Master craftsman

AUBURN - Literally translated, judo means “the gentle way.”

This way was paved by Kano Jigoro, the founder of modern day judo and the man responsible for not only making judo a part of the educational program of Japan in the early 1900s, but also the man responsible for making it into the first form of martial arts to be recognized as an Olympic sport.

During his lifetime, Jigoro was an educator of more than judo, serving as the director of primary education for Japan's Ministry of Education and as president of Tokyo Higher Normal School.