Olympic Judo - History And Techniques

Author: Nicolas Soames and Roy Inman
Pub: 1990 by The Crowood Press Ltd.
Pages: 253
Ranking:
Out of Print:

This surprising book has an absolute wealth of data on Olympic Judo from 1964 to 1988. The photos are first rate, with many excellent examples of dynamic Judo being shown. Each chapter covers a different Olympic year... with detailed coverage of the more interesting matches. Who was favored, and why... what the upsets were, and reasons for various rule changes down through the years. In the appendix, it gives the results of each and every match. This book is historically valuable. I think that it is out-of-print, but as it's fairly recent, you should still be able to find a copy at a low price. For those interested in the historical development of Olympic Judo, and how it changed Judo worldwide, this book would be invaluable. Get it!

              Contents
                            
 Acknowledgements           6
 The Path to the Olympics   7
 Tokyo 1964                14
 Munich 1972               33
 Montreal 1976             49
 Moscow 1980               63
 Los Angeles 1984          91
 Seoul 1988               130
 Appendix                 216
 Index                    251

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many people contributed to this book. Some helped with written material, some with memories and some even with demonstrations. Tony Sweeney (The Budokwai), Syd Hoare (London Judo Society), George Kerr (The Edinburgh Club), John Cornish (The Budokwai), Colin McIver (Scottish Judo Federation) and Charles Palmer (President of the British Judo Association) all helped with verbal and written material.

Special thanks must go to John Goodbody, a Budokwai member of many years and Sports News correspondent for The Times, who loaned his extensive Olympic files; and to Peter Holme, a member of the BJA management committee who allowed us to draw on his detailed account of the 1984 Olympics published in Judo magazine. We are indebted to The Budokwai Bulletin for its reports over the years, especially the 1964 report by John Cornish. As always, Dickie Bowen gave us free access to his unrivalled judo library for which we thank him.

We would also like to acknowledge the help with archival material from Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki (International Budo University); Yoshinori Nagase (editor, Kindai Judo, Tokyo); Nobuyuki Sato and Yasuhiro Yamashita (Tokai University); Jean-Francis Renaud and his colleagues at L'Equipe (France) and Dr Phyllis Elliot and Dr Ken Kingsbury for access to their personal photograph files and records of their many visits to the Olympics. Tony Reay (BJA), John Gichigi (All-Sport) and Eddie Ferric (The Budokwai) were always on hand to help with details, and some of Eddie's photos also appear.

Thanks also go to Nicola Fairbrother who, despite the demands of her own contest career, compiled the results; and Duncan Steen who compiled the index.

To these and others whose memories we tapped over the course of the many months we spent putting this book together, we extend our gratitude.

INTRODUCTION

Judo made its first appearance in the Olympic Games, in 1964, at Tokyo and, though absent from New Mexico in 1968, it has been included in the programme for every Games since then. Some of the most thrilling judo contests have taken place under the Olympic banner. This book sets out to provide a complete history of Olympic judo, from its tentative beginnings as an 'option' sport to the demonstration of a women's category in 1988.

An introductory chapter, telling of how judo came to be included in the Olympic programme, is followed by a series of commentaries, each covering one Olympiad. These relate the main contests and list the medallists in every weight category for each Games, as well as charting the development of judo as a competitive sport. Changes in the rules and evolving fighting styles are discussed in full at the end of each commentary.

A final chapter covers the introduction of a women's category in the 1988 Games in Seoul and looks forward to 1992, when women will achieve full competitive status.

Fully illustrated with breath-taking photographs of David Finch, Olympic Judo presents a compulsive and entertaining anthology for all judo enthusiasts.

Nicolas Soames, 2nd Dan, is the judo correspondent for The Times, a regular contributor on judo matters to The Telegraph, The Independent, The Independent on Sunday, Reuters and the leading Japanese judo magazine Kindai Judo, and acts as the judo adviser to the BBC. A member of London's The Budokwai, he practises judo regularly.

Roy Inman, 6th Dan, is the manager and coach of the British women's team. He has put the experience gained from a successful competitive career as a member of the British team to good use in the training of others and has produced several world and European champions. Two of his champions, Sharon Rendle and Diane Bell, won their weight categories at the 1988 Olympics in Los Angeles.

David Finch is one of the world's leading judo specialist photographers. He has photographed almost every major international judo event since 1972 and his photographic contribution to judo books, from Europe to Japan and USA, over the past twenty years, has been formidable.