The Complete 7 Katas of Judo

Rating:
Summary: Complete 7 Katas
Review: This book attempts to clarify the katas.
More focus, illustration, and pictures would have been better. Maybe better to stick with one kata and perfect it.
There are discrepancies between Kodokan and Kawaishi san.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting book on judo kata
Review: This book contains descriptions on nage-, katame-, gonosen-, kime-, itsutsu-, ju- and koshiki no kata. The descriptions are not the standard Kodokan-versions. This book was written in the 1950s when the katas were not standardised. Each technique is described in words and with drawings. The drawings are not always clear and they can be a little difficult to understand if you don't know the movements allready.

I cannot recommend this book as a basic learning book for kata, but I think that it is a valuable reading for the judoka interested in kata. You can feel the links to the older and more original judo.

It is also valuable to read the introductions by the author and the translator. They will deepen your knowledge about kata.

Finally: I think that this book is valuable if it is used togehter with another book on kata (for example Judo formal techniques or Kodokan Judo), good kata videos or a personal instructor.