Judo Unleashed!

The highly recommended guide for serious students seeking advancement and success in Judo. This comprehensive 192 page text focuses on theory, principles and techniques. A unique, modern Judo book with 430 professional full-color action photos and illustrations covering every official Kodokan Judo technique, as well as variations, combinations, and counters.

Audience:

Judo Unleashed! is a complete manual that will last a lifetime for beginning and intermediate students of Judo. It is also an excellent reference for advanced practitioners, including a new section on how to keep moving forward in Judo. It is a great addition to any martial arts library, and will be used over and over to learn the names and basics of each technique, better understand Judo theory and principles, spark ideas for practice in class, and supplement your training with counters, combinations, and variations not often shown in class.

For newcomers, Judo Unleashed! provides an introduction to Judo training methods and a resource for learning effective grappling for self defense or competition. Grappling arts like Judo have proven their effectiveness and no martial artist can afford to be without the skills and ideas shown in this book. Most judo instructors recommended the original Judo Unleashed for their students. This new beautifully photographed manual will gain the attention of a whole new generation of potential Judo students.

There is no other Judo book like Judo Unleashed! -- but it still isn't everything for everyone. Judo requires expert instruction in a class setting, plus years of practice and competition. It also takes learning more about Judo outside of class. Everyone who is passionate about Judo thrives on studying the kind of information in this book. Judo Unleashed! will help refresh that passion by introducing new ideas and areas for further study.

 Judo Unleashed! is an excellent investment (less than $20) for beginners to have a manual that will guide them as they advance in rank from the beginning stage until they become instructors who continue to use it as a reference.

Content:

Judo Unleashed! is divided into four sections plus an appendix:

1. JUDO FUNDAMENTALS (JUDO KIHON)
2. THROWING TECHNIQUES (NAGE WAZA)
3. GRAPPLING TECHNIQUES (KATAME WAZA)
4. ADVANCING IN JUDO
5. Appendix

In the first part the reader comes to better understand what Judo is, how to go about learning it, how it works in self defense and as an Olympic sport, and how Judo develops character. The challenge of Judo, and the meaning of Judo's highest principles are examined and clearly explained.

In part two and three, key points, footwork diagrams, and step-by-step photos accompany each of the basic techniques and variations that are included for all of the recognized techniques of Kodokan Judo. The principles of throwing are thoroughly explored, including demonstrations of all 67 throws recognized by the Kodokan Judo Institute.  More than 50 grappling techniques are shown on the ground with pins, chokes, and joint locks.

Each chapter provides the details that will help the serious student understand Judo better. For example, a special chapter describes the principles of fighting in a standing position with a complete discussion of important elements like gripping (Kumikata), posture (Shisei), movement (Tai Sabaki and Shintai), unbalancing (Kuzushi), fitting in (Tsukuri), application (Kake), combination techniques (Renraku Waza), counter techniques (Kaeshi Waza), and attack initiative (Sen).

Even the appendix contains valuable information including a variety of combination and counter techniques (Kaeshi and Renraku Waza) for every situation, certain formal techniques (Kata), a guide to tournament rules and scoring, current competition penalties and prohibited acts.

Reviews (First and Latest Edition):

Mr. Eddie Awford, Former Director and Chairman of the Coaching Commission of the British Judo Association says, "In my view this book has been well constructed covering the wide spectrum of Judo Skill Techniques, Training and Judo Ideology and as such it would be a welcome addition to the library of any level of Judoka, Judo Coach or Judo enthusiast."

Rusty Kanokogi (the Mother of Women's Judo) wrote, "Judo Unleashed! by Neil Ohlenkamp is a must have for every Instructor, Dojo and Judo student in the USA. It is well written with great care given to the text and photograghs. The book covers techniques, history and the philosophy of Judo. Brings Judo up to date. Colorful, interesting and a definite teaching tool for Judo."

Ben Holmes, founder of the Judo book review site BestJudo says, "Judo Unleashed! is an excellent text for every Judoka's bookshelf. I've trained with the author, Neil, for several years now, and am impressed with his depth of knowledge, and simple ways of explaining difficult concepts. You won't be disappointed with this book!" 

Gary Goltz

Author:

Neil Ohlenkamp is a 7th degree black belt from Southern California who has been practicing and teaching Judo continuously since 1968. He has in-depth experience as a student, competitor, referee, instructor, tournament official, and an international coach. Mr. Ohlenkamp was the 1988 US Paralympic Team Coach in Seoul, Korea, 1999 USJA Coach of the Year, and he has been the head instructor of a large Judo club producing champions for over 30 years. To promote Judo and educate the public, he created the Judo Information Site at JudoInfo.com, which was the most authoritative, comprehensive, and successful Judo web page in the world from 1995 through 2015.

Orders:

The inexpensive paperback Judo Unleashed! may be ordered online now, or ask at your favorite bookstore. The original Judo Unleashed was available in bookstores everywhere, even in Tokyo (Kinokuniya in Shinjuku).

More Information:

Additional details about the photography, illustrations and text is available here, including some photos and excerpts.