The International Judo Federation was founded in July 1951. The IJF was originally composed of judo federations from Europe plus Argentina. Countries from four continents were affiliated over the next ten years. Today the IJF has 200 National Federations on all continents. There are over 40 million people around the globe who practice Judo.

Since 2009, IJF organizes yearly World Championships and the World Judo Tour consisting of five Grand Prix, four Grand Slams, and a World Master at the end of each year where the top Judoka of the world can compete for Ranking List points.

Presidents of the IJF

• Aldo Torti, of Italy, 1951
• Risei Kano
  Risei Kano
  was one of the three sons of Kanō Jigorō, the creator of Judo. Risei Kanō was the second president of the International Judo Federation, from 1952 to 1965. He managed the Kōdōkan from 1946 until 1980.- References and useful links :...
  
  , son of Professor Kanō Jigorō
  Kano Jigoro
  was the founder of judo. Judo was the first Japanese martial art to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic sport. Pedagogical innovations attributed to Kanō include the use of black and white belts, and the introduction of dan ranking to show the...
  
  , of Japan ; 1952–1965
• Charles Palmer of Great Britain, 1965–1979
• Dr. Shigeyoshi Matsumae, Japan, 1979–1987
• Mr. Sarkis Kaloghlian of Argentina, 1987–1989
• Mr. Lawrie Hargrave of New Zealand, 1989–1991
• Mr. Luis Baguena of Spain, 1991–1995
• Mr. Yong Sung Park, Korea, 1995–2007
• Mr. Marius Vizer, Austria, 2007–present

External links

• Official website