# Everybody Plays!

# Judo

Paralympic symbol

Judo (the gentle way), is maximum efficiency through minimum effort. It comes from a form of unarmed combat from Japan. It is a combination of various skills from jujitsu (the gentle art) and is practiced as a sport, martial art, system of self-defense, and for physical fitness. Judo was started by Dr. Jigoro Kano in 1882 as a way for people, of all ages and abilities, to become physically fit. There are four ways to win a judo match: 1) A competitor throws her opponent to her back. 2) A competitor pins his opponent by keeping his back facing toward the mat for 25 seconds. 3) A competitor submits her opponent using a choke until her opponent taps twice. This is only legal if both competitors are age 13 or older. 4) A competitor submits his opponent using an arm-bar until his opponent taps twice. This is only legal if both competitors are age 17 or older.

Unlike many other martial arts, punching and kicking are not allowed in judo competition.

A long line of campers wearing judo jackets stand along the edge of the judo mat in a gym.