2,000 Years

by Dennis Helm

2003

Library's review

2000 YEARS 6th Edition 2002

This large size paperback is available (as far as I know) only on the Internet, at 2000 Years. Originally reviewed Here, and the last update reviewed Here, the author *again* kind enough to send me his updated version. Moving from 231 pages up to the current 269, Dennis
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Helm has continued to improve this manual on Judo history. I must admit to missing the front photo from the last edition, so the cover is just a tad more bland, but that's just a nitpick. Once again, even more photos, with a good section showing Takahiko Ishikawa demonstrating the following techniques:
Ouchigari
Osotogari
Osotomakikomi
An *extremely* rare and interesting counter to Osotogari
Hanegoshi
Hanegoshi Kaeshi
Taiotoshi
Yama Arashi
Tsubame Kaeshi
Ukiwaza
All fairly standardly done, and nothing surprising except for the unusual counter to Osotogari. I'm always happy when a book can surprise me with something new, and this Osotogari counter is it! Also new in the chapter on Sumiyuki Kotani are some photos reprinted from 'Judo Journal' showing Kotani Sensei demonstrating Ippon Seoinage and Okuriashiharai.
With all the hoopla surrounding BJJ nowadays, it was interesting to see a new chapter on Masahiko Kimura, written by Jim Chen. I found it very well written, and worth reading. Kimura was certainly one of the greatest of Judoka, and it's nice to see biographical information on some of the greats of Judo.
This book is certainly gotten much better than it's first edition, and there's a great deal of good information included. I'm a tad irked by one paragraph, which details Takeda Sokaku as a student of Saigo Tanomo. This is historically misleading, since there is no evidence whatsoever that Saigo Tanomo was involved in teaching the martial arts. The statement that 'Perhaps Aikido reminded Kano of the masterful techniques of Saigo Shiro, Tanomo's adopted son.' is just flat wrong. Since Saigo Shiro was born in 1866, and enrolled at the Kodokan in 1882, it's a wonder how a 16 year old could have 'masterful techniques'. See this article for a discussion of this topic.
As in my previous review, I'd like to re-iterate that if in the future this is updated again, I would hope that we can see a little bit more on the historical arts that preceded Judo, Kito-Ryu and Tenshin Shinyo-Ryu. (Hint, hint!) All in all, this is a much better book than the original...




THE AUTHORS
The principal author, Dennis Helm, Roku Dan (6th Degree Black Belt in Judo) and Go Dan (5' Degree Black Belt in Heike-Ryu Jiu Jitsu), began studying Judo and Jiu Jitsu at the Jiu Jitsu Institute in Chicago, Illinois, under Masato Tamura, Eighth Dan Judo, and Vince Tamura, Eighth Dan Judo (Ninth Dan in Heike-Ryu Jiu Jitsu), during the middle 1950's. With the retirement of Masato Tamura and Vince Tamura's moving to Texas, Helm joined Uptown Dojo in Chicago and remained a member until it closed in 1977.
Dennis Helm is now a member of the Tohkon Dojo in the City of Chicago and the Heike-Ryu Jiu Jitsu/Judo and Kyudo Dojo located in Burlington Wisconsin. The Heike-Ryu Jiu Jitsu/Judo and Kyudo Dojo is dedicated to studying the advanced Kodokan Judo Kata's and Heike-Ryu Jiu Jitsu. This Dojo is made up of high-ranking Judo/Jiu Jitsu players and the Dojo is not open to the public. Helm's undergraduate, master's, and doctoral work were done at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
The following people have made great contributions toward completing this material.
1. Paul Armetta, Go Dan (5th Degree Black Belt)
Member of: Tohkon Dojo and Heike-Ryu Jiu Jitsu/Judo and Kyudo Dojo Ph.O. Sociology, Southern Illinois University
2. John Black, Go Dan (5th Degree Black Belt)
Member of: Heike-Ryu Jiu Jitsu/Judo and Kyudo Dojo Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, Southern Illinois University
3. Leonard Etlinger, Sho Dan (1st Degree Black Belt)
Member of: Heike-Ryu Jiu Jitsu/Judo and Kyudo Dojo Ph.D. Mathematics Education, Southern Illinois University
4. Edward Hruza, Yo Dan (4th Degree Black Belt)
Member of: Heike-Ryu Jiu Jitsu/Judo and Kyudo Dojo Ph.O. Educational Psychology, Southern Illinois University
5. Alice Philbin
Ph.D. English Literature, Southern Illinois University
6. Drew Wickham, Go Dan (5th Degree Black Belt)
Member of: Heike-Ryu Jiu Jitsu/Judo and Kyudo Dojo
Past President of the Chicago Yudanshakai
M.A. Education, National Louis University
Special recognition is given to:
Reginald Lee Heefner, 6' Dan Jiu Jitsu, 5' Dan Judo.
Government Services Translator. Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Russian. University of Maryland BA. for his helping us complete this project.

THE AUTHORS
PREFACE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
JIU JITSU
THE FOUNDING OF KODOKAN JUDO
THE MEIJI PERIOD POLICE BUJUTSU COMPETITIONS
EARLY AMERICAN JUDO
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
JUDO IN HAWAII
JUDO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
JUDO IN THE PACIFIC SOUTHWEST
WESTERN UNITED STATES
THE RELOCATION CENTERS
CHICAGO
THE HISTORY OF TEXAS JUDO
SHUFU
INTERCOLLEGIATE JUDO
JUDO IN THE ARMED FORCES
THE 1956 GOODWILL JUDO TOUR OF JAPAN
TAKAHIKO ISHIKAWA 9th Dan
MASAHIKO KIMURA - THE GREATEST JUDO PLAYER
THE GOVERNANCE OF UNITED STATES JUDO
DEWEY AND JIGORO KANO
THE MEANING OF KODOKAN JUDO
THE CONTRIBUTION OF JUDO TO EDUCATION
BIOGRAPHY
ARTICLES BY DONN F. DRAEGER
THE JIU JITSU INSTITUTE
THE CORRECT MEANING OF JIU JITSU
THE SPORTIFICATION OF JUDO
10th DEGREE BLACK BELTS
THE LAST 10th DAN
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Dennis Helm 9907 Debbie Lane Rockford, IL 61115-1530 [email protected]
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