EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

judo

a Japanese martial art and Olympic sport based on throws and grappling

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "judo" come from? It comes from Japanese ju + do, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "judo" come from? It comes from Japanese ju + do, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

Judo’s story begins in Japanese: ju + do meant “the gentle way.” Combining "ju" (gentle) and "do" (way). It reached English by 1900s as judo. Kano Jigoro founded judo in 1882; it joined the Olympics at Tokyo in 1964. Today, judo means a Japanese martial art and Olympic sport based on throws and grappling.

  1. Stage 1 · Japanese · 1880s ju + do "the gentle way", combining "ju" (gentle) and "do" (way).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1900s judo "a martial art and sport using throws and grappling", Kano Jigoro founded judo in 1882; it joined the Olympics at Tokyo in 1964.

Browse by origin