| Judo is one of the many martial arts forms and is an | | | | The popular sportswear manufacturer, Adidas, is the |
| offshoot of a much older martial art, jujitsu. Jujitsu | | | | official partner of the 2008 Olympic Games, hosted by |
| began in the 1530's, and by the mid-1800's there were | | | | Beijing, China. Adidas will supply the staff, volunteers |
| over seven hundred different jujitsu systems. In 1882, | | | | and officials of the Olympics with sportswear. Chinese |
| Dr. Jigoro Kano, then the President of University of | | | | Olympic team members will also be supplied with |
| Education in Tokyo, Japan, combined the best and | | | | Adidas sportswear. Known world-wide for |
| most effective techniques from the numerous forms | | | | manufacturing sportswear and equipment for the |
| of jujitsu to form the marital art known as judo. | | | | more well-known sports, such as basketball and |
| Originally, judo was practiced in feudal Japan as a | | | | running, Adidas also manufactures judo uniforms and |
| fighting method. | | | | supplies. |
| For years, judo students have enjoyed learning this | | | | Judo, like other martial arts, requires specialized clothing, |
| martial art for reasons of fitness, conditioning, | | | | supplies, sparring equipment, and protective gear. Judo |
| knowledge of self-defense, and increased self | | | | uniforms are made for comfort and ease of |
| confidence. However, judo was not included in the | | | | movement. It is important that judo uniforms do not |
| Olympics as a competitive sport until the 1964 games | | | | hinder the speed or concentration of the judo student |
| in Tokyo, Japan. At this time, only twenty-seven | | | | or competitor. During judo training, sparring equipment |
| countries participated in the judo events. Only men | | | | and protective gear is used to allow the student to |
| were allowed to compete in the judo competitions, and | | | | imitate judo moves without causing injury. Although |
| there were three weight categories. The popularity of | | | | judo does not employ the more forceful moves of |
| judo as an Olympic event has grown considerably | | | | other martial arts forms, there is still a chance that the |
| over the years. Women were first given the | | | | student will suffer an injury during practice. Protective |
| opportunity to compete in the judo events at the 1992 | | | | gear includes mouthguards, padded headgear, and |
| Barcelona, Spain Olympics. Seven weight categories | | | | chest and stomach protectors. Sparring equipment for |
| for both men and women were available in 1992, with | | | | the judo practitioner includes padded shields for the |
| the men's categories ranging from 60 - 100+ kilograms | | | | sparring partner to hold. This helps to prevent injury to |
| and the women's categories ranging from 48 - 78+ | | | | the sparring partner. |
| kilograms. | | | | |