About Judo

Jigoro Kano was born on October 28th, 1860 in the village of Mikage located close to Kobe . He was the third son of Jerosaku Kano, a merchant in shipping equipment. At the age of 11 Jigoro moved with his family to Japan 's capitol Tokyo . Here, at the age of 17, he enrolled in the Imperial University where he got a degree in economical and political sciences. Since he knew that a job in the political area would be unsatisfactory, he transferred to the pedagogic faculty. After obtaining his degree he taught philosophy a year later. He worked himself up from teacher to professor and finally vice-president of the school for the nobility.

Jigoro Kano was a small and frail man, even for a Japanese. Several of his less civilized fellow students made themselves heard by being rough and using brute force. The small and silent Jigoro Kano was one of their favorite victims. The frail student was however to self-conscious to let himself be walked over without any kind of resistance. An iron will resided in him with the characteristics of a steel spring, resisting more when put under greater stress, but never breaking. Jigoro had to find some way that would enable him to fight his assailants on equal terms, and win. He found what he was looking for.