13 Books                          Judo Books: "Q-T" Judo HomeA-BC-DE-F-GH-IJK-MN-PQ-TU-Z  
       

 

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Russian Judo. Alexander Iatskevich. Ippon Books. 1999. What we used to call "Russian" Judo is now 14 different Russian Judos, as nations such as Georgia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Uzbekistan, and others have joined the European Judo Union. Tight grips, big rear throws, and devastating armlocks are the heritage that "Russian" Judo inherited from the numerous folk wrestling traditions spread across the former USSR and which enriched International Judo, as well as stimulating the national development of Sambo, a derivative of Judo and these many folk wrestling cultures. After watching Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki and Nobuyuki Sato win a Sambo competition in Riga, Latvia, in 1972: "I was convinced at that moment that Judo had to be something special for Judo players to come along and beat Sambo players." This book characterizes the unique Russian approach with studies of using grips to open for the big rolling throws, but distinctly emphasizing the armlocks and escapes from armlocks. As well, some material on leg locks, legal in Sambo, but illegal, of course, in Judo competition. 92pp. Softcover. The usual high quality from  Ippon Books.

The Secrets of Judo. Jiichi Watanabe and Lindy Avakian. Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1960, 1981. Half of the book is a scientific examination of Judo principles. Nothing quite like it appears anywhere else. The second half of the book applies the scientific examination and terminology to basic Judo throwing and grappling techniques. Available at Amazon Books: The Secrets of Judo : A Text for Instructors and Students.

Self Defense by Judo. M.G. Harvey. Coles Publishing, 1975. Covering wrist locks, some atemi waza, and variations of standard techniques, this book is a useful guide for basic Judo classes which wish to incorporate a competent self-defense component.

Seoi Nage. Hidetoshi Nakanishi, Ippon Books, Ltd, 1992. Judo Masterclass Series. Showing seoi nage from Greek drawings, we appreciate that this standard and definitive Judo technique has a long, interesting history. It shows the standard applications as well as some of the interesting and intriguing modifications that are rarely taught. Available from Ippon Books.

 
 
     

 

Shimewaza. Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki, Ippon Books, Ltd, 1992. Another in the Judo Masterclass series, the author has a nice combination of historical references, personal observations, and useful technical descriptions. It is, to date, the definitive Shimewaza book. Available from Ippon Books.

  
 

Sport Judo. Charles Yerkow. Stackpole Publishing, 1950, 1956. An introductory book to Judo, it is a useful historical look at Judo in America in 1950. The action photographs are very good, the participants often wear socks, and various ankle locks are described.

The Sport of Judo. Kiyoshi Kobayashi and Harold Sharp, Charles E. Tuttle Co. 1956. A catalogue of basic judo techniques. It was meant to provide a basic introduction in English to Judo competition, and served its purpose well. Available at Amazon Books: The Sport of Judo As in Japan Practiced.  

 

      
  cover Tai-Otoshi. Neil Adams. Ippon Books, 1996, 1998. Tai Otoshi was one of the original Judo skills in the gokyo of 1895. It has been one of the most variable of the classical Judo throwing techniques. Clearly a te waza, or hand technique, it was performed early on without any leg contact at all. Photographs of Kyuzo Mifune show more similarity to his sumi-otoshi, than to the modern tai-otoshi. Modern competition has, as usual, shown important uses and variations for this technique, and Adams had one of the most dynamic versions, shown to best advantage with his ippon in the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games in the last competition of his career. 96 pp. softcover. Ippon Books.
      
  Teach Yourself Judo, Syd Hoare, Teach Yourself Books, 1980, 1993. Designed for a book series that provide inexpensive but competent exposure to variety of activities, this effort accomplishes a good solid introduction to Judo at minimal cost. The outstanding qualifications of the author certainly lends authority to the presentation although Judo is surely an odd candidate for any "teach yourself" curriculum. Available at Amazon Books:  Judo (Teach Yourself)      

The Techniques of Judo by Shinzo Takagaki and Harold E. Sharp, Charles E. Tuttle, 1957. Still regarded as one of the best introductions to Judo, it was enriched by references to some more uncommon techniques in addition to the usual. At Amazon Books: Techniques of Judo

 
  Three Budo Masters by John Stevens. Kodansha International, 1995. The three Budo masters are Kano, Funakoshi and Ueshiba. Stevens studies Aikido, and this book suggests a bias in that regard. The portions on Kano are well-written and contain some information not readily or previously available; however, Kano's intentional inclusion of a sport element, not reflecting a Japanese, but rather a British, cultural perspective, is not analyzed at all. Kano's keen interest in the international Olympic movement is presented primarily in a negative light, as a concern, on Kano's part, as to how sport might corrupt Judo. This presentation fails utterly, then, to explain why Kano was a revered member of the IOC for 34 years, and this failure is a common one, particularly among so-called traditionalists writing about Judo. They mention Kano's reservations about sport, without analyzing Kano's exceptional commitment to the sport ideal or his complex integration of ancient philosophy into a modern context; it was Kano's greatest achievement and challenge, and one cannot find it here, even though it transformed, indeed, created, the modern concept of Budo. One cannot read this otherwise excellent book and have the faintest idea of Kano's views of sport as being a single reliable unifying element of humankind. The sections on Funakoshi and Ueshiba are more detailed than most such treatments, even though this book is short, and represents a testament to good writing skills. However, Funakoshi's sometimes excessive ego is missing here, and Ueshiba's documented life-long mental instability is treated in such a way as to make it profound, rather than troubling. Available at Amazon Books: Three Budo Masters.
      
Tomoe-Nage. Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki. Ippon Books, 1989, 1992. Judo Masterclass Series. A nice balanced treatment of the historical record of Tomoe-nage shows it was a common jujitsu technique, but oddly had almost no counterpart in Western fighting styles. Judo has refined the technique substantially, into the more dynamic yoko tomoe-nage. Kashiwazaki contributed his own furiko tomoe-nage as an important modern variation. Self defense uses are discussed, including one interesting story about a Japanese hiker who threw an attacking bear over a cliff with tomoe-nage! Available from Ippon Books.  

Twentieth Century Warriors. Black Belt Magazine. Ohara Publications, 1971. 254 pp. hardcover. Feature stories of 36 prominent 20th century martial artists, published during the 1960's in Black Belt Magazine and Karate Illustrated. Various Japanese, Chinese, Korean and American pioneers are featured, and include Jigoro Kano and Kyuzo Mifune. Andy Adams wrote these two particular features, and he was one of Black Belt's best feature writers during that era when quality of writing had a different emphasis in the popular martial art press. Well-researched and well-written, these two pieces capture well the life, times and character of these two giants of Judo.