Judo

Judo was founded in 1882 by Dr. Jigoro Kano.  Meaning the “gentle way”, it was derived from Jujitsu minus the lethal techniques.  Judo is a grappling martial art similar to jiu-jitsu, but does NOT involve punching or kicking. Judo places emphasis on throws, pins, and submission holds such as strangles and arm locks.  Introduced into the 1964 Tokyo Olympics as a demonstration sport, it gained full Olympics status in 1972.  Training consists of standing and ground grappling techniques, kata, and self-defense applications.

The dojo is a member of the United States Judo Association and handles promotions and ranks through them. Southside Dojo is one of the top 5 largest USJA Judo clubs in the nation with over 100 registered members. We are also a member of the United States Judo Federation and United States Judo, Inc.  Our Judo instructors are all experienced judoka and current and former National Elite Team Members.  At Southside dojo we have beginner adult and youth judo classes as well as competitive classes (focusing on olympic-style sport judo).