Customer Reviews

Kodokan Judo Throwing Techniques

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a book that every serious Judo practitioner (and grappler) should have.
It is an in depth, as well as broad "manual" for every throw that is in Judo.
In my opinion, every Judo instructor should study and teach from this book as it is a definite resource of all Judo techniques that we should learn and preserve as a rich Judo tradition.
Every throw is described and demonstrated in details with variations, traditional (nage no kata) and modern competitive variations, combinations as well as with historical drawings from Jiu Jitsu roots. Photo sequences are long, detailed, very easy to learn from and just in general excellent. They are not only "studio" photos - there are some very rare competition, historical, kata photos marvelously put in the context.

Competition Techniques:

There are pages and pages dedicated to major competion throws - twice than in "Best Judo". Uchi Mata, Ouchi, Tai Otoshi, ... get over 6-7 pages each of very thorough analysis and effective step-by-step photo demonstrations (including combinations).

Rarities:

Kani Bassami (scissor throw) has been a widely popular, but nototrious for injuries and therefore removed from the competition.
This book does not ignore this throw but gives it 3-4 full pages - technique, principle and variations. The last section for this throw presents a powerfull justification why was the throw removed from the competition - there is a authentic sequence of competiton footages showing how the competitor's legs were broken by his oponent who utilized this throw.

How effective is the book

Just in one hour of reading of this book I personally picked up some major tips on Makekomi techniques,
and improved what I currently knew about these techniques.
If you are a Judo practitioner you know that it is usually pretty hard to pick much from the book - specially Makekomi techniques from the Japanese book.

For other grapplers and combat sports practitioners

I would actually recommend this book to the practitioners of other grappling sports/art because the level of details and instructions are so rich, and the techniques are so effectively presented that they could gain a lot from it. Photo demostrations are excellent, and the key points are so effectivelly highlighted that it is possible to pick up some techniques in a self-study format.

This manual is an authoritative reference which gives clear explanations of the basic throws of Judo. It is not a book for beginners because it has so much detail that it could be confusing. For example, there are multiple versions of each throw shown, some of which are quite different from the basic technique. It helps the reader distinguish between throws that are similar, and distinct variations of each throw.

It is best used as a reference for further study of techniques learned in class. It is not really competition oriented, and is more geared to technicians and those interested in understanding the official position of the Kodokan regarding each technique. Only approved Kodokan techniques are shown, and of course no matwork is included.

Ably translated into English by Francoise White, Kodokan Judo: Throwing Techniques by Toshiro Daigo provides the martial arts student with a comprehensive and correct classification of "nage-waza" terminology as used in both competition and practice. All sixty-seven official Kodokan throwing techniques and their various forms are explained and illustrated thoroughly and concisely with more than 1,800 photographs enhancing the step-by-step text. A very strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, and dojo martial arts reference collections, Kodokan Judo: Throwing Techniques is a complete book of instruction and the single most comprehensive guide to judo's throwing forms available to American martial arts students to date.

I think that Daigo Sensei wrote a very important book, a fondamental study on Judo Nage Waza. This book is useful to help the teacher, who want to study deeply the Waza of Judo but is also interesting for beginner, because the fondamental techniques are clearly exposed. The techniques are perfectly showed by two great performer, Sato Tadashi Sensei e Sengoku Sensei. I gave only 4 star to the book because the English translation in not complete. The Japanese original book contain more information on judo waza relationship with jujitsu and Judo History.

Reading the other reviews here of Daigo Kudan's work, now released in English by Kodansha, it is very difficult to add to the words of praise for this monumental collection of Kodokan Judo nagewaza. Originally this material was published in a series of Kodokan magazine articles. In fact, the two models for principal photography worked with the author and publisher for eight years.

Kodansha Int'l deserves praise for its commitment to bringing judo books like "Kodokan Throwing Techniques" to students outside of Japan. Most recently, a reprint and updated translation of the coveted Mifune Judan's "The Canon of Judo" was also released, and it is hard to say which book I like best. Both will raise the level of the reader's understanding of the technical and philosophical foundations of Kodokan Judo.

I also recommend this book to those who are involved with other martial arts/sports, including "Brazilian Jujitsu" and "Mixed Martials Arts." A thorough study can only increase their expertise, and they may be surprised to discover that there are few things that are really "new" under the sun.

This is a treasure for anyone interested in throwing techniques, it covers all the formal Kodokan Judo throws with variations and Tsukuri's.
Photos are clear and foolowed sometimes by drawings from old Jujutsu books, plus historical facts on some of the techniques.
I just started reading and allreay learned so much, this will greatly help with my Judo practice!

Buy it, it's just a must have.

Almost more info than you need to know.
Major throws showing you up to 9 ways to do them.

This book has a comprehensive description of all Kodokan Judo throwing techniques, with variations and detailed points that help the student to better understand the dynamics and hence to dominate the use of the technique. EVERY Judoka should have this book.

Very good technical book on Judo and it's practice. Beginners and Instructors can learn from this book. Very well written with good photos.

This book is probably the most detailed I've read on Nage-Waza. As with all of the Kodansha publications, the quality is top notch also. Now, I'm not a judoka, I actually train in the Bujinkan and submission wrestling. I wanted a concise volume of throws as a go-to for minute details. Judo throws are applicable to many arts as they rely on principles instead of style... by that, I mean a hip throw will generally be similar from style to style, with variations being gi, no gi, weapons etc. This book addresses each throw from multiple set ups and includes all variations as accepted by the Kodokan, and importantly (I believe) covers the 'lineage' of most of the techniques from koryu budo, to Kodokan Judo.