Welcome!

Offering Judo Instruction to Southwestern Pennsylvania and North Central West Virginia

Southwestern Pennsylvania Judo is a new Judo school (dojo) located in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. Please go to our "Maps & Directions" page to discover how conveniently located we are to you. We offer instruction in traditional Kodokan Judo, which includes Kata, Self Defense and Shiai (competition) to children (boys and girls age 5-12) and adults (men and women age 13 and up). Our "Class Schedule" page has the current class schedule and information for upcoming events and announcements for the club. View the "Fees & Specials" page for our pricing list and any coupons and specials.

YOU MAY REGISTER & BEGIN CLASSES AT ANY TIME
Please fillout our Registration & Waiver Form & bring it to your first practice.

First lesson is FREE!!
Kids

If you are not sure if you would like to learn Judo, come and watch a few classes or take a lesson for free. All you need to start is to sign our waiver form and wear a long sleeve sweat shirt and pants.(It is recommended that ladies wear a T-shirt under the sweat shirt and a sports bra.)

Registration & Waiver Form

To expedite new student registration, we encourage you to print our Registration Packet. Fill it out and sign the waiver and bring it to the Dojo (school) about 15-30 minutes before your first class begins.

What is Judo?
Jigoro Kano Olympic Judo

Judo was founded by Prof. Jigoro Kano in 1882. The school he founded is called the Kodokan. The word Kodokan, translates to "Place of Learning the Way". Kodokan Judo comes to us from the fighting systems of feudal Japan; Judo is a refinement of the ancient martial art of Ju-jutsu. Dr. Kano, President of the University of Education, Tokyo, studied these ancient forms in his younger years. He took note that many people got hurt during the practice of Ju-jutsu so he took what he learned from the Ju-jitsu schools and integrated what he considered to be the most efficient (and some what safer) of their techniques into what is now the modern martial art and sport of Judo.

Judo is made up of two Japanese words JU - Gentle, and DO - Way. Judo literally means "Gentle Way". Judo takes from Ju-jitsu ("Gentle Art") the principle of using one's opponent's strength against him. Kano saw ju-jitsu as a disconnected bag of tricks, and sought to unify it according to some principle: he found it in the notion of "Maximum Efficiency". With that, he renamed his art "Judo", to indicate his view of it as a means of physical and spiritual development, as well as self-defense.

Kano's 1st Principal of Judo: Seiryoku Zen’yo - Maximum Efficiency, Minimum Effort

Kano's 2nd Principal of Judo: Jita-Kyoei - Mutual Welfare and Benefit

Kano's Goal of Judo: Jika no Kansei - Strive for Perfection (as a whole person)

Judo was introduced into the Olympic Games in 1964 for men and 1992 for women, and is practiced by millions of people throughout the world; second only to soccer in popularity and number of participants. The competitive sport of Judo does not involve striking techniques of any kind. Instead, opponents attempt to throw and/or pin each other for points. They can also employ submition holds such as chokes and joint locks in certain age groups.

People practice Judo to excel in competition, to learn self-defence, to stay in shape, to develop self-confidence, and for many other reasons. But mostly, people practice Judo

JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT!!

Southwestern Pennsylvania Judo
202 East George Street
Carmichaels, PA 15320
724-966-5723
www.swpajudo.com