Shimewaza Book review by Dom...SFUK Reviews

The depth of technical information is superb, as it is in all the Ippon Masterclass series, and exposes the common misconception that judo is an art lacking in skilful groundwork. The initial chapters on the author's personal view and the history of shimewaza are both interesting to read as is the last chapter on chokes used in actual judo championships around the world. The latter showing the techniques are viable under the real pressure of the contest arena.

The meat of the publication is the chapters on each of the choking techniques, these are Okuri-eri-jime (sliding collar strangle), Juji-jime (cross strangle), Kata-ha-jime (single wing strangle), Hakada-jime (naked strangle), Koshi-jime (hip strangle), Sangaku-jime (triangle choke) and Miscellaneous techniques. The breakdown of each chapter gives the basic technique and then variations such as counter techniques and how to overcome them, applications of the choke and personal expressions.

The chapter on Okuri-eri-jime is particularly rich in this aspect giving two variations used by renowned Japanese judo supremo Isao Okano and a further three variations developed by the author, himself a world champion and noted expert down on the mat.

The chapter on Sangaku-jime is also worth noting as it is very detailed. This technique is described by the author as the "ultimate ne-waza technique" and he shows various entries including one for westerners with long legs. One exceptionally valid point made is the versatility of the triangle choke for opening other opportunities for submission (or pinning, if that's your thing). These are clearly illustrated in the counters section of this chapter.

As an instructional manual this is a very, very good book. The photographs are clear and numerous, well illustrating each stage of the technical application. The text is concise and well written, following the photographs closely and explaining everything in an easy to understand manner. The techniques are valid ones, tested as they are by thousands of competitors world-wide and utilised at the highest level. I have successfully used many of these techniques in vale-tudo sparring against gi-wearing opponents and often in judo practice, back in the day. In fact I once tapped the arrogant captain of the university ju-jutsu club with Jugoku-jime (hell-strangle), a feat I owe entirely to this book. Thank you Kashiwazaki-san ;).

On the down side it must be remembered that this is a book on judo and consequently follows judo rules. This somewhat lessens its use for MMA. For example the guillotine choke is dismissed rather casually as a "technical interest" rather than the staple finisher it is in MMA. The extensive use of the gi for offence and defence obviously influences the attitude and options of the judoka in ways that do not concern those of us who prefer to grapple in more lightweight clothing. No-one has ever choked me out with my T-shirt, at least not while I was still wearing it. However these techniques are still valid in many self-defence scenarios as most people where I live in the North of England wear a jacket 10 months of the year.

Overall I'd say this was a worthwhile investment for those who train in jacketed grappling styles or those who want a better understanding of choking techniques and a few tricks to add to their arsenal. Kashiwazaki knows his stuff and most people could learn a thing or more from this experienced world champion judoka and ground work specialist.

Dom

Reviewed by Chiu Kwong Man, 2 September 2004

Like all of the Judo Master Class Technique series you are privileged to a very personal insight into a single JudokaÕs expert's field of expertise.

I bought many in the series in Hong Kong whilst training Judo with their Olympic hopefuls (not a mean feat as we, the then team - I was just cannon fodder for the team, could bearly keep up with the PRC's women team over the border).

None in the series of books impressed me more than Katsuhiko KashiwazakiÕs SHIMEWAZA.

The book begins with a brief but very informative ÒPersonal ViewÓ:

ÒThe attitude towards strangles in Japan in those days Ð 1960s Ð was a little different to current attitudes. The general rule in ground- work was that it was sensible and perfectly acceptable to submit to armlocks, because severe injury could be caused by acting the hero. But it was unacceptable to submit to holds; nor was it acceptable to submit to strangles. You just resisted until you went unconscious.Ó

ÒI had been so deeply unconscious that I had urinated in the middle of the main mat in a big competition hall packed with spectators.Ó Ð ÒOf course, many people thought I would be embarrassed by the incident, but I wasnÕt. I was just angry with myself because I lost the competition.Ó

I chose these two small snippets to illustrate the depth at which he reveals some of his experiences.

This two and a half page chapter is rich in stories.

When I met Neil Adams for the first time, on a Carl Fisher organized seminar this year, I kept remembering a paragraph in Kashiwazaki's book on how Brian Jacks had strangled him unconscious and how if he did it again Neil would hit him with a two-by-four!

A History of Shimewaza then follows which is interesting in that some people may think that we are returning to the good old days whereby many of the Òseen to beÓ too dangerous and banned techniques in Judo are common practice on the mma mats.

We then quickly move on into the techniques section. And again itÕs the words of wisdom in the introduction that, if they are allowed to sink in, are the precious gems of this text: ÒThe real shimewaza specialist has loose wrists, and is acutely aware of movement and angle in his wrists. He knows which angle is the best for particular strangles, and for particular sides of the neck, and can adjust the angles acutely. The difference between success and failure in a strangle is often a question of just millimetresÓ.

Here Okuri-eri-jime (Sliding Collar Strangle) is covered indepth, and includes attacks against both a left-hand-over-right defence and vice versa. And even a technique demonstrating the simple idea of Okuri-eri-jime from omoplata.

Juji-jime: Nami-(Normal cross)/Gyaku(Reverse cross)/Kata (One side cross Ð the one BJJers seem to use most often) then follow.

Kata-ha-jime (one-side-wing strangle) works every time for me in the class, but it isnÕt taught and nobody else uses it?

All of the, what I call, wrist to collar chokes, are explained in detail and with some of the best photographic sequences that IÕve seen in instructional books. There are many techniques further on in the book like the Jugoku-jime (Hell strangle) which really need to be practised again and again before the book will really make sense. But when it does, theyÕll be an Aha! Sense of satisfaction appear on your face (whilst your opponent is tapping)

ThereÕs also a Section on Sangaku-jime (triangular strangle), and although adequate instruction for the Judo practitioner, IÕm always disappointed by the lack of positional possibilities that Judo players tend to look at. Perhaps a review on ÒThe TriangleÓ by Rigan Machado is needed here.

For those looking to get an insight into the world of strangles this book is not only a good start. ItÕs a book that you can go back to again and again, and still feel that you can learn from.

Being a lightweight, tall, and described by my instructor as skeletor IÕve always had a soft spot for strangles. IÕve found them very handy for those 16 stone monsters. Katsuhiko KashiwazakiÕs book doesnÕt cover all the tricks that IÕve learnt, no one book will, but what it does do is give you a strong foundation to learn and move on, even if you want to start emulating marceloÕs rare naked chokes.