Black Belt Judo Skills & Techniques (Judo Unleashed)

Author: Neil Ohlenkamp
Pub: 2006
Pages: 160
Ranking:
In Print Softcover (Right Photo):
In Print Hardcover (Left Photo):

This book will be a tough one... how do you review a book that mentions you in the acknowledgements? I train with the author, Neil Ohlenkamp, and have a great deal of respect for him as a man, and as a Judoka. So, understanding now that my review just might have a slight bit of bias in it ... here goes:

This book comes in two different editions - the hardcover pictured above is actually only sold in the U.K., while the U.S. softcover edition has a different cover and different title (Judo Unleashed) - they are, other than those minor differences, identical. The photography is outstanding throughout this book, and in a tradition first started by Bruce Tegner - Tori is always wearing a white Judogi, and uke, a blue Judogi. This makes it easy for the reader to see at a glance what is happening. Another bit that I like about this book is a small graphic showing the actual foot positions for the various throws. (Sometimes this isn't as clear as it should be, and Neil went to the effort to make things crystal clear here.) Key points are listed for each technique, along with followup techniques. The major innovation in this book (in my opinion) is found in Appendix 3, where 29 throws are listed in a chart. Here's an example of just one of them:

In conclusion - and despite the fact that Neil could use me as uke to demonstrate Jigoku Jime in the next class... I'll have to give this book an outstanding rating! There's a few books out there that can still beat it - books such as Kudo's Dynamic Judo series, or Mifune's Canon of Judo, but you can't go wrong with this book, it's definitely worth the money.

                 CONTENTS
1 - LET'S BEGIN ......................................... 11
The many facets of judo; sport or martial art;
what does a black belt really mean?

Part One		   
Judo Fundamentals		   
2 - HOW TO LEARN JUDO ................................... 23
Kata, randori and shiai; other forms of training;
tips for solo practice
 
3 - WHY JUDO WORKS ...................................... 31
Scientific basis; psychological principles;
maximum effect with minimum effort


4 - HOW JUDO DEVELOPS CHARACTER ......................... 35
Mental approach to training; character lessons

5 - CLASSIFICATION OF TECHNIQUES ........................ 39
Throwing (nage waza); grappling (katame waza);
striking (atemi waza)

Part Two
Throwing Techniques
6 - PRINCIPLES OF THROWING .............................. 45
Gripping; posture; movement; unbalancing;
combination techniques; counter techniques

7 - HIP THROWS .......................................... 57
Using the hips to generate throwing power
 
8 - HAND THROWS ......................................... 69
A variety of throws that use the hands, arms and
shoulders
 
9 - LEG THROWS .......................................... 87
Throws that use the legs to reap, sweep,
hook or block an opponent's legs

10 - SACRIFICE THROWS .................................. 103
Learn how and when to fall to the ground in
order to throw your opponent

Part Three
Grappling Techniques
11 - PINNING ........................................... 117
What is a pin! Principles of pinning; basic
ground positions

12 - STRANGULATION & CHOKING ........................... 129
Principles; tips for effective choking; safety;
examples of locks and chokes

13 - Joint LOCKS ....................................... 139
Principles of joint locks; safety issues; the bent
arm lock; the straight arm lock
 
APPENDICES ............................................. 147

ONLINE RESOURCES ....................................... 156

GLOSSARY ............................................... 157

INDEX .................................................. 158

Front Inside Cover:

Judo is a fusion of ancient combat art, modern sports training and a philosophy of continuous improvement. This manual details the main principles and techniques of Kodokan Judo and explores its many facets, from self-discovery to self-defence and tournament tactics. It is intended to give a greater understanding of Judo, and to be a study aid and reference for students up to the level of black belt.

Brush up on the principles behind the various types of Judo training, learn how to use scientific principles and solo practice to improve your Judo, gain insight into the mental approach to training, and become skilled at throws, counters and combination techniques that produce maximum effect for minimum effort.

Almost 60 percent of the book consists of throws, pins, locks, chokes and grappling techniques, all with photographs to demonstrate the basic positions, as well as variations.

The author, a 6th degree black belt instructor, also highlights key points of each technique to help you improve our Judo skills.

A must for any serious competitor are the sections listing techniques recognized by the Kodokan, a table of suggestion on how to combine various throws into effective, integrated attack systems, and a list of tournament rules, penalties and prohibitions.

Back Inside Cover:

Neil Ohlenkamp holds a rokudan rank (6th degree black belt) in Judo. Since 1968 he has been an active competitor, head instructor, national team coach and tournament official. He holds black belt rank certificates from the US Judo Association (USJA), US Judo Federation (USJF) and the Kodokan Judo Institute in Japan. He also has a 6th degree black belt in ju-jitsu from the US Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF).

Widely recognized as a leader in the teaching and promotion of Judo for sport and self-defence, Ohlenkamp has trained athletes and coaches throughout the United States and Internationally. He is certified by the US Judo Association as an instructor, referee, master rank examiner and master coach, and was named US Judo Association Coach of the Year for 1999.

A pioneer in promoting martial arts around the world through the Internet, he created the first comprehensive web site devoted to Judo in 1995 - JudoInfo.com.

Back Cover:
 

• Principles and techniques of Kodokan Judo
• Self-discovery, self-defence and tournament tactics
• Mental approach to training
• Achieving maximum effect for minimum effort
• Combining throws into an integrated attack

Written by a 6th degree black belt instructor with more than 30 years' experience at international level, Black Belt is packed with essential knowledge for judoka up to black belt level. The book examines the main principles and techniques of Judo and includes guidance on training and competing. The bulk of the pages consist of detailed instructions on throws, pins, locks, chokes and grappling techniques, all of them clearly illustrated with step-by-step photographs.

Using This Book

This book is a manual of the main principles and techniques of Kodokan judo. The Kodokan is the original school of judo in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 1802. The techniques in the standard syllabus of judo are included as a reference, but there are many variations of each technique. The photographs in this book demonstrate the basic positions of the techniques and some variations, but they are by no means comprehensive.

Participating in a judo class with other students and a qualified judo instructor is the only way to develop skill in judo. This book is intended to give readers a greater understanding of judo, and to be a study aid and reference for students up to the level of black belt, but its limited size prohibits more detailed explanations or additional advanced techniques. Be assured that there is much more to learning judo than what is included here, just as the black belt level is only the beginning step in learning judo.

The technique names, Japanese terminology and English translations used in these chapters are those used in the official Kodokan New Japanese-English Dictionary of Judo (Kodokan Judo Institute, 2000) and Kodokan Judo by Jigoro Kano (Kodansha International, I994). Other names and terms may be used in various judo schooIs around the world, but these are believed to be the most widely accepted.

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to all judo teachers who share their knowledge and love of judo with their students, and specifically to Sensei Juergen Wahl, who has been an example and guide to me for nearly four decades.

To teach is to touch an unknown number of lives, even in future generations. As Henry Adams once said, 'A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.'