Description
JUDO BOY is an adventure story for boys built around the ancient traditions of Judo. Rod Mitchell wants to fight his own battles. After being beaten and humiliated by the school bully and his gang, Rod is determined to fight back. Hearing about Judo from his friend, Mark Takahashi, a Nisei (Japanese-American), Rod joins the Judo school and is soon deep in a strange and fascinating new world. To his surprise Rod learns that Judo is, first of all, a sport with a strong and inspiring code of sportsmanship. Next he finds that Judo teaches courtesy, respect, and discipline as well as technique. Then, and most difficult of all for the fiery-tempered Rod, he discovers that the best thing a Judoist can do when a fight is starting is to walk away. Plenty of action, both on and off the Judo mat, keep this story of Rod Mitchell's self-development in Judo exciting. Based on accurate Judo data, it provides an original and valuable view of a new world of sport for boys.… (more)
Library's review
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Judo Boy is an adventure story based on this traditional, exciting, and newly popular sport. While it includes much of the Judo discipline and describes the training methods used, it makes no attempt to instruct the reader in the art. Those looking for how-to-do-it information will find a number of good books in print. Among these the author highly recom- mends Boys' Judo by II. E. Sharp and C. C. Hadly, Jr. (Burton Publishing Co., Los Angeles), both for the authoritative text and the delightful illustrations.
Judo boy is the standard international term for any student of the art below the brown belt level. All beginners are called Judo boys.
Those who may feel that the Judo dojo (school) described herein is too good to be true might be interested to know that it really exists. So also do many of the people who appear in this story. The author would like to express his great apprecia- tion to the San Fernando Valley Judo Club, to its officers, and to its outstanding faculty of black belt instructors for their un- stinting co-operation and help. Gentlemen, arigato.
The author is particularly grateful to the great American judoist and teacher, Master Sego Murakami, for his gracious permission to write him into the story.
JOHN BALL, JR. Encino, California
contentS
Author's Note vii
About the Language of Judo xi
1. Encounter in the Park 3
2. Mark Takahashi 7
3. Shiai 17
4. Modern Knighthood 25
5. On the Big Mat 35
6. Evidence 47
7. First Blood 59
8. Portrait of a Sensei 71
9. Victory and Defeat 81
10. Third in the World 91
11. Demonstration 103
12. April 15 115
13. Moment of Truth 131