Judo in Romania began with Heishichi Ishiguro, Japanese judoka, journalist and diplomat. Ishiguro taught judo in college for one year: ONEF (Oficiul National de Educatie Fizica [English: National Office of Physical Education]).The best student was Emilian Teacă, a police captain. In 1937 the first Romanian Police Officer Championship took place in Bucharest with the participation of other students and fire-fighters from Cîmpina. An absolute (open) class was the only weight class.[1]
Romanian Judo began a sustained expansion after the Second World War. Mihai Botez created the first Judo team section in Arad with the creation of sports club "Vagonul Arad". In the 1960s, professionals worked to create an independent Romanian Judo Federation. The first solidifying step was the creation of the Bucharest Commission for Judo within the framework of urban physical education and sports committee in 1962.[1]
In 1962, the first international individual competition took place between French Team FSGT[2] and the Romania national team in Bucharest. The first Team competition took place in Medias in 1967 at the local football stadium.[2]
On 21 May 1968 the Romanian Judo Federation was established named FRJ. The first coach training session was held by Takesse Matusaka and Sheizi Shinomaki. In the spring of 1969 the first Romanian international championships were held.[2]
The first Romanian medal at a senior European Championship was a bronze medal at Ludwigshafen in 1977; won by Árpád Szabo -60 kg.[3] The Romanian men's team reached third place.[4] This initial success was largely attributable to Korean Han Chan-He's work.[2]
Inaugural Olympic medals were two bronze medals from Mircea Frăţica -78 kg and Mihai Cioc Open weight category at the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics.
First World Champion was Alexandru Lungu +95 kg at World Judo Junior Championships in Cairo 1994.
Frazzei Florian "Judo de la centura albă la centura neagră"(1999, Romanian version) or "Judo Belts", București, Garrel Publishing House 2 edition (English version)
Anton Muraru "Judo" (1985), Bucuresti, Sport-Turism (in Romanian)
Ioan Avram, Anton Muraru (1971) "Judo", Bucuresti, Stadion (In Romanian)
