The purpose of this study is to consider the paradox between JUDO as traditional culture and JUDO as internationalized sport. It is also an attempt to re-evaluate the originality of JUDO as a body work facing with a cultural change. "Traditions which appear or claim to be old are often quite recent in origin and sometimes invented.” E.Hobsbawm declares that many of traditions are created in modern times, and those inevitably imply the continuity from the past. Since JUDO was created by Jigoro Kano in 1882, it has increasingly become popular with worldwide. He respected traditional culture and tried to adapt its form in modern society to create a new tradition. After all, in a short history of almost 130 years, JUDO has radically spread to the international community. The rapid internationalization has produced the opposite concepts of JUDO as a traditional culture and JUDO as sport. That is to say, a theoretical paradox between JUDO as mind-body training system and JUDO as a competition in order to pursue the victory clearly reflects the contrary vector. It is said that there may inherent in the origin of Kano’s consistent stance for internationalization of JUDO in addition to succeeding traditional culture. In considering the issue of the paradox between JUDO and JUDO, it is necessary for us to note the significance of Kano’s idea opening JUDO to the world. Yet, JUDO needs to present the consistent continuity from the past traditions again. To borrow Imafuku’s word “JUDO may open JUDO”, it might be a task to re-evaluate Kano’s idea and also to open the originality of JUDO inherent in JUDO.
