Grips: Judo Masterclass Book by Neil Adams

The skills of gripping are the key to success in judo at every level of ability.

Yet never before, not even in Japan, has there been a volume devoted exclusively to such techniques.

A long-standing misconception is that grips do not matter, and that a good judoka will be able to perform a practised set of favourite throws from any grip. However, perhaps only a handful of exceptional fighters have this capacity. A more recent tendency has led to an emphasis on the techniques of grip breaking, leading to unattractive judo and frequently to damaged hands and fingers in modern competition.

Neil Adams, the 1981 World Champion, is an acknowledged master of grips.

Throughout his successful contest career he used his profound awareness of gripping to control his opponents - who were often unaware of this aspect of his technique - before slipping past rigid defences to execute such classic manoeuvres as tai-otoshi or uchimata.

In this innovative study, Neil Adams instructs on the application of a diverse repertoire of gripping techniques, as well as explaining the best countering methods of defence. His analysis considers the relationship between certain grips and particular throws, and even the intricacies of opposing grips - right handers against left handers. There is guidance on training to develop superior grip strength, and he reveals some of the tricks that have led to his own great success with grips.

This fascinating contribution to the 'Masterclass' series will form an invaluable addition to the library of any serious judoka - whether a keen sport contestant or non-competitive club member. Grips explains the fundamental basis of all judo techniques.

Contents:

Foreword
Grips: A Personal View
A History of Grips
Grip and Attack: Orthodox Methods
Grip and Attack: Unorthodox Methods
Gripping Strategies
Developing Grip Strength
Gripping Skills and Self-Defence
Afterword
Appendix
Index

Softcover
96 pages
Language: English