Customer Reviews

Judo: A Pictorial Manual

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

 

 

I liked this book for these reasons:
* completely groups all throws as defined in the Go-Kyo
* the photos are good even for beginners, e.g. they show moves from different points of view
* covers 40 throws, ne-waza and even some katas
* does not try to analyze moves with vector-diagrams etc. as some other literature does

What I not liked:
* ne-waza covers only basic stuff, the book misses things e.g. "how to turn s.th."

This is one of the most unique Judo books I've ever read. It includes a pretty decent history of judo, incuding a section focusing specifically on women's judo, and demonstrates everything from fastening the belt to katas vs. swords! I have to say that while 40 throws were demonstrated, there wasn't much detail. On the other hand, the direction of happo-kuzushi (off-ballancing) was given for every throw. Also shown were warm-ups, combination throws, body movements (called tai-sabaki), a variety of hold-downs, locks and chokes (including a leg lock!), and self-defense against common grabs, strikes, and knife/sword attacks. Also included are counters to some of the common judo groundfighting techniques, as kata. I'd recomend this to anyone doing gi-based grappling, but there is also some good tradition stuff in here, as well as some unique self-defense movements, probably most useful to a judoka who wants to know how to apply what he's learned.

ATLAST....... A JUDO BOOK THAT TEACHES KATAS, LOCKS, AND SUMBMISSIONS!! EASY TO FALLOW WITH GREAT PICTURE WORK AND EASY TO FALLOW DIRECTIONS! TEACHES ALL THE KATAS, AND REQIURMENTS UP TO YONDAN (4TH DEGREE BLACK BELT). GREAT FOR BEGINER TO BLACK BELT. RECOMENDED FOR ALL!

I suggest buying KODOKAN JUDO, by the Founder of Judo. Every club has its own rank requirements, usually based on officially recongnized judo techniques. The book by Kano is the official description of most of these techniques! Of course, judo books are most helpful for someone who has attended some sort of instruction! If you have not had instruction, I suggest asking your instructor to choose techniques for you to learn and then you can cross reference that teaching with the book.