19-7
• Hiromitsu Miura…………..9-6
• Ryuichi Murata……………8-3
• Kazuhiro Nakamura………13-10
• Pawel Nastula……………1-4
• Yushin Okami……………..23-5
• Naoya Ogawa…………….7-2
• Michihiro Omigawa……….8-8
• Remco Pardoel……………9-6
• Karo Parisyan…………….18-5
• Maro Perak………………..14-1
• Hayoto Sakurai…………..35-9
• Satoko Shinashi………….29-2
• Kestutis Smirnovas………22-8
• Rameau Sokoudjou………7-5
• Ben Spijkers………………0-2
• Makoto Takimoto………..6-5
• Gary ‘Smiler’ Turner……..4-2
• Danillo Villefort…………..10-3
• Jim Wallhead……………..18-5
• Jong-Kim-Wong………….0-1
• Hirotaka Yokoi……………11-5
• Kazunori Yokota………….11-2
• Dong-Sik-Yoon…………..5-7
• Hidehiko Yoshida…………8-7
• Yoshiyuki Yoshida………..11-4
• Igor Zinoviev……………..4-1

Hope this all helps,

Justin

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Work in progress. Facts will be reference and double check. More reference links will be added