Judo was devised in 1882 by Dr Jigoro Kano, a recognised master of several Japanese jutsu martial arts. Dr Kano developed judo using a scientific approach, distilling much from other martial arts, both eastern and western. Techniques that did not work were ruthlessly thrown out and new ones were added. Kano believed that the key to making Judo superior to other forms of marital arts was randori and it is this free-practice that underpins our regular judo practice to this date. Kano wished his art to be considered a way of devloping an individuals moral and physical wellbeing, making judoka valuable members of society. This attitude is one that we support at Dundee Ippon. Whilst training to be as good as we can be at judo we must remember some of Dr Kano's philosophical edicts. Without these judo becomes merely a combat sport with a strange dress code. In 1955 Kenshiro Abbe came to Britain from Japan. Abbe Sensei was at that time the highest graded Japanese judoka outside of Japan. A former All-Japan Champion - the youngest ever - he was also 8th Dan in Aikido and Kendo. He was a 4th Dan karate. Abbe Sensei established the British Judo Council soon after his arrival to promote his Kyu-shin-do philosophy. The BJC's inextricable link with traditional Japanese Judo was followed up the appointment of the late Akinori Hosaka as the organisations Chief Examiner. Hosaka sensei was a Kodokan 8th Dan who was keen to promote a traditional approach to judo, whereby particicpants strive to acheive the Ippon score, rather than debasing themselves and their art with 'knock down judo.'