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Preface

Championship Judo – Tai-Otoshi and O-Uchi-Gari Attacks by Trevor Leggett and Kisaburo Watanabe was the first judo book written in English which truly revealed the hidden riches and complexities in judo technique.

In that sense, when it was published in 1964, it proved a milestone to many who read it. Here, at last, was a comprehensible account of the careful development of a throw – Taiotoshi – from its very first beginnings to its full glory when, joined with a sister throw, it was ready to be executed under contest conditions.

Its clear description of crucial details – whether the grips or the standards of uchikomi which need to be attained – made it one of the very few judo books which could be usefully studied.

Like all important texts, it hasn’t really dated. The photographs may not be up to modern standards but the content is as relevant now as it was 30 years ago. This, alone, means that it should remain in print.

When I first read it, I was a brown belt aspiring to a dan grade and it made an enormous difference to my personal understanding of judo.

More importantly, the effect of the book stayed with me for years, and proved to be a direct inspiration for the foundation of the Judo Masterclass series published by Ippon Books. Looking back at Tai-Otoshi and O-Uchi-Gari Attacks, I wonder whether any judo book will be able to match it for sheer clarity, purpose and understanding.

In the end, this book is a model not just for two specific throws but for all our judo training. I cannot commend it to you more highly.

Nicolas Soames

(1994)