Q 01/05

What does the word 'judo' literally mean?

A) Iron fist

B) Gentle way

C) Empty hand

D) Way of the sword

Answer · why

B) Gentle way

The 'do' suffix marks it as a way of life rather than a mere fighting technique, as in kendo and aikido.

Q 02/05

Who created judo in 1882?

A) Kanō Jigorō

B) Gichin Funakoshi

C) Morihei Ueshiba

D) Mitsuyo Maeda

Answer · why

A) Kanō Jigorō

A small, bullied schoolboy of 41 kilograms, he took up jujutsu to defend himself and ended up reinventing it.

Q 03/05

From which older Japanese fighting art was judo primarily developed?

A) Kendo (swordsmanship)

B) Sumo wrestling

C) Jujutsu (jiu-jitsu)

D) Okinawan karate

Answer · why

C) Jujutsu (jiu-jitsu)

Kanō drew mainly on the Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū and Kitō-ryū schools, dropping their blows and armed techniques and stressing free sparring.

Q 04/05

What is judo's word for free sparring, which Kanō emphasised over pre-arranged forms?

A) Randori

B) Kata

C) Kumite

D) Shiai

Answer · why

A) Randori

His first teacher, Fukuda Hachinosuke, ran a nine-mat dojo with five pupils and prized technique over formal exercise, planting the idea.

Q 05/05

Which two things, though present in some kata, are illegal in judo competition?

A) Chokes and pins

B) Throws and sweeps

C) Strikes and weapons

D) Grips on the belt

Answer · why

C) Strikes and weapons

The goal in a contest is a forceful throw onto the back, a pin, or a submission by joint lock or choke.