Disability Judo and Martial Arts

What's it all about?

The term martial art refers to the art of warfare, it is practice for combat. Martial Arts can come in many forms and is practiced across the world in Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Scandinavia and the Oceania Continents.

Martial Arts vary in the techniques used to fight an opponent, whether it be using a weapon, striking or grappling an opponent. However a common characteristic is the formalisation and etiquette of the sport which is highly disciplined, such as judo, where the two opponents have to bow before the match and bow after hold downs.

In the Paralympic Games Judo for people with a visual impairment is included in the programme. Many of these athletes also compete in mainstream Judo competitions and the only material difference between the two versions of the sport is that visually impaired athletes start the match holding on to each others jackets