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The Baku 2015 Judo competition will encompass 18 medal events over four days

Judo developed from various martial arts practised in Japan over hundreds of years, notably jiu jitsu. The name judo consists of two Japanese characters, 'ju' (gentle) and 'do' (way, path). The basis of modern judo was developed by Jigoro Kano in 1882.

Judo was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1964 in Tokyo (for men) and was the first – and for a long time the only – martial art discipline at the Olympic Games. Women's judo became a competitive Olympic sport at the Barcelona Games in 1992.

A judo contest lasts five minutes for men and four minutes for women. In case of a tie, the bout goes into extra time in which the first score, known as the 'golden score', decides the bout.

Judokas (the athletes) wear a blue or a white judogi (suit). The one who is called upon the mat first wears white. This athlete is listed in the top line of the bout on the draw sheet.

After the referee opens the bout with the command hajime, the athletes try to apply techniques and will strive for the 'perfect technique', which is awarded with a full point called ippon, and ends the bout immediately.

There are three ways to gain an ippon, and each of them brings the bout to an immediate conclusion. An ippon is awarded for a powerful throw, or for holding the immobilised opponent for 20 seconds, or if the opponent gives up (known as 'tapping out'), usually while in an armlock or choke.

If an ippon cannot be achieved, there are two lower scores which will be awarded for various actions: yuko and waza-ari. Two waza-ari add up to an ippon (waza-ari-awasete ippon). However, one waza-ari will always outscore any number of yuko.

There are penalties, called shido, mostly given for inactivity or evasion. If the scores are tied, the judoka with fewer accumulated shido will win the bout. If the number of shido is also equal, the bout goes into extra time.

Judo consists of seven weight categories. The categories for men are -60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, -100kg and +100kg. The categories for women are -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, -70kg, -78kg, +78kg.

At the Baku 2015 European Games, judo is the only sport which includes two Paralympic categories – blind judo in +90kg men's category, and -57kg women's category.

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