Judo 05: Judo’s Rise to Worldwide Popularity

The 1950s and 1960s were key decades for Judo’s growth. In 1956, the first World Judo Championships took place in Tokyo, with 21 countries participating. The sport was gaining traction across Europe, and in 1964, Judo made its Olympic debut in Tokyo, marking a huge milestone.

The inclusion of weight divisions helped make Judo more accessible, and although Japan dominated the sport, the open-weight division was won by Anton Geesink from Holland. This win was important because it showed that non-Japanese athletes could succeed in Judo, encouraging more countries to embrace the sport.

Judo’s acceptance as an Olympic sport played a major role in its global expansion, with more countries competing and more people learning the art.