The Kodokan Institute is the headquarters of the Judo World. It was established by Jigoro Kano the founder of judo in 1882 and is now located in an 8 story building in Tokyo, Japan. Judo (Japanese: 柔道 Jūdō) is a martial art, a sport and a philosophy which originated in Japan. ... Dr. Jigoro Kano (嘉納 治五郎 Kanō Jigorō, 1860 in Kobe, Japan - 1938) is the founder of Judo. ...

The Kodokan Institute offers classes for those who want to master Judo. The program is authorized as a non-regular school by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Its courses include the theories and practice of Judo, and matters of general education.

The course is divided into two; a general course for novices, and special courses for those who have completed the general course or its equivalent. For the city in Texas, see Novice, Texas. ...

The Kodokan also issues ranks and many judo black belts around the world become Kodokan members and have their ranks registered with the Kodokan.

The growth of Judo in its early years is demonstrated by the growth of the Kodokan itself:

 * 12 mats (May 1882 Eishoji Temple) * 10 mats (Feb. 1883 Jimocho, Kanda) * 20 mats (Sept. 1883 Shihan's house, Kojimachi) * 40 mats (Spring 1887 Mr. Shinagawa's house, Kojimachi) * 60 mats (April 1890 Hongo-ku, Masaga-cho) * 107 mats (Feb. 1894 Koishikawa-cho, Shimotomisaka-cho) * 207 mats (Nov. 1897 Koishikawa, Shimotomisaka-cho) * 314 mats (Jan. 1898 Otsuka Sakashita-cho) * 514 mats (Dec. 1919 1-chome Kasuga-cho, Bunkyo-ku) * 986 mats (March 1958 2-chome, Kasuga-cho, Bunko-ku)