Customer Rating: 
Summary: 40 years & still a valuable classic
Comment: I purchased this book in '67 as a companion to Prof. Kudo's throwing guide. Together they provide an excellent "pocket" review guide, to be expected since he was founder Kano's # 1 pupil for many years. Beware of mistaking this reference volume for a sensi. Without a partner and/or a qualified teacher it is limited at best. One of the volume's greatest assets is that Kudo offers reversals & counters for many throws (for those which might be reversed if the technique hasn't been applied well). For those looking for an edge in MMA competition, remember that in Judo you can "turtle" - curling up on your stomach to avoid a pin or joint lock whereas on the street on inside an octagon that can get you butchered. Having said that, if you get the chance to obtain a copy in good condition, grab it & you won't be disappointed. Professor Kudo's combined grabbling & throwing volume would be an even better bet.
Customer Rating:
Summary: An excellent guide to improve your grappling skills!
Comment: Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One such book is Kazuzo Kudo's, "Judo In Action; Grappling Techniques."
This is really an outstanding book for the way it focuses on the various aspects of grappling with an opponent while on the ground. I was particularly impressed with the layout and design of this book. Very easy to follow and understand. Here are some of the key points that this book focuses on.
1. Fundamentals:
The author starts out be explaining exactly what constitutes a grappling technique and how in Judo that grappling and throwing techniques are much like the front and rear wheels of an automobile in that they work best when combined with one another.
The author also explains the importance of utilizing your entire body correctly and in unison when learning, practicing, and executing not only the techniques explained in this book, but all techniques regardless of what they are.
This section finishes up with photographs and detailed explanations on how to execute numerous warm-up exercises.
2. Pinning Techniques:
This section covers a lot of the basic principles and concepts that you should not only be aware of, but should also strive to apply when faced with a grappling situation while on the ground. It also covers some very good training rules that should be adhered to too the letter in order to optimize your training time and to avoid injuries to both you and your training partner. It then follows up with approximately 12 various pinning techniques.
3. Strangle Techniques:
Just like the previous section on pinning techniques, this section covers a lot of the basic principles and concepts that you should not only be aware of, but should also strive to apply when faced with a grappling situation while on the ground. It also covers some very good training rules that should be adhered to too the letter in order to optimize your training time and to avoid injuries to both you and your training partner. It then follows up with approximately 20 various strangling techniques.
4. Joint Techniques:
Just like the previous two sections on pinning and strangling techniques, this section covers a lot of the basic principles and concepts that you should not only be aware of, but should also strive to apply when faced with a grappling situation while on the ground. It also covers some very good training rules that should be adhered to too the letter in order to optimize your training time and to avoid injuries to both you and your training partner. It then follows up with approximately 13 various joint locking techniques.
5. Getting into the Grappling Techniques:
This section was very good in showing you how to get into the grappling position on the ground. This is very similar to learning how to enter into your opponent's body before actually executing a throw. This section was very informative and I really learned a quite a bit from it, as well as the rest of the material in this book.
Each one of the sections which focused on the physical techniques (sections 2, 3, and 4) followed the same six (6) point guideline when explaining each of the techniques contained in their respective sections. These six points are as follows:
a. General Gist of the Technique
b. The Right Moment
c. Pinning, Strangling, or Holding
d. Special Hints
e. Vital or Key Points
f. Escapes
The entire book was literally full of great photographs which really detailed the techniques for you, and combined with the detailed text, made it very easy to learn from. The presentation of the material in this book is nothing short of excellent and it a definitive benchmark in the way any martial arts book should be presented.
Customer Rating:
Summary: You'll come back to it again and again
Comment: Being out of print, this book is worth the high price. The author really understands the fundmental of grappling and each technique, and believe me whether you are a beginner or advanced practioner you can learn something new every time you refer to this book after a practice session. It worked for me.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Required reading for the judo competitor
Comment: I have dozens of books in my judo library, and this one is the best of them all. This is one of the few judo books that actually teach techniques that translate directly into competition.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A must have for the library
Comment: Timeless, technical, and classic.
This book is all of the above. The photos are better than any I have seen to date. Comes as a pair (grappling and throwing) and was apparently available as dynamic judo, but I have never seen that anywhere.
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