Yes. You can start learning on Learnr for free. Learnr Pro unlocks higher daily limits and extra features.

Learn Judo

Fall safely, break balance and throw with timing instead of strength.

Free to start. Built from a single prompt. No credit card.

Judo, founded by Jigoro Kano in Japan in 1882, is a grappling art and Olympic sport built on throwing an opponent and controlling them on the ground. Its central idea is maximum efficiency: break your partner's balance with kuzushi, fit into position with tsukuri, then execute with kake. Every beginner starts with ukemi, the breakfalls that let you be thrown safely, before learning throws like o-goshi and o-soto-gari and pins such as kesa-gatame. Learnr builds a personalized judo course that teaches the terms, principles, techniques and scoring rules in short lessons, while throwing and falling must be learned on mats with a qualified coach.

How to learn Judo, step by step

Join a club with a qualified coach. Judo involves being thrown, so train only on proper mats with an experienced, certified instructor. Mention any neck, back or joint problems, and see a doctor before starting if you have health concerns.
Master ukemi before throwing. Practice back, side and forward rolling breakfalls until they are automatic, slapping the mat to spread the impact and tucking the chin to protect your head. Good falls are what make the rest of judo safe.
Learn grips and balance breaking. Start with a standard sleeve and lapel grip, called kumikata. Practice moving your partner's balance forward, backward and to the corners, because a throw only works once their weight is off center.
Drill throws with uchikomi. Repeat entries for o-goshi, o-soto-gari, ippon-seoi-nage and de-ashi-barai without completing the throw, focusing on footwork and position. Then complete throws onto a cooperative partner under supervision.
Study pins, escapes and the rules. Learn kesa-gatame and yoko-shiho-gatame and the bridge and shrimp escapes from them. Short Learnr lessons on scoring, penalties and terms help the newaza and contest rules make sense before competition.
Practice randori at controlled intensity. Randori is free practice. Start light, focus on attempting techniques rather than resisting stiffly, and tap or call matte if anything feels wrong. Strangles and armlocks are usually introduced only to older, more experienced students.

What you'll learn

Explain kuzushi, tsukuri and kake and how throws use them
Name and describe beginner throws and pins
Understand grips and how to control a sleeve and lapel
Know how ippon and waza-ari are scored
Follow dojo etiquette and safe randori practice

What's inside your Judo course

A sample path Learnr builds for Judo. Your real course adapts to your goal and level.

1. Etiquette, judogi and safety
2. Ukemi: breakfalls
3. Grips and balance breaking
4. Beginner throws
5. Groundwork, pins and escapes
6. Rules, scoring and randori

How long does it take to learn Judo?

Reliable breakfalls and a few basic throws take about 3 to 6 months of training two or three times a week. Earning a black belt, or shodan, commonly takes several years depending on the club and national federation standards. Mat time with partners is the main driver.

What you need before you start

No experience is required. You need a judo club with mats and a qualified coach, plus a judogi, which many clubs lend or sell to beginners.

Common mistakes to avoid

Trying to throw without first breaking your partner's balance. Move their weight off center, then enter.
Stiff-arming in randori to avoid being thrown. It stops you learning and invites injury, so stay relaxed and move.
Posting a hand out to stop a fall instead of breakfalling. Reaching out can injure the wrist, elbow or collarbone.

How Learnr builds your course

Type your topic

Tell Learnr you want to learn Judo, or get as specific as you like.

Get a personalized course

Learnr instantly builds a full Judo course tailored to your goal and skill level.

Learn and level up

Move through bite-sized lessons and interactive practice, earning XP and keeping your streak.

Judo questions, answered

How is judo scored?

A clean throw with control, force and the opponent largely on their back scores ippon and ends the match, as does a sufficient pin or a submission. A less complete throw scores waza-ari. Rules are set by the International Judo Federation and change periodically.

Is judo good for self-defense?

Judo teaches balance control, throws and ground control against a resisting partner, which many people find useful for self-defense. It does not train strikes, so some practitioners combine it with a striking art.