Anyone who has practised judo with a fighter from the former Soviet block knows that there is a judo style which can be called Russian Judo. there is a quality which is quite distinctive-as distinctive as the classical judo style from the founding country of the sport, Japan.

In this ground breaking book, Alexander Iatskevich, five-times European champion and world junior champion, who is now a widely respected international coach and trainer, brings his extensive knowledge of Russian Judo to this comprehensive account.

Russian Judo considers the history of the style, how it grew out of the varying wrestling traditions of the Soviet Union, and its national style-sambo; but Iatskevich also points out that, more than anything else, it owes its origins to judo itself, following the Japanese experience of Russians early in the century.

When Soviet fighters first made their impact on international judo in the early 1960s, as it moved towards Olympic status, their unusual techniques and uncompromising fighting attitude created something of a sensation-and not a few upsets. It took some years before the interational judo community began to appreciate the subleties and purpose of the Russian style. Slowly, certain techniques, certain gripping tactics, began to be adopted by others-after all, the success of the Russians, as they were popularly called (though many came from Georgia and other republics of the Soviet Union) coiuld not be ignored. And it is undeniable that recent years have seen many leading fighters adopt 'Russian' style.

Iatskevich notes the main techniques which Russian Judoka have made so effective in the last decades, and which are now accepted as part of the central fabric of judo. It is the result of inovations like these that judo has become a truly international sport.

Contents

Foreword
Introduction
A history of Russian judo
A personal history
Tachiwaza-Belt grips; Defences-against belt grips; Miscellaneous attacks; Defences-against other grips
Newaza-Armlocks-attacks; Armlocks-openings; Armlocks-escapes; Leglocks
Russian judo in competition
Index