THE SEOUL OLYMPICS; The Games, From Archery to Yachting: Judo(Men&#39;s).(Sports Desk).

Judo Finnish Open 2009, originally uploaded by cabin9.

LEAD: The modern form of judo, consisting of throws, hold-downs, choking techniques and armlocks, was introduced in Japan in 1882 by Jigaro Kano, a student of jujitsu, the martial art that predated judo. In 1964 judo became an Olympic sport in - appropriately - Tokyo. The Japanese have dominated the sport until recently, when several European countries and South Korea began to produce formidable competitors.

The modern form of judo, consisting of throws, hold-downs, choking techniques and armlocks, was introduced in Japan in 1882 by Jigaro Kano, a student of jujitsu, the martial art that predated judo. In 1964 judo became an Olympic sport in - appropriately - Tokyo. The Japanese have dominated the sport until recently, when several European countries and South Korea began to produce formidable competitors. In 1986 at the Asian Games, South korea took six gold medals to Japan's two. An Italian, Echio Gamba, won a gold and a silver medal in both the Moscow and the Los Angeles Olympics.

There are 7 weight categories in men's judo and 14 in women's, which will be a demonstration sport in Seoul and a full medal sport in 1992 in Barcelona. About can be won by throwing an opponent to the mat, by choking him into submission, or on points.

''The U.S.A. used to rank around 25th or 26th in the sport, but now I would say we are in the top seven behind Japan, the Soviet Union, France, South Korea, Britain, and West Germany,'' said Yoshisada Yonezuka, the coach of the United States men's Olympic team. Yonezuka was born in Japan.

The leading American contender for a gold medal is Michael Swain in the 156-pound class. Last year, Swain became the first American to win a gold medal in the world championships, beating the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist, Marc Alexandre of France, in the final.

So far the highest Olympic medal ever won by an American in judo was the silver taken by Bob Berland in the 189-pound class in 1984 in Los Angeles. He has moved up to the 209-pound class and is though to have a chance for a medal.

Other possible medalists are the lightest entrant, Kevin Asano, a Japanese-American from hawaii, who will compete in the 132-pound class, and the youngest, Jason Morris, a 21-year-old sophomore at Syracuse University, who will compete in the 172-pound class.

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Source Citation
"THE SEOUL OLYMPICS; The Games, From Archery to Yachting: Judo (Men's).(Sports Desk)." New York Times 11 Sept. 1988. General OneFile. Web. 3 Feb. 2010. .

Gale Document Number:A175959152