Judo means “the gentle way” in Japanese. It is a modern variation of the ancient sport if ji-jitsu first played by samurai. Judo was invented around 1882 by Japanese educator Jigoro Kano, who was appalled with the violence used by many of his countrymen practicing ji-jitsu. Kano outlawed many dangerous moves of the older sport, including foot strikes, and developed several new moves. The sport quickly caught on in Japan and other countries, including the United States, where President Teddy Roosevelt became a devotee.