The origin of blue gi colors in judo is rooted in the early days of the sport. During the post-World War II era, many Japanese martial artists sought to create a more practical and functional uniform for their training sessions.
In 1922, the first official judo uniform was designed by Masatoshi Nakayama, a renowned judoka (judo practitioner). The original design featured a white shirt with four horizontal stripes of red, green, blue, and yellow. This color combination was chosen to represent the elements of nature.
The reason for choosing these specific colors is rooted in Japanese art and culture. Red symbolizes strength and vitality, while green represents growth and harmony with nature. Blue, on the other hand, represents calmness and wisdom, which are essential qualities for a judoka.
The exact reason behind the use of blue in judo uniforms is still unclear. However, it's believed that the color was chosen to represent the element of water, which symbolizes calmness and serenity.