Judo in the United States

President Ulysses S. Grant witnessed a demonstration of jujutsu by judo founder Kanō Jigorō and several others when visiting Japan in 1879.{{cite web |url=https://martialhistoryteam.blogspot.com/2020/11/five-facts-about-1879-encounter-between.html |title=Five Facts about the 1879 Encounter Between Ulysses S. Grant and Kano Jigoro |website=martialhistoryteam.blogspot.com/|access-date=2023-09-15}}

Kano and fellow student Godai Ryusaku performed randori for Grant and his party. In 1889, Kanō Jigorō gave a lecture on the philosophy of judo to several Americans; however, the lecture had little effect on mainstream judo growth. The first American to actually study judo was Prof. Ladd from Yale University, in 1889. He trained at the Kodokan in Japan for about ten years; by 1908 about 13 Americans were training there. In 1919, Prof. John Dewey of Columbia University came to visit Prof. Ladd and Master Kano, many years later he took his knowledge back to Columbia and began the first U.S. college judo program. While some students were training in Japan, there was some action in the U.S.

Perhaps one of the most important figures in the U.S. development of judo is Yamashita Yoshitsugu, who came to the U.S. in 1902 in order to teach judo to the Japanese community.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l9UDAAAAMBAJ&q=history+of+judo+in+the+united+states&pg=PA51|title=Black Belt|date=1 May 1977|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|via=Google Books}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9BrfLWdeISoC&q=Judo+in+the+United+States+popularity&pg=PA619|title=Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife|first1=Jonathan H. X.|last1=Lee|first2=Kathleen M.|last2=Nadeau|date=1 January 2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313350665|accessdate=11 October 2016|via=Google Books}} Yoshiaki ended up teaching Senator James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr.'s wife, who happened to attend the same country club as Theodore Roosevelt. Mrs. Wadsworth told Roosevelt about judo, and he became interested in the sport.

Yoshiaki was subsequently invited to Washington to give a demonstration at the White House. There was a contest with a wrestler by the name of John Graft, who was the coach at the U.S. Naval Academy and who was teaching President Roosevelt wrestling. Although Yoshiaki threw him time after time, Graft continued to get up. Finally, Yoshiaki decided that he would do mat work with Graft, since there seemed to be no end to the match. Yoshiaki got an armlock on Graft, but the wrestler would not give up. Yoshiaki kept up the pressure until Graft groaned as his arm came close to breaking. President Roosevelt was impressed and took judo lessons.{{cite web |title=Theodore Roosevelt: Mojo in the Dojo |url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/18438/theodore-roosevelt-mojo-dojo |work=Mental Floss|date=12 September 2021 }}

Through the help of the president, Yoshiaki taught judo at the naval academy. Judo suddenly had its first strong roots in the United States. Yoshiaki decided to return to Japan, but other Japanese Judo participants followed his example.

During World War II Judo was banned in many areas due to the Japanese fear; however, a boom followed the war. Many servicemen picked up martial arts during the war and returned home to teach them all across the country.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0PFnBwAAQBAJ&q=Judo+in+the+United+States+popularity&pg=PA437|title=Asian American History and Culture: An Encyclopedia|first1=Huping|last1=Ling|first2=Allan W.|last2=Austin|date=17 March 2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317476450|accessdate=11 October 2016|via=Google Books}}

Judo began to develop again in the 1950s when it became required for the US Air Force. After these advances, it was officially recognized as an AAU sport, and there have been national competitions and tournaments ever since. The United States formed an Olympic team and competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics, which it continues to do to this day. Judo is now practiced by an estimated 100,000 American men, women, and children (25,000 registered in either the USJA, USJF and USA Judo).

The official judo federations formed in the 50s and 60s.

The United States is not a major power in international Judo competitions.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2014/07/is-ronda-rousey-the-savior-judo-has-been-waiting-for|title=Is Ronda Rousey the savior judo has been waiting for?|work=MMAjunkie|date=2 July 2014 |accessdate=11 January 2015}}{{cite news|last=Mihoces|first=Gary|title=U.S. judo making move to become powerhouse after medal grab|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/story/2012-08-03/Judo-US-Olympic-medals/56757648/1|accessdate=8 April 2014|newspaper=usatoday.com|date=8 March 2012}} Kayla Harrison is the most successful American Judo Olympian with 2 gold medals,{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-an-american-took-down-judo-1468945879|title=How an American Took Down Judo|first=Tom|last=Perrotta|date=19 July 2016|publisher=|accessdate=11 October 2016|via=Wall Street Journal}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/11/usa-kayla-harrison-judo-second-gold-olympics-rio-2016|title=USA's Kayla Harrison wins second straight Olympic judo gold|first=Les|last=Carpenter|date=11 August 2016|publisher=|accessdate=11 October 2016|newspaper=The Guardian}} while Jimmy Pedro is the most successful male American Judo Olympian with 2 bronze medals.{{cite web|url=http://www.newburyportnews.com/sports/jimmy-pedro-and-his-dad-guardians-at-usa-judo-gate/article_0098ce2e-eb59-5f2e-9fed-12a56fa68c5e.html |title=Jimmy Pedro and his dad: Guardians at USA Judo gate | Sports |publisher=newburyportnews.com |date=2016-08-14 |accessdate=2016-08-17}}

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{{Sports in the United States}}