Kano Jiu Jitsu. H. Irving Hanock and Katsukuma Higashi. Dover Publications, 1961. A reprint of a 1905 G.P. Putnam's publication, it is quite a historical document. The practice uniforms did not much resemble modern Judo uniforms, and many of the techniques have a distinctive "jujitsu" flavor to them. The techniques in this book were quickly rendered obsolete by Kano's lengthening of the sleeves and pantlegs of the Judo uniform in 1907, and, obviously, Judo changed quite a bit as a result. We see how Judo has been refined over the past century. This is a fun book to look through. Published earlier as The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu--Jiudo--the official Jiu-Jitsu of the Japanese Government [1924], and as Self Defence: the Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu [1931]. The section on Serious and Fatal Blows adds about six pages not found in the Dover reproduction (deleted ostensibly as being too dangerous) and isn't useful; mainly a few charts of pressure points and "vital and serious points" similar to those found in older Karate texts. The additional 21 pages on Kuatsu or "Restoration of Life" is more practical. From Putnam's republications, 1924, 1931.

Kata of Kodokan Judo Revised. Sumiyuki Kotani. Koyano Bussan Kaisha, Ltd., 1968. An official Kodokan guide to Kata by its ranking authority. Eight katas are explained here, very well, with great attention to detail.

The Key to Judo. Ishi Black. Ottenheimer Publishers, 1958. Basically a short, cheap self defense manual, there is some small reliance on standard Judo techniques. Paperback, 188pp.

Know the Game, Judo. Geof Gleeson. A&C; Black, Ltd., 1995. A small introductory book on the sport of Judo. Available as one of Ippon Books Special Interest Judo Books.

Kodokan Judo. Hikoichi Aida. W. Folsham & Co., Ltd., ca. 1961. Translated by E. J. Harrison."It is of the utmost importance to have a surplus of the fighting spirit and a firm belief in ones self," wrote this Kodokan 8^th Dan who taught in the 1920s at the London Budokwai. A general introductory book, from the ground up, with good drawings of throws, and very extensive section on technical skills. A useful book for a broad range of Judo ranks. 277 pp.

Kokushi-ryu Jujutsu. Nobyoshi Higashi. Unique Publications, 1995. 250 pp., softcover. Although characterized as a book on a "ju jutsu" style, this is really a synthetic modification of Judo to incorporate some wrist locking, punching and ordinary run-of-the mill self defense applications. Part of the book resembles a karate book, showing blocks, punches, and kicks. Part of it looks like a self defense manual, and part looks like any Judo kata book. Nothing remarkable here, but OK.

Manual of Judo. E.J. Harrison (London: W. Foulsham & Co. Ltd, ca. 1952). Hardcover. 172 pp. Harrison was awarded his 1st Dan by the Kodokan during the Russo-Japanese war, 1904-1905. The forward, by 10th Dan Kyuzo Mifune, was short: "Freedom in continuous change," and a few other brief words. By the time Harrison wrote this book, he was the oldest living Kodokan dan holder. This is quite a conversational but enlightening book, discussing some of the literal translations of the various Judo kanji, and an extensive vocabulary of Japanese Judo words. The technical parts are illustrated minimally with a few pictures and a few drawings, but the text is authoritative and very interesting. The British were writing all manner of books on things Japanese, and Harrison was no exception, with several insightful and well-written contributions. One of his friends finally remarked, though, that it was becoming a distinction NOT to have written a book about Japan. [10/22/99]

Martial Arts Reader. Edited by Randy F. Nelson. The Overlook Press 1989. This is a useful anthology of martial writings, and includes Kano's "The Contribution of Judo to Education." It also includes Lafcadio Hearn's 1890's essay on "JiuJutsu," discussing the "national jiujutsu" of Japan. 342 pp. Hardbound.

Martial Musings. Robert W. Smith. Via Media Publishing Co., 1999. Hardcover, 400pp. This is a martial art memoir, written by a worldly man of vast experience and a knack for writing about it. Smith has studied a variety of martial arts, but primarily Judo and more recently Wushu. He has met a variety of martial notables. He expresses his strong opinions about them, and whatever else happens to strike his fancy. He has a very low opinion of Bruce Lee, for instance, and lets you know why. He thinks it odd that he wasn't allowed to work out with Ueshiba. Although he thinks highly of Wushu, he speaks openly of the charlatans in that art as well. Along the way, he also lets you know a variety of his political thoughts, which are mostly non-sequiturs and somewhat jarring. Fortunately, those moments are brief. Overall, this is not a book to study, but to read and enjoy. A travelogue through a very interesting life that witnessed and experienced much of the modern history and development of martial arts. Available at Amazon Books: Martial Musings : A Portrayal of Martial Arts in the 20th Century.

Modern Bujutsu & Budo. Donn Draeger. Weatherhill Publishers, 1974, paperback, 1996. By one of the outstanding martial art historians, this volume contains an excellent discussion of Judo in the broader context of Japanese Budo experiences. Donn Draeger was the premier Japanese martial art historian of our time, and anything he wrote is extremely valuable. This distinction, however, must be tempered by the understanding that, when Draeger began comparing martial art practice and sport influence (which Draeger saw as mostly negative), a reader has to recall that Draeger, while unsurpassed on martial art issues in a Japanese context, betrayed virtually no understanding of, or background in, sport philosophy, theory, or its development. In the context of Jigoro Kano attempting to use the sport context of the international Olympic movement to defeat the inherent cultural racism and superiority of his native Japan, a reader might be surprised to find virtually no analysis of this in Draeger's review of the development of modern Judo. Draeger found superior cultural, philosophical and technical merit in the older Bujutsu styles; unfortunately so did Tojo and Yamamoto. Available through Amazon Books

Modern Judo: Techniques of East and West. Peter Seisenbacher and George Kerr. The Crowood Press, 1991, 1997. Seisenbacher, the young, powerful athlete with little appreciation for tradition, was coached by George Kerr, brought up with the British high regard for Kodokan Judo. Between the two of them, they produced a champion, the only two-time Olympic gold medalist. This is a well-written, highly personal, but insightful view of tradition and sport in Judo, looked at through these two talented individuals. The book, semi-autobiographical, looks at the Japanese, the Europeans, the Russians, and the thread through the years of Kano's influence. Colored with many personal vignettes and asides, there is some good history and Judo strategy in this book, as well as a modern story of a Judo athlete. Seisenbacher, mellowing with age, reflects that "the pursuit of excellence it seems need not be inimical to the quest for self-perfection, despite all the argument to the contrary." Paperback, 192 pages. Available at Amazon Books: Modern Judo : Techniques of East and West. Review the Table of Contents. A sample of George Kerr's Introduction.

Modern Judo Vol. I. Charles Yerkow. The Military Service Publishing Co., 1942, 1959. Actually a self-defense primer using Judo techniques, it shows atemi-waza, wrist locking, and a variety of skills that we sometimes forget are part of Judo.

Modern Judo Vol. II. Charles Yerkow. The Military Service Publishing Co., 1954. This book covers sport variations, self defense, atemi waza, and stick or baton techniques. The book clearly shows a military approach to Judo training.

Modern Judo Vol. III. Charles Yerkow. The Military Service Publishing Co., 1955. This is a competent, thorough, well-presented examination of the Gokyo (the now-obsolete version), without any distractions. It is to the point.

The Monograph.Volume I. Ken Min, Editor. UC Berkeley Martial Arts Program, 1994. An anthology of black belt papers submitted at this well-known college program. Several deal with Judo in interesting and useful ways: "The History and Philosophy of Judo" by Bruce Boren; "What is it About Judo" by Dr. Vincent Wacher; "A Short Report on Judo: Experience, Philosophy and Teaching," by Walter Yamada; "Toward a Broader Taekwondo Curriculum," By Brian Wright and Chuck Thornton; and "Sport in Taekwondo" by Kim Sol, as well as several other articles, all reference and discuss Judo in useful and important ways. Order through UC Berkeley Martial Arts Program.

The Monograph.Volume III. Ken Min, Editor, UC Berkeley, Martial Arts Program, 1998. An anthology of scholarly papers associated with the University of California's Martial Art Program at Berkeley, includes "Kodokan Judo, A Physical Education Activity," by Don Speakman; "Learning from Kodokan Judo: A Role for Poomse in Taekwondo," by Kim Sol. Order through UC Berkeley Martial Arts Program.

Moves. Douglas C. Horn. Royal Fireworks Press, 1995. This is another children's book about Judo, from a different perspective. A Japanese company purchases a large Montana ranch, and rotates its employees through the small town of Dillon, Montana. It's a tough adaptation for the Japanese families, and particularly the children. There are no sushi bars in Dillon, Montana. A casual racism naturally affects the children at school, and both sides would rather, if they could, not have anything to do with the other. However, the rough and tumble interaction of Judo, though -- and there is quite a bit of Judo in Montana -- provides the means of entry into the closed society of children, by the demonstration of physical merit and persistence.  This reviewer worked out many times with various of the Japanese adult management personnel, who likewise used Judo to interact with the native Montanans. One manager told me: "this year, I have to change sprinkler pipes." "And you're the manager?" "Well, they want me to learn everything, so I have to start at the bottom. But next year I get to ride a horse!" So, while the book is novelized, the underlying story is true. A very good book and a very useful lesson in the role of sport in bringing people together in ways that words, laws, ideas, and theories, cannot. Available at Amazon Books: Moves.

My Championship Judo. Anton Geesink, 1966, Arco Publishing Co., 135 pp. hardcover. His name is pronounced "Hay-sink" which is how the Dutch do things. Athough his name is typically mispronounced, the great Dutch Judo champion Geesink won the Netherlands national championship 21 times, the European Judo Championships 20 times, the World Championships three times, and the Olympic Championship once, in 1964. As the first non-Japanese to win a world championship and the Olympic Games, he showed the world that the Japanese did not have a lock on Judo. He has developed in recent years a reputation as something of a pain-in-the-neck in Olympic circles, but in his first book after retiring, he observes that "Judo was the sport that won my heart, the sport in which I got to know myself." He learned to suffer defeat, and then learned from the defeats of others as well. "I learned to win. I also won many friends among all races, ranks, and stations, learned to understand and speak their languages, and to respect and appreciate their manners and customs. This taught me that peace and prosperity can only be attained by mutual understanding, and that sport may be an important contribution to opening up the ways leading to that understanding. In short, I got to know the world ...". The book itself is a study of Geesink's favorite throwing, grappling, and choking techniques, his entries into his favorites,  and some nice photographs from various championships where Geesink applies his various specialties. An interesting book from one of the all time greats in Judo.