Although they were developed originally for combat and self-defense, they are now used primarily for sport.
Training is rigorous and prolonged, with multiple degrees of proficiency awarded.
A martial art derived from Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu early in the 20th century, aikido allows one to use an assailant's momentum to advantage rather than depend on one's own muscular strength. The practitioner uses joint, elbow, and wrist grips to throw or pin an opponent. Although aikido does not use a weapon as a rule, one may be used if an opponent is armed. Judo Literally, the gentle way, judo is a form of weaponless self-defense and combat developed from jujutsu in 1882 by Professor Jigoro Kano. The fundamental judo technique is to utilize the strength of an opponent to one's own advantage.