judo

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Martial Arts

Traditional martial arts such as judo, kendo, karate-do, aikido, and prosperity in modern Japan thanks to the dedication of those who practice.
In judo, which literally means "the gentle," the key to overcome an opponent is to build upon their strengths. Now popular throughout the world, judo has firmly established itself as an official Olympic event since its first entry in the Games in 1964. Following in the footsteps of judo, kendo (Japanese fencing) has also managed to attract a loyal following abroad in recent years. Kendo competitors wear armor-like protective clothing and use bamboo swords to attack and defend. Karate-do came to Japan from China through the Ryukyu Kingdom (now Okinawa). Karate-do competitors do not wear any type of protection and fight using only their hands and feet.