Judo

The art of Judo, interpretation “The Gentle Way”.

This sport has fast become popular in the Bahamas, mainly because it promotes less strikes and relies on throws and submission techniques which, for some reason, parents tend to believe is less aggressive or destructive.  Judo practitioners have competed in tournaments at home and as far as Japan.  Wikipedia gives an overview of the history of Judo as a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Kano Jigoro. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one’s opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one’s opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an opponent to submit by joint locking or by executing a strangle hold or choke. Strikes and thrusts by hands and feet as well as weapons defenses are a part of judo, but only in pre-arranged forms (kata) and are not allowed in judo competition or free practice (randori).