Accessible in most clubs from the age of four, judo is one of the most popular sports among children. Every year, millions of young people start judo around the world — discovering a discipline that remains incredibly popular with children and their parents alike. Why? Here are some answers.
An educational method that became a sport.
Created over 130 years ago by Jigoro Kano, judo was initially conceived as a method of physical education. For its founder, the goal was not to train good athletes, but good people — by providing them with a solid educational foundation for success in both their personal and professional lives.
Today, although judo has become a staple of the Olympic Games, it has not lost its educational dimension. Centred on the concept of mutual support and respect for one's opponent, judo remains true to its founding principles. Respect, self-control — in judo, one learns good behaviour for oneself and for others. For the multi-Michelin-starred chef and judo practitioner Thierry Marx, this discipline distinguishes itself from other sports by its ability to educate before it teaches.
An ideal setting to build self-confidence.
A judo class always begins and ends the same way. You put on your kimono (or judogi) in the changing room, then leave your sandals (zoories in Japanese) at the edge of the tatami (mat area), which you bow to before stepping onto it. Once on the mat, the class always begins with a group bow, a sign of respect for the instructor and the other training partners. As soon as the class is over, the protocol followed at the beginning is reversed.
This ritual — identical in all classes and for all practitioners — puts everyone on an equal footing. The shyer students gain confidence, while the more boisterous learn to conform to the common rules. For children discovering the concept of socialisation, judo offers essential guidance for learning to accept themselves and others.
The moral code — taught from a very young age.
The educational framework provided by judo is embodied in the moral code. It consists of 8 fundamental values:
- PolitenessRespect for others.
- CourageDoing what is right.
- SincerityExpressing oneself without disguising one's thoughts.
- HonourBeing true to one's word.
- ModestySpeaking about oneself without pride.
- RespectWithout respect, no trust can be built.
- Self-controlKnowing when to remain silent when anger rises.
- FriendshipThe purest of human feelings.
Displayed in all dojos, this code of good conduct is an essential educational tool — learned from a very young age by all judokas.
Essential learning for children's health and safety.
Beyond its educational aspects, the practice of judo develops crucial psychomotor skills from a very young age. The most important of these is the first lesson every judoka learns before competing against others: knowing how to fall without getting hurt.
Whether falling forward or backward, the young judoka strengthens their cognitive abilities to develop the right reflexes in case of an unexpected fall. This crucial safety skill is also used in other sports such as cycling, horseback riding, and rugby. In addition to learning how to fall safely, judo helps develop sensory and motor skills related to balance, coordination, and flexibility. These specific advantages complement the benefits common to most sports — improved cardiovascular fitness, increased muscle strength, and enhanced endurance.
The teacher plays a key role in students' success.
To teach in a class affiliated with Kudos Judo, a judo instructor must hold a British Judo Association-recognised qualification, alongside completing first-aid and safeguarding qualifications. Within the club, the instructor embodies a responsible, caring, and, when necessary, authoritative figure — serving as a role model for all judokas to progress both technically and personally.
The instructor has a duty to pass on knowledge and skills; they must be exemplary in their behaviour, demonstrating appropriate conduct both on and off the mat. They guide the learning and progress of their students, whom they are responsible for evaluating at the end of each term during the traditional belt promotion ceremony.
A progression tailored to each individual.
These ranks, represented for children by coloured belts, provide each young practitioner with a simplified unit for measuring their progress — and understanding the distance separating them from the goal of all young judokas: the black belt. It symbolises the culmination of the judoka's technical and personal development journey and opens up new horizons. Achieving the black belt is a source of immense pride for a judoka, and strengthens their sense of belonging to a community that shares and promotes the same values.
Judo — the best sport for children.
A true school of life and respect for others, judo is an ideal sport for personal growth and character development. Technical learning, based on repetition, combined with more free-form practice, allows a child to learn and progress at their own pace while having fun with friends in a supportive environment.
At the dojo, everyone meets and accepts each other — because judo is accessible to all — providing fertile ground for socialisation and the creation of strong, lasting bonds.
Romane Dicko, individual bronze medallist and Olympic champion in the mixed team event at the Paris 2024 Games, attests to this: "Judo allows you to forge real connections. You share so many moments, you experience so much with your friends in judo that the friendships you create remain unbreakable."
You too can join the large judo family — and be welcomed to a community for you and your child.