Reading Recommendations please

Newbie to Judo
Only studied Judo on the tatami not really sure where to start on Reading or Papers on the History or ideas around judo
Can anyone recommend a starters shortlist? not that the books have to be short.

hobit wrote:Newbie to Judo
Only studied Judo on the tatami not really sure where to start on Reading or Papers on the History or ideas around judo
Can anyone recommend a starters shortlist? not that the books have to be short.

Some good information; http://judoinfo.com/principles.htm

Some good books I concider must-have;

• Kodokan Judo by Jigoro Kano - link (amazon)
  
• Judo Formal Techniques by Tadao Otaki and Donn F. Draeger - link (amazon)
  
• Kodokan Throwing Techniques by Toshiro Daigo - link (amazon)
  

I don't have that good knowledge of books regarding specific history but there are some history in all of those books, especially the book by Draeger, which is fantastic. The book by Daigo you can use as a technique reference point from white to red belt

'A History of Judo' by Syd Hoare.
'Judo Memoirs of Jigoro Kano' by Brian N. Watson.
'The Way of Judo: A Portrait of Jigoro Kano and His Students' by John Stevens.

Very good english book about ideas, history, etc.
Jigoro Kano and the Kodokan - An Innovative Response To Modernisation - - Kodokan Internet Shop
Contents

CHAPTER 1
CONCEPTION
Kodokan's Foundation
The Framework for Kodokan Judo
The Kodokan Method

CHAPTER 2
RATIONALISATION
The Mindset of Kodokan Judo
The Transition from "Jutsu" to "Do"
Combat Principles Utilised in Spiritual Development
("Ju-no-ri") and Beyond
The Ideals of Seiryoku-zenyo and Jita-kyoei

CHAPTER 3
SYSTEMISATION
Judo Techniques Developed from Jujutsu
A Summary of Judo's Technical Development
Expansion of Technical Principles
The Predominance of Nage-waza
Amendments to the Gokyo-no-waza
Katame-waza
Atemi-waza
Randori and Kata

CHAPTER 4
MATURATION
Dojo Relocation
Kodokan Regional Branches
Significant Kodokan Calendar Events

CHAPTER 5
ORGANISATION
Membership to the Kodokan
Kodokan Judo Randori Match & Referee Regulations
The Kodokan Promotion System
The Kodokan Becomes a Foundation
Financing the Kodokan
The Yudansha Association
Women's Judo
Instructor Training
The Judo Medical Research Group

CHAPTER 6
PROPAGATION
Publications
The Judokai (Judo Association)
The Kodokan Bunkakai (Culture Council)
Publishing Activities
Physical Education and Judo in Schools
Judo's International Spread
Timeline of Kano Jigoro's Career and the Kodokan's Development

Thank you for the recommendations I am now on the hunt for the books. Amazon UK has Syd Hoare's a history of judo £2449! or have confused things with Yen?

There are any number of entrepreneurs who would fleece the unwitting of tons of money for next to nothing. They count on fora like this to advertise for them and convince someone that things are rare and worth that insane amount of money.

You can find any number of basic judo histories for not much money or for free.

The Kodokan internet site mentioned has that great introduction at a decent price. Shipping is always a bit expense but that is a book you refer to for life.

Syd Hoare's is a thoughtful overview but hardly worth 2500 pounds! maybe US$25.... or something like that.

I wouldn't recommend Stevens' book (anymore... I did sort of recommend it when it first came out, but then read it it detail. He tends to sensationalize the story and not treat his sources correctly. Some outright errors.)

Bear in mind that the large technical books like Daigo sensei's or Drager's also have overviews of the history and philosophy of judo, enough for a newby, so you're killing two birds with one stone.

If in the US, I'd recommend as basic texts:

Neil Ohlenkamp's Judo Unleashed http://judounleashed.com/

Heyward Nishioka's Judo Heart and Soul, http://www.amazon.com/Judo-Heart-Soul-Hayward-Nishioka/dp/0897501373/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410142400&sr=1-3&keywords=Hayward+Nishioka

or really anything by Nishioka sensei.

Mark Law's Pajama Game, called something else in the US, but found here: http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Hard-Journey-into-World/dp/1590307151/ref=la_B001QXER86_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410142603&sr=1-1

Jigoro Kano's Kodokan Judo: The Essential Guide http://www.amazon.com/Kodokan-Judo-Essential-Founder-Jigoro/dp/156836539X/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1HX1CV11M4NGZDHQ4RBQ

Tadao Otaki's Judo Formal Techniques, http://www.amazon.com/Judo-Formal-Techniques-Complete-Kodokan/dp/080481676X/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=13V9DZQYEH81R584DP2M

And go from there.

definitely don't spend a ton of funds on books atm - get the basics. THey will cost a bit more than a typical paperback because many have diagrams and pictures, but they won't take your breath away, or contest the costs of your gi (let alone your car - $2500? that's waaayyy too much for anybody but an aficionado)

oh, and you might want to hit AnnMarie De Mars' Winning on the Ground http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Ground-Training-Techniques-Fighters/dp/0897502051/ref=pd_sim_b_10?ie=UTF8&refRID=1M8JAW576ZH11KBJ7F0Z

Stacey wrote:definitely don't spend a ton of funds on books atm - get the basics.  THey will cost a bit more than a typical paperback because many have diagrams and pictures, but they won't take your breath away, or contest the costs of your gi (let alone your car - $2500? that's waaayyy too much for anybody but an aficionado)

What Stacey means, is that you should reserve those $2,500 for when my book come out. It comes with a free voucher for a burger.

Cichorei Kano wrote:

What Stacey means, is that you should reserve those $2,500 for when my book come out. It comes with a free voucher for a burger.

It has to - who could afford to eat after taking out the loan for your book

hobit wrote:Thank you for the recommendations I am now on the hunt for the books. Amazon UK has Syd Hoare's a history of judo £2449! or have confused things with Yen?

Weird. I bought my copy off Amazon in January, and I certainly did not pay that much.

Cichorei Kano wrote:

Stacey wrote:definitely don't spend a ton of funds on books atm - get the basics.  THey will cost a bit more than a typical paperback because many have diagrams and pictures, but they won't take your breath away, or contest the costs of your gi (let alone your car - $2500? that's waaayyy too much for anybody but an aficionado)

What Stacey means, is that you should reserve those $2,500 for when my book come out. It comes with a free voucher for a burger.

Amazon prices are sometimes wrong in Europe due to some data being input with a "," to place the "decimal point".

Waterstones have the Hoare book £12.99: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/syd+hoare/a+history+of+judo/6423447/

I suspect the intended price on Amazon is £24.99.

Get the Hoare book.