Step back in time to May 3, 1956, when Tokyo’s Kuramae Kokugikan hosted the inaugural World Judo Championship. Discover how 31 judokas from 21 nations competed in a dramatic open-weight contest that crowned Shokichi Natsui as the first world champion. Learn about the rise of European judo with Anton Geesink and Henri Courtine’s podium finishes, and how this event sparked the international expansion of judo, setting the stage for Olympic glory. Perfect for sports history fans and martial arts enthusiasts, this episode unpacks the drama, the heroes, and the legacy of a day that changed judo forever.
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