Aryana Libris

Authors : Otaki Tadao - Draeger Donald Frederick
Title : Judo formal techniques A complete guide to Kodokan randori no kata Over 1000 illustrations
Year : 1983

Link download : Otaki_Tadao_-_Draeger_Donald_Frederick_-_Judo_formal_techniques.zip

Preface. This book has been prepared as a technical manual for all judoists, whether trainees or instructors. It describes the basic formal techniques of Kodokan Judo, the Nage and Katame no Kata. The primary purpose of this book is to give judoists an adequate source of reference for the study and practice of these basic kata. It contains the most recent amendments and modifications made by the Kodokan in arriving at the formulation of a definitive kata standard. Additionally, this book extrapolates fromJigoro Kano's technical notes in order to remove the appearance of uselessness which is often projected by modern interpretations of kata. It will be readily seen that this book is unique in several major areas. The precision with which kata must be performed requires that an adequate description of it be somewhat lengthy and detailed. Kata must be given its just place in a full-length text without trying to cram too many types of kata and too little about each into the limitations of a book. Therefore, this book provides more pages of illustrated text than are usually found in a work on this subject. Heretofore, books on Judo kata have been mainly concerned with describing the actual techniques of throwing and grappling. They have concentrated' mainly on the role of Tori, almost to the exclusion of the role of Uke, which is very vital to kata. We object to this method of presentation as being full of technical gaps which weaken learning. These gaps have made kata study from most existing books a loosely connected series of performances and next to impossible. In kata the connecting movements are highly significant, and need to be practiced as correctly as the individual techniques. This book gives a full and accurate description of the roles of both Tori and Uke, making the whole kata understandable as a continuous process, without omitting the technical details necessary for a smooth and complete performance. Understanding the direction of movement and the rhythm im·olved in the performance of each technique places the strength climaxes properly and makes them easily identifiable. The "in-betweens," or transitional movements from the completions of techniques to the subsequent techniques required of the performers, are described so that the physical positions and attendant movements can readily be practiced throughout the whole range and depth of their fields. Additionally, the positional attitudes taken by Tori and Uke from start to finish of each technique are clearly illustrated and explained. Emphasis is also given to the correct spirit and etiquette of kata, without which kata is meaningless. This book stresses, in progressive steps, the necessity for the integration of the objectives of kata. The primary intention of this stress is to contribute to the overall Judo education of judoists. The book also deals with the many components to making kata interesting and learnable; specifically it discusses the unification of kata into the realm of practical Judo training. It is this portion of the book that should appeal most to the reader. A stereotyped and inflexible curriculum of demonstrational kata will see many judoists grow bored, and rightly so. The student's distaste for kata ill-presented can be turned into a love for kata correctly presented. Kata, as indicated in this book, is concerned with real throwing, real falling, and energetic grappling; the suggested application of kata in training is the basis for the development of a judoist's skills so that they may endure. Incompetent or, at best, indifferent Judo instructors who indict the practice of kata as slavish adherence to the traditionalist approach, and condemn it as meaningless form, are irrefutably rebutted by documentary testimony to the value of kata training. Some of the most outstanding Japanese judoists, famous in international circles as contest champions and high-ranking teachers, give their opinions about kata here. It is evident from their testimonies that only the judoist with rich past experience appreciates and understands kata, and that it is the inexperienced judoist who lacks an ability to enlarge and make meaningful the course of kata study. TADAO OTAKI. DONN F. DRAEGER. ...