Indeed, with a string of medals from recent competitions and a triumphant round of belt gradings, the club is proving that judo is more than a sport—it’s a pathway to growth, excellence ...

1” and “hip technique No. 1.” He also devised judo’s “obi” belt-ranking system. In Japan at the time, there were only two colors, black and white, used for practitioners. But Kawaishi ...

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has Japan’s judo authorities grappling with calls from the public to take Russian President Vladimir Putin to the mat and strip him of his high-ranking belt.