Definition of JUDO

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Judo is a martial art that emphasizes the use of quick movement and leverage to throw an opponent. Its techniques are generally intended to turn an opponent's force to one's own advantage rather than to oppose it directly. The opponent must be thrown cleanly, pinned, or mastered through the application of pressure to arm joints or the neck. Judo evolved out of the older martial art jujitsu in late-19th-century Japan, but it is now practiced primarily as sport. It became an Olympic sport for men in 1964; women's judo was added in 1992.

Examples of judo in a Sentence

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Lukas Krpalek won every major honor on offer in judo's 90-100kg category... — Henry Young, CNN, "Lukas Krpalek: The Czech heavyweight with the toughest task in sport," 22 Feb. 2018 Putin is a former KGB spy who earned a PhD in economics and has a judo blackbelt. — Oren Dorell, USA TODAY, "What you didn't know about Russian President Putin," 9 Mar. 2018 Culture Minister Miri Regev visited Abu Dhabi as part of an Israeli delegation to a judo tournament and is photographed visiting Sheikh Zayed mosque. — Summer Said, WSJ, "Covert Saudi Outreach to Israel Sputters After Journalist’s Murder," 18 Dec. 2018 Harrison, 27, became the first American to win a gold medal in judo in London in 2012 and repeated as champion in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro. — Mia Berry, BostonGlobe.com, "Kayla Harrison ready to make the switch from judo to MMA," 20 June 2018 Notable alumni also include football standouts in different sports — Reggie Bush (track) and Ricky Williams (wrestling) — and those in familiar pursuits: Ronda Rousey (judo) and Luke Walton (basketball). — Glae Thien, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego's Cal State Games turning 30," 12 July 2018 Much to the regret of his judo practising father and, later on, Chelsea, who in a moment of madness had dished out £7.5m on him, Zenden chose football. — SI.com, "Pascal Chimbonda & 24 Other Classic Premier League Players You'd Forgotten: No. 17 - Bolo Zenden," 14 June 2018 In the ensuing months, Putin would also be pictured arm wrestling, riding a horse and practicing judo. — Washington Post, "How the Kremlin turned the Russian president into a global icon," 12 July 2018 Dicko was inspired to take up judo watching the exploits of compatriot Audrey Tcheuméo on television at the London 2012 Olympics. — Henry Young, CNN, "Why French judoka Romane Dicko is more than just 'female Teddy Riner'," 7 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'judo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.