Customer Reviews

Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book holds a very special place in the history of martial arts education and is certainly one of the most entertaining. I would love to know co-author Hancock's story, especially the circumstances of his training in Japan. Beyond the historical value of this text though lies its usefulness; the techniques shown are the same as those practiced today, and the reader will undoubtedly find some that are not taught. However, one should not get carried away. If you are looking for a book that shows you techniques, there are any number of them on the market that are better than this one. However, if you want a glimpse into the Real Thing, i.e., jiu jitsu as it was practiced in the Olde Days, then this book stands pretty much alone. As a Ketsugo and Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner, all I can say is...this book is fascinating.

This book has nothing to do with Jigoro Kano's Kodokan judo. By the time this book was published most of Kano's Judo as it is now known was all ready in existence including the Nage no Kata, Ju no Kata, Kime no Kata, and most of the Gokyo no Waza. The book Judo Kyohon published only 2 years later in Japan in 1908 detailed the Gokyo no Waza and Nage no Kata in their entirety and every technique therein is recognizable in name and form when compared to modern judo. Irving Hancock was a shameless huckster who had some instruction in an older form of jiu-jitsu completely unrelated to Kano's Kodokan Judo. He detailed this form in an earlier book entitled Jiu-Jitsu Combat Tricks published in 1904. He falsely labeled this later book The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu as a marketing ploy to try and trick buyer's into thinking they were getting something of Kano's judo, which by that date had gained total dominance in Japan. Very few of his techniques bare any resemblance to Kano's Judo as it was practiced then or now. This book is an interesting look at old style jiu-jitsu and worth buying, but Hancock's claim that it ever had anything to do with Kano's school is totally false.

Every judoka who practise not only sports but art and self-defence need it. Only a few techniques of this book are known now in judo. And there are 160 tricks there! And it's real! I'm sure because I train it every day. Try it.

Actually this is a historical tome of some note. Interesting but very hard to learn from. The point of this book is to show training as it was when Judo was first developed. Every JuJutsuist and Judoka should have this in his/her library.
Worth the price and the time.

Many people know Kano created Judo, but few know of his contribution
to Jujutsu.

The roots of modern Jujutsu began at the end of the 19th Century
when Kano Jigoro was given the task of taking the old, separate schools
of Jujutsu, taking the best of what was, and creating a hand=to-hand
combat school befitting the new, modernised Japan. This new art,
Kano Jujutsu was adopted rapidly by schools and military, as well as
progressing overseas, gaining practitioners and advocates such as Theodore
Roosevelt. Kano Jujutsu still survives in martial arts schools, albeit in
very few, and as hand-to-hand combat in many modern militaries.

The Complete Kano Jujutsu is a reprint of the classic text, demonstrating
many techniques, as well as an introduction to Kuatsu (healing and first
aid techniques).

This is not a book for beginners, as requires knowledge of techniques,
but serves well to augment training. A must have for people want to
delve deeper into martial arts.

This is a great book for those who want to know more about Dr. Jigoro Kano, the Founder(Shihan) of Judo. The techniques in this book are preserved for all of us who seek the knowledge of real Jiu Jitsu. Even BJJ students will enjoy this one!

It is true this book does not really cover Kano's Judo as it was developed for sport. Nevertheless, the importance of this book is that it contains techniques and tactics of early Jiu-Jitsu with an emphasis on self-defense application. I would not call it a complete text on early Samurai Ju-Jitsu; however, the value of this text is its historical importance.

In conclusion, anyone involved in the grappling arts will find this book interesting and informative.

Rating: 5 Stars (For Historical value). Joseph J. Truncale (Author: The Shotokan Karate self-defense Manual: Combat karate for the street).

It seems to this reviewer that "The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu" is indeed a complilation of Kano Ryu Jiu-Jitsu as the title claims -- indeed not yet Kodokan Judo -- certainly not post-1960 Modern Judo. By the way -- this reviewer sees great value in each and all of those three phases. Yes, there is a lack of systematic clinching into kuzushi off-balancing play into grappling play -- as in Modern Judo. Rather, counter-attack entry angles are used to go directly into kicks, blows, throws, chokes, locks and pins. Indeed, the techniques totally lack a division into sports-play versus self-defense -- and are quick and pragmatic solutions to particular attack-positions.

There is no hint of Nage no Kata, Ju no Kata, Kime no Kata and Gokyo no Waza, as others have noticed. Rather, we seem to be seeing a personal variation [likely with some Tsutsumi Hozan Ryu] of Kano Ryu -- a blend of Kito Ryu, Fusen Ryu, Tenshin Shinyo Ryu, and other Jiu-Jitsu with modern jiu-jitsu adaptations. Such a blend was later formally re-organized into Kodokan Judo. As far as overlap between pre Kano Ryu Jiu-Jitsu and post Kodokan Judo goes -- in Japan before World War II there were still fairly large independant jiu-jitsu schools and Kodokan Judo was still growing into its leading influence. There were numbers of hybrid jiu-jitsu blends with Kodokan -- even within the judo circles. Afterall, Jigaro Kano aquired a team of jiu-jitsu adepts [18 of them, including of the schools noted above] to help create Kano Ryu Jiu-jitsu and Kodokan Judo. Folks search far-and-wide for "the jiu-jitsu which became judo" [such as Kito Ryu] -- and here it is in public view in "The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu" +++

This book is an excellent reproduction of the 1927 original print, which we have at our Judo club in Canterbury Kent UK. The original would cost around £300 no counting for the fact its signed by jui jitsu players of the time in 1930. The original techniques or tricks as they are called in the book are still extremely relevant today. For the Jui Jitsu player whether kano or Brazillian there are many techniques you will probably not have seen which are well worth trying. It is a must for the book shelf of the committed grappler.

The manual: 'THE COMPLETE KANO JIU-JITSU [Judo]' (c. 1906, 1961) by Harry Irving Hancock and Katsukuma Higashi, may surprise those who have not seen photographs of combat Judo at its inception. Filled with 1906 photographs of Judo "tricks", THE COMPLETE KANO JIU-JITSU displayed a Judo which would not be recognized in today's dojo.

This style of 1906 combat Judo portrayed in THE COMPLETE KANO JIU-JITSU was practiced with the standard white Uwa-gi Judo top but with black leggings with leather knee-pads, and while wearing black shoes. The techniques or "tricks", as the author described them, resembled free-style wrestling with take downs and few throws.

Also, clearly recognizable are the strangle holds and pinning techniques of Tenshin Shinyo Ryu (School of the Natural Way) Jiu-Jitsu and the throwing techniques of Kito Ryu (To Rise and Fall) Jiu-Jitsu; the two styles of Jiu-Jitsu from which the genius Dr. Jigoro Kano developed his Judo. But some have noted that these techniques may be more representative of Tsutsumi Hozan Ryu jiu-jitsu, as practiced by Katsukuma Higashi.

The book THE COMPLETE KANO JIU-JITSU contained the 1906 photographs of two Judo leg-locks (photos No.424 & No.425), and an early Judo leg throw (No. 419), a kick to the groin from standing (No. 416) and from the ground (No. 417).

Overall, THE COMPLETE KANO JIU-JITSU is a superb reference source for the hopologist who wishes to delve into the martial arts past and on Judo history. This work should be read in conjunction with KODOKAN JUDO by Dr. Jigoro Kano, to provide an excellent insight into Judo's development!