Ever wonder how a martial art literally means "gentle way"? That's judo for you – a combat sport that's all about using your opponent's force against them rather than meeting strength with strength. It's like martial arts chess, where brains often beat brawn.

Created in 1882 by Japanese educator Jigoro Kano, judo emerged from the brutal battlefield techniques of jujitsu. Kano stripped away the deadliest moves and refined what remained into both a physical discipline and mental philosophy. He envisioned judo as a way to build character – "maximum efficiency with minimum effort" became the guiding principle. What's fascinating is that Kano was actually a pretty small guy himself, standing just 5'2" and weighing around 130 pounds, which probably influenced his emphasis on technique over raw power.

Judo became the first Asian martial art in the Olympics back in 1964 (coincidentally held in Tokyo), and it's produced some legendary moments. Take Yasuhiro Yamashita, who won his Olympic gold medal in 1984 despite tearing his calf muscle during the competition. The man literally couldn't walk properly but still dominated his opponents on the mat.

Here's the kicker – while judo looks "gentle," those throws can generate forces of up to 20 times body weight when someone hits the mat. The "gentle way" just refers to the efficiency of movement, not the impact. Modern judoka train for years just to master the timing of a single throw that lasts mere seconds.