ONE HANDED JUDO: Gripping and Grip Fighting

 

Ippon Seoi Nage off Arm pit grip only.

       

There probably was not a greater judoka than the man who literally introduced to the world a one handed style of Judo, the legendary Toshiko Koga. Koga is regarded as having the greatest Ippon Seoi Nage ever.  He is the sole reason I fell in love with not only his one handed style but many variations of Seoi Nage. 

The one-handed style of judo is very effective and allows for great adaptability and the ability to execute like Ippon Seoi Nage from multiple angles and directions. Being able to throw with either foot forward and to the right and left side leaves your opponent questioning from which direction your will attack.

 Ippon Seoi Nage - Koga variation

In this style you get a grip with one hand while your free hand fights off the opponent’s attempts to get their grip. Most judoka look to get their grips with two hands this makes the seemingly minimal contact of just getting a grip with only one hand extremely dangerous. Why?  Often the opponent doesn’t even feel threatened. The opponent is more inclined to be focused on fighting off the other hand to keep his opponent from getting his second grip. The one-handed grip allows numerous possibilities for sudden attacks. This method also frustrates your opponent and generally, they will open themselves up for you to attack.

Get the first grip

A judo throw requires the establishment of a strong grip. An offensive gripping strategy can help keep the opponent or adversary on their heels both literally and figuratively. Not having a solid plan for your grips can leave you vulnerable and at the mercy of your opponent.

Arm pit grip (waki)

Outside of Japan the arm pit grip is a pretty rare gripping method. Some of the great Japanese judo players have used this grip successfully in their offensive arsenal. Gripping the folds of the cloth at the area of arm pit is extremely versatile. It provides incredible defense and distance control.

1.) Insert your fingers in the fold of the gi just above the opponent’s arm pit with your left hand. 2.) Grip the gi with primarily the bottom three fingers of your left hand and turn the hand over clockwise palm down. 3.) For gripping over top, it is same as steps 1 and step

The arm pit grip is very useful in blocking an opponent’s attacks, restricting his movements and keeping him at a safe distance. It is extremely effective in a right vs right situation or an opposite stance, right vs. left situation (Kenka Yotsu). It helps control his arm making it harder for him to put his hand down to block a throw, it also keeps him from reaching over the top of your shoulder. In the one-handed judo style you have the added benefit of the opponent not feeling threatened by only a single grip. Unlike a pull on the sleeve or the lapel pulling at the armpit is a much shorter pull.

Posture and punching in your grip

1.) Stand with the right foot forward. The knees should be bent and center of gravity low. Feet are shoulder width apart. Twist your upper body clockwise bringing your left hand and shoulder to the front closer to your opponent. You left hand is your attacking hand and should be positioned closer to your opponent. The right hand acts as the defensive hand. 2.) Much like delivering a cross in boxing, punch in with your left hand and grip your opponent’s gi right above the armpit. Your right hand is up and defending any attempts by the opponent to get his grip.

Fighting with your grip

When you have gotten your grip keep your wrist, elbow and shoulder loose and constantly hunt for the opportunity to throw your opponent. A common error after you have punched in your grip is to constantly hold the opponent away with a stiff nonmoving arm.

Get in the habit of fanning your elbow up and down. Keeping the left arm loose will enable you to block your opponent’s grip attempts, as well as push, pull to position him and keep him off balance and even counter his attacks. Neither your gripping hand nor the arm should be stationary. Keeping the arm active pushing, pulling and fanning it up and down also makes it more difficult for your opponent to grip and control your arm.

Blocking opponent’s hand before he gets a grip

This blocking method is similar to throwing a cork screw punch in boxing. As I rotate my gripping hand clockwise turning my thumb downward, I push the knuckles of my hand into my opponent.

1.) You have established an armpit grip with the left hand. 2.) As your opponent reaches over the top with his right hand, turn your left hand over clockwise turning your thumb to the floor and roll your elbow upward to block his hand before he is able to get his grip. 3.) As an option knock his hand away by striking his forearm with the heel of your right hand.

Blocking the opponent’s over the top grip attempt

1.) From a fighting posture, 2.) punch in your grip. 3.) The opponent immediately tries to reach over the top of your arm to grip your lapel. 4.) Drop your center of gravity and roll your elbow upward to block his arm before he gets his grip on the lapel. 

Blocking opponent’s grip attempt under arm

1.) From your fighting stance, 2.) punch in your grip. 3.) The opponent immediately tries to reach under your arm to grip your lapel. 4.) Drop your center of gravity by bending your knees. Simultaneously, twist your torso to the right and roll your elbow downward to block before he gets his grip.

 Breaking your opponent’s lapel grip

When breaking grips you have to be careful not to put yourself in a bad or compromising position to get thrown. In this scenario you have secured your grip first and the opponent manages to reach over the top of the left arm and grip the lapel with his right hand. Punch the left arm straight out and at the same time knock his grip loose with your right hand.

1.) You have gotten the first grip at the armpit grip with your left hand. 2.) The opponent reaches over the top of your left arm with his right hand and grips your lapel. Immediately straighten your left arm. 3.) Simultaneously break his grip by hitting his forearm with the heel of your right hand.

Keep in mind that breaking grips and even off balancing your opponent work hand in hand with the movement of your feet. The arms, hands the legs and feet are used in conjunction to move your opponent around off balance break his grip and set him up for your throw.

When opponent grips lapel over the arm

You can also use your opponent’s lapel grip against him using his grip on your lapel as a set up for a throw.

1.) From your fighting stance, punch in your grip first. 2.) The opponent immediately counters by reaching over your arm and gets his grip on your lapel. Push slightly against his armpit by turning your gripping hand clockwise palm down. 3.) Drop your center of gravity slightly by bending your knees. Simultaneously pull with the left hand. This will bring his head forward and off-balance him. 4.) Immediately pull upward and back bringing your elbow high during the pull. Simultaneously, step in with your right foot to get into position to enter for your throw.

 When opponent grips lapel under the arm

1.) From your fighting stance, punch in your grip. 2.) The opponent immediately counters by reaching under your arm and gets his grip on your lapel. 3.) Drop your center of gravity by bending your knees. Simultaneously twist your torso to the right and roll your elbow downward pressing downward on the top of the opponent’s forearm with your forearm. This will bring his head forward and off-balance him. 4.) Immediately pull upward and back bringing your elbow high during the pull. Simultaneously, step in with your right foot to get into position to enter for your throw.

When opponent grips right sleeve

1.) Punch your grip in. 2.) The opponent gets a grip with his left hand on your right sleeve. 3.)  Make a fist with your right and and bring it to your chest and roll the right elbow over the top of the opponent’s left arm. Simultaneously take a half step toward your opponent’s right foot with your right foot. 4.) Bring your elbow downward to the inside of his left arm. Simultaneously step again with your right foot to the opponent’s right foot.

Keep the gripping hand and arm active. The most effective movements are performed in an explosive manner. The simultaneous and explosive movement of the different parts of the body in a coordinated way allows for greater speed and force.

Ippon Seoi Nage from Armpit Grip (Back Step Entry)

1.) White stands in a right foot forward position. His right foot is at the bottom corner of the triangle and his left foot is back deep behind the other corner of  the triangle. Blue is in a right foot forward position. 2.) Blue punches in his grip with the left hand gripping at the area of the opponent’s armpit. 3.) The opponent attempts to reach over the top of your left arm with his right hand to get a grip on your lapel. 

4.) Blues rolls his elbow upward and blocks white's lapel grip attempt. As Blue blocks with the elbow he bend the knees to drop his hips lower (this creates a space for you to move into to execute a throw). 5.)  Blue pulls white toward his front with the left hand keeping the elbow high as his right foot steps slightly down the side of the triangle toward White's right foot. 6.) Blue's left foot steps behind his right foot through the triangle to the baseline of the triangle (back step). As Blue back steps his knees are bent. Blues belt line should be lower than white's belt line.

4.) Blue brings his right hand up under the opponent’s right armpit as his right foot steps back all the way through the triangle between the opponent’s feet. The toes of both Blue's feet should be pointing in the direction of the apex of the triangle.  Blue pinches the opponent’s right arm at his arm pit between his right forearm and bicep.  Blue rotate the palm of his right hand toward his head (this creates a tighter clamp on the opponent’s arm).  5.)  Blues legs straighten quickly and he pops his hips upward into the opponent. 6.) Blue continues to pull and twists his torso to the left, taking his right elbow toward his left knee to finish the throw.

Fighting Judo: Ippon Seoi Nage (Arm Pit Grip Variation)

Gripping, fighting and getting your grip is a means to an end...the end being executing a successful throw. The first point of contact for a judoka is getting their grip or grips on the opponent. It is of the utmost importance to get a dominant grip. Your grip should control the opponent. Both judoka fight for the dominant grip so It's also just as important to know how to neutralize your opponent’s grips and counter them.

It will be difficult to cover every gripping situation and many different ways to grip in a single article. I will just start with one and cover others in later articles. I liken a judoka getting their grips in a manner much like that of a boxer throwing a 1-2 combination. One hand punches in and is immediately followed by the other.

One handed judo style

The one-handed style of judo is very effective and allows for great adaptability and the ability to execute throws like Ippon Seoi Nage from multiple angles and directions. With this grip one is able to throw with either foot forward and to the right and left side. It leaves your opponent questioning from which direction you will attack.

In this style you get a grip with one hand while your free hand fights off the opponent’s attempts to get their grip. Most judoka look to get their grips with two hands this makes the seemingly minimal contact of just getting a grip with only one hand extremely dangerous, often the opponent doesn’t even feel threatened. The one-handed grip allows numerous possibilities for sudden attacks. This method also frustrates your opponent and generally, they will open themselves up for you to attack.

Get the first grip

A judo throw requires the establishment of a strong grip. An offensive gripping strategy can help keep the opponent or adversary on their heels both literally and figuratively. Not having a solid plan for your grips can leave you vulnerable and at the mercy of your opponent.

Arm pit grip (waki)

Outside of Japan the arm pit grip is a pretty rare gripping method. Some of the great Japanese judo players have used this grip successfully in their offensive arsenal. Gripping the folds of the cloth at the area of arm pit is extremely versatile. It provides incredible defense and distance control.

The arm pit grip is very useful in blocking an opponent’s attacks, restricting his movements and keeping him at a safe distance. It is extremely effective in a right vs right situation or an opposite stance, right vs. left situation (Kenka Yotsu). It helps control his arm making it harder for him to put his hand down to block a throw, it also keeps him from reaching over the top of your shoulder. In the one-handed judo style you have the added benefit of the opponent not feeling threatened by only a single grip. Unlike a pull on the sleeve or the lapel pulling at the armpit is a much shorter pull.

Right vs Right – Punching in your grip

A right vs right situation refers to both players being right-handed meaning the majority of their throws will be to the right side. In a right vs. right situation (pictured) your right shoulder should be more toward your rear. The right hand is held further back and away from your opponent and not out front and easily accessible for your opponent to grip and attack.  Your left hand or the gripping hand is active and offensive. Your right hand or rear hand is ready and active as well to defend against your opponent’s gripping attacks and can be used for feints to set up your throw.

1.) Stand with the right foot forward. The knees should be bent and center of gravity low. Feet are shoulder width apart. Twist your upper body clockwise bringing your left hand and shoulder to the front closer to your opponent. You left hand is your attacking hand and should be positioned closer to your opponent. The right hand acts as the defensive hand.

2.) Much like delivering a cross in boxing, punch in with your left hand and grip your opponent’s gi right above the armpit. Your right hand is up and defending any attempts by the opponent to get his grip.

Fighting with your grip

When you have gotten your grip keep your wrist, elbow and shoulder loose and constantly hunt for the opportunity to throw your opponent. A common error after you have punched in your grip is to constantly hold the opponent away with a stiff nonmoving arm.

Blue punches in his grip, white immediately tries to grip over the top of blues arm. Blue rolls his elbow up to block white's grip attack and simultaneously drops his lower by bending his knees. 

Get in the habit of fanning your elbow up and down. Keeping the left arm loose will enable you to block your opponent’s grip attempts, as well as push, pull to position him and keep him off balance and even counter his attacks. Neither your gripping hand nor the arm should be stationary. Keeping the arm active pushing, pulling and fanning it up and down also makes it more difficult for your opponent to grip and control your arm.

 Ippon Seoi Nage from Armpit Grip (Back Step Entry)

A triangle and a straight line have been taped on the mat to give a clearer reference of foot placement for executing the throw. 

1.) White stands in a right foot forward position. His right foot is at the bottom corner of the triangle and his left foot is back deep behind the other corner of  the triangle. Blue is in a right foot forward position. 2.) Blue punches in his grip with the left hand gripping at the area of the opponent’s armpit. 3.) The opponent attempts to reach over the top of your left arm with his right hand to get a grip on your lapel. 

4.) Blues rolls his elbow upward and blocks white's lapel grip attempt. As Blue blocks with the elbow he bend the knees to drop his hips lower (this creates a space for you to move into to execute a throw). 5.)  Blue pulls white toward his front with the left hand keeping the elbow high as his right foot steps slightly down the side of the triangle toward White's right foot. 6.) Blue's left foot steps behind his right foot through the triangle to the baseline of the triangle (back step). As Blue back steps his knees are bent. Blues belt line should be lower than white's belt line.

4.) Blue brings his right hand up under the opponent’s right armpit as his right foot steps back all the way through the triangle between the opponent’s feet. The toes of both Blue's feet should be pointing in the direction of the apex of the triangle.  Blue pinches the opponent’s right arm at his arm pit between his right forearm and bicep.  Blue rotate the palm of his right hand toward his head (this creates a tighter clamp on the opponent’s arm).  5.)  Blues legs straighten quickly and he pops his hips upward into the opponent. 6.) Blue continues to pull and twists his torso to the left, taking his right elbow toward his left knee to finish the throw.

A COMBAT JUDO TESTIMONIAL

Being able to utilize judo and its principles in a street encounter requires more attention to the technical aspects of throwing an aggressor not wearing a judo gi (uniform). I have in the past two years written three books addressing this very thing, two of which got great reviews and have sold out. My third book (pictured left) "Combat Judo" will be published 2024. 

With that being said, it is not often I get stories from people who had to defend themselves from some overly aggressive individual hell bent on doing someone bodily harm using my particular method of judo. However, I recently received the following from one of the guys, Marty, who purchased both of my books on Combat Judo and practices my Combat Judo methods and system. He wanted to share this particular incident and I thought I would share his story/testimonial:

"Well, some shit hit the fan last night. Apparently, my wife’s ex-boyfriend got a little aggressive with her last night when he was dropping off my stepdaughter. My truck was parked around back because I doing an oil change on it. He thought I was gone. I walked up on them asking this guy, whose name is Jim, “why don’t you push me around?” Jim stands 6’1” about 300 pounds, big guy. Now mind you Jim is supposed to be this serious boxer and he told my wife that if I ever got lippy with him he’d have to show me. He starts to come towards me. Well the first thing I did was jab, pushed him back, grabbed him and did the Cross hock takedown. Needless to say his he bounced off the ground and he’s just lying there. I thought I killed him. Turns out the impact from the throw knocked him out. The police were called. The officer asked what happened. I gave him all the details about Jim attacking my wife and I. The officer said I guess he got a free lesson in judo. I just wanted to let you know that I love your stuff, its great stuff AND IT WORKS!!!!" - MM 

Personally as a long time Judoka, I look at what I do with the sole perspective of; If this is the system I am fighting with, how am I going to do that and be effective in a realistic context? In my first book, REAL COMBAT JUDO, I worked off a very specific tactic called “THE STOP”. This tactic can be found in the US Army combatives Field Manuals 21-150 from 1954 through to 1971. It can also be found in earlier works such as Willaim Jacomb’s 1918 book on Practical self defense where it is referred to as “THE STOP”. It is also used in the 1905 book, The Complete Kano Jiujitsu/Judo.  Simple, gross motor driven direct and effective, it takes our natural survival instincts into consideration and allows those survival instincts to work as a foundation for a very rapidly delivered technique.

 “The Stop” capitalizes on the natural human reaction to extend your arms when someone attacks you by pushing him away.  Turning this instinctive reaction into a hit, thrown much like a straight punch in boxing as opposed to a push, you can stop the rotation of the attacker’s torso at his shoulder. “THE STOP” can be utilized as a preemptive strike or when the attack is recognized early or late. Preemptively, “THE STOP” is used just before the adversary is within striking distance and when your intention is to take him to the ground. When delivered it stops the forward motion of the attacker and brings his arms up toward the front (1st picture below).

When it is used to intercept a punch early, striking the pocket of the shoulder stops the rotation of the adversary’s torso at his shoulder (2nd picture above). “THE STOP” is also effective when you pick up on the attacker throwing a punch late. For example, if the attacker throws a right haymaker, step off line of the punch and at an angle to your right and deliver the strike with your left hand to the attacker’s right shoulder (3rd picture above). This tactic basically short-circuits the power of your attacker’s punch at the root of its motion.

Cross hock takedown (Osoto Gari) vs Punch 

1.) The attacker throws a right haymaker, push off your left foot and step off line of the punch toward 1 or 2 o'clock with your right foot. Deliver "the stop" with your left hand, as if throwing a rear hand straight punch in boxing, to the attacker’s right shoulder area just above the arm pit (1st picture above). Immediately grab the attackers shirt at the area struck. 

2.) The defender pulls the attacker into him with his left hand by the shirt as he pushes off the right foot and steps toward 1130 with the left foot. The defender drives his right shoulder into the attacker. He then strikes with a right elbow hook raking hard across the attacker’s ribs. 

3.) He swings his right leg up between the attacker's right leg and his own left leg. He then reaps the attackers right leg up high to execute the takedown.

Important Note: “THE STOP” is your initial entry into a throw, it is not a push!!! It is meant to disrupt an opponent's balance and posture. It is a hard strike, delivered much like a straight punch in boxing while driving forward off the rear leg. It targets the shoulder and is immediately followed by grabbing the adversary’s shirt at the area struck. The stop can be used to set up any throw in the Combat Judo arsenal.

SPLIT ENTRY BACK HAMMER FIST TO SHOULDER THROW: SIXKILLER KAJUKENBO KENPO KARATE

 The Split Step Entry (Kodokan Judo)

Other entries into judo throws include the Split-Step entry and the Back-Step entry. Both allow you to step deeper in between your opponent’s feet allowing for maximum leverage. The Split entries can be utilized in different scenarios addressing different types of attacks from different angles. It will also allow you to make adjustments during the course of the execution of a throw if your opponent tries to step back or away from a throw either incidentally or purposefully.

Split Step Entry Shoulder Throw 

1.) As you step forward with the right foot to the top of the triangle punch in your grip with your left hand. 

2.) Grab the gi and pull with your left hand at he same time bring your left foot up next to your right foot. 

3.) Step forward between the opponent’s feet with your right foot through the triangle and pivot on the left foot. Your right arm moves under his right arm and pinches his arm between your bicep and forearm at his arm pit. The toes of both feet should be pointing in the direction of the top of the triangle. 

4.) The left foot moves in between the opponent’s feet. The toes of your left foot should be in line with the base line of the triangle. As the left foot moves back his feet should lift up off the ground. To finsh the throw twist your upper body bring your right elbow to your left hip. 

Split Entry Back Hammer Fist to Shoulder Throw

1.) The attacker is standing right side forward and has his hands up like a boxer. The defender is also right side forward in his fighting posture. Your knees are slightly bent and your left heel is raised slightly off the floor. 

2.) The attacker throws a right roundhouse punch. Your left foot quickly shifts back and in line with the right foot as you pivot counter clockwise on the ball of the right foot (this pattern of movement moves you away from his incoming punch and sets ups a split entry shoulder throw). Simultaneously, and without any draw back execute a right inward thrusting hammer fist to the attacker’s punching arm. Your left hand stays up close to the left side of your chin.

3.) Step forward slightly with the left foot toward 12 o’clock and then step deeper between the opponent's feet with your right foot dropping your hips lower than the opponent's hips. As you step your lead foot in between the opponent’s feet, your right hand travels in a tight arc downward to deliver a right back hammer fist to the opponent's groin. Your left hand remains chambered at your right shoulder.

NOTE: Split entry footwork  

2a.                                               2b.                                                      3a.              

2a.) The left foot quickly shifts back and in line with the right foot as you pivot counter clockwise on the ball of the right foot (this pattern of movement moves you away from his incoming punch and sets ups a split entry shoulder throw) as your block makes contact.  2b.) To move in for the back Hammer fist your left foot steps up toward your right foot. 3.) Step forward past the base line of the triangle with your right foot. As your right foot lands with the toes pointing toward the apex of the triangle your back hammer fist makes contact.

7.) As the opponent begins to double over from the back hammer fist to the groin, the left hand checks hard at the opponent’s right shoulder. Upon impact of the check grab his clothing with the left hand at the area struck. This strike should be hard enough to disrupt his posture backward. Pull the opponent into you with the left hand, pull the opponent into you as you pull. pivot. The toes of both feet should be pointing toward 6 o’clock. 

5.) As you pull bring your right arm up under his right arm at his arm pit. Pinch his right arm  between your right bicep and forearm. Step your left foot back next to your right foot and between your opponent’s feet. 

NOTE: As you step back with your left foot your opponent’s feet should start coming off the ground.

6.) Straighten your legs and bend at the waist popping your hips up and lifting him into the air (this is an explosive movement). Keeping your grip on the opponent, continue the pull twisting your upper body bringing your left elbow to your left hip to finish the throw.

KAJUKENBO VS. STRAIGHT PUNCH/ROUNDHOUSE PUNCH COMBINATION

Our drills are based on the premise that nobody just throws one punch at you. They throw multiple punches or they grab with one hand and try to punch you repeatedly with the other. My old instructor had a saying if you can defend against “punches in bunches”, then a single punch shouldn’t be a problem.  This but one of our drills there are many variations of the following drill they range from simple to complex. 

1.) From a fighting position your opponent throws a round house punch. 2.) Step forward with the right foot and strike his punching arm with a left outward thrusting block and an inward thrusting block. 3.) The opponent follows up with a left round house type punch, shuffle in with the right foot forward and strike the opponents incoming arm with the boney area of the outside of your right forearm. Your left hand rechambers and comes up along the right side of your face. 

4.) Push of the left foot and step forward with the right shuffling toward twelve o’clock and strike the left side of your opponent’s neck with a left outward sword hand.  5.) Immediately execute a right punch as your feet shift position. Your right foot shuffles back and pivots counter-clockwise as the left foot moves forward toward the direction of the ten o’clock position.  Follow through with the punch by turning your hand over.  6.) Push off the left foot and step forward with the right foot (toes should be pointing toward the twelve o’clock position). Strike your opponent’s right shoulder with a left heel of palm strike and grab his clothing at the area struck. This strike should be hard enough to disrupt his posture and rock him back on his heels.

(Note: The heel of palm strike targeting the pocket of the shoulder disrupts the opponent’s posture and rocks him back onto his heels. Notice the opponent is rocked back on the heel of his left foot and his lead foot is off the ground.)

7.) With a short quick jerk with the left hand, pull the opponent into you. This should rock him to his front and off of his heels. Simultaneously step your right foot straight to the inside of his right foot.  8.) Pivot on your right foot counter – clockwise and bring your left foot back between your opponent’s feet. Simultaneously pull the opponent forward and bring your right arm up under his right arm. Pinch his right bicep between your right bicep and forearm.

(Note: The toes of both of your feet should be in line with the toes of his right foot. Your knees should be bent and your axis forward. Your belt line should be a few inches lower than your opponent’s beltline. Your opponent should be up on his toes, his balance broken forward.) 

9.) Straighten your legs and bend at the waist popping your hips up and lifting him into the air (this is an explosive movement). Keeping your grip on the opponent, bring your left elbow downward, twisting your upper body toward your left hip to finish the throw.                                                      

HAL SHARPE: Judo's Library of Congress

 I have a sizable library of books on judo, especially the classics. I think it is necessary to own some of the 'Classic' books, such as 'The Techniques of Judo' by Takagaki and Hal Sharp. I actually have a few of Hal books and they are all three my favorites in my entire library. Hal Sharpe was first introduced to Judo in Japan from 1945 during the occupation. He went back to Japan in 1951 to 1956.  He trained 5 to 6 days a week at the Kodokan. During his times in Japan he learned from the great judoka of their day. 

1st picture: In 1954, Hal Sharpe (circled) won the title as “Japan Foreigner Judo Champion”. The tournament was conducted by Kyuzo Mifune (3rd from left), 10th Dan.  Center picture: Chu Kawakami, 9th Dan, and his son Rei Kawakami, 4th Dan, and Hal Sharp (circled), 3rd Dan and Captain of Kawakami’s dojo team. 3rd picture: Shinzo Takagaki and Hal Sharpe (circled).

The Techniques of Judo' by Shinzo Tagakaki and Hal Sharpe originally published in 1957 contains the full Gokyo (Kodokan syllabus of techniques), very clearly laid out. It is a fully illustrated and authoritative manual. Its authors provide step-by-step explanations, practical pointers, and thorough analyses of all the most commonly used judo techniques. 

Illustrated with over 550 black and white photographs, The techniques of Judo is an invaluable introduction to judo for beginners as well as a complete repertoire for the advanced judoka. There are intricately detailed descriptions of judo techniques including counters, it is one of the best books I have in my personal library. 

The Techniques of Judo is a must have for any serious judoka. As a matter of fact all of Hal Sharpes books, are must haves for any serious judoka. The footage and pictures found in his Classic Judo film series are pure Judo gold.

Hal Sharpe unfortunately passed away March of 2021 at the age of 93. It is said when someone passes we lose a living library of information. When Hal Sharpe passed we lost the proverbial library of congress of judo information, knowledge and history. 

PUBLIC STATEMENT

One handed hand on belt seoi throwing drill

My name is Barron Shepherd (recent picture above), I have a 35 plus year career in judo and have trained in the martial arts for 45 years. I have written three books in the past two years to date, two on the subject of combat judo, both published, the third will be published next year in 2023. My books have sold out and have been lauded and endorsed by former Olympic Judo coaches as well as retired US military officers and experts in their fields, such as Dr. Mike Simpson, US Army Special Forces Maj. ret. and author of the book, "Honed" and Col. George Bristol USMC retired, developer of the US Marine Corp Martial arts Program (MCMAP) as well as other notable experts in the fields of judo and combatives. I attest that the following is true. 

In 2020 Brett Gordon wrote a defamatory article about my martial art background. Gordon ignored all then current credentials then purposely and maliciously attempted to paint me as a fraud. The following are true statements made by me to be presented as a public record of the extent to which Mr. Gordon purposely and willfully fabricated his entire article regarding my background, my instructors and myself personally in an attempt to damage not only my reputation but my instructors' as well. 

Judo 

Bret Gordon skirted pertinent information of my background and intentionally presented false information in his 2020 article entitled Pot meet Kettle. He stated that an expired USJA coaching credential earned in 1998 was fake. Gordon used this then expired credential to build his bed of false information concerning my back ground. The dated USJA coaching credential from 1998 was not listed as current and was among credentials that were listed online and dated in chronological order of when they were earned. 

Split entry Ippon seoi nage off armpit grip 

Bret Gordon ignored all of my then current coaching credentials and rank certificates from USA Judo (formerly USJI), one of the National Governing Bodies (organizations) for judo in the US. These credentials included coaching credentials and ranks earned, verified and recognized by USA Judo. These credentials showed a recorded and verified history of years of study in judo attaining ranks of shodan, nidan and sandan over many years. The sandan of which had been earned in 2018. To this day my judo ranks and judo affiliations are visible on my sites and blogs. 

Bret Gordon then went on to write that my original judo instructor, Terry Tucker, was a fictitious non existent person and that I owned the Winter Haven Judo club and simply promoted myself using forged signatures of  the person(s) who Gordon stated were fictitious.  The following information is found easily online by simply searching Winter Haven Judo club. http://winterhavenjudoclub.blogspot.com/2008/01/newspaper-article-on-judo-club.html 

Bret Gordon ignored the Winter Haven judo club's blog where there were pictures of myself and Mr. Tucker online in a 2008 blog post. Terry Tucker was clearly identified in the 1997 news article, that was in the post and shown to be my instructor and myself as his assistant instructor (below).  Additionally, in 2020 Mr. Tucker was contacted by others and his back ground verified.   

1997 Winter Haven News Chief article

Also the Judo program was not "owned by me" as Gordon stated in his article. It was a city recreational program that was started in the early seventies by Sensei Ro who Gordon stated was also a fabricated person. It was clearly stated in the news paper clipping (above) directly under the pictures in the article that the program was offered thru the city of Winter Haven. No one at the city was contacted by Gordon and if they were Bret Gordon did not acknowledge it. Instead he chose to make up the story that I owned the judo school and promoted myself. 

Coaching and member Credentials USA Judo and USA Boxing 

Bret Gordon purposely made zero mention of  the then current USA judo coaching and rank credentials, USA Boxing coaching credentials, NASM credentials or others. Not a single place in his article did Bret Gordon acknowledge or mention any current verified credentials that I had earned in other self defense and combatives programs. Instead he chose to make it appear in his article that I had no legitimate back ground or rank in anything. 

At the time Bret Gordon wrote the defamatory and slanderous article about me he was claiming to be a 5th degree black belt in judo. A rank that seems to had magically appeared out of thin air. A rank in judo that is too high for someone as young as Bret to have attained. Oddly, since this time, his claim of what rank he is in judo has changed multiple times from 5th down to 4th and ultimately down to a 2nd degree black belt rank in judo. 

Even when corrected and presented with facts from various sources, Bret Gordon did not make proper corrections to his "hit piece". Each correction that he himself made he stopped short of admitting to being wrong or acknowledging that he was wrong regarding his article about my back ground. Example: In one of his corrections he admitted to Terry Tucker being an actual person but stopped short of admitting that Mr. Tucker was indeed my judo instructor.

USA JUDO - SANDAN - AUG. 27 2018

In another correction he tries to imply that I "obtained the rank that I previously claimed to have" implying that I just had gotten or bought my sandan rank from the USJA in 2020, one of the national governing bodies of judo in the US.....This was not the case...... the rank was not gotten or bought. My sandan rank was already validated, verified and recognized thru USA Judo in 2018, two years prior to Bret Gordon's article (circled in red above). USA Judo like the USJA is one of the three national governing bodies for judo in the United States recognized by the International Judo federation and The Kodokan, the headquarters and birthplace of Judo in Japan. No other organizations in the US except for the three National Governing bodies (USA Judo, USA and USJF) are recognized by the Kodokan or IJF. As mentioned before Bret Gordon purposely ignored nor acknowledged any of the then current USA Judo credentials.  

USJA and USJF

Within the three NGBs there is a rank verification process. The USJA along with the USJF both verified my sandan rank thru the preceeding National Governing Body, USA Judo. Upon verification both the USJA and USJF recognized my sandan rank and the USA Judo award date of Aug 2018 (cirlced in red above) when I rejoined the USJA later that year in 2020. 

Kenpo 

Gordon also stated in his article that another one of my instructors, Sam Lonewolf, claimed several tenth degree black belt ranks. Sam Lonewolf made no such claims to several tenth degree black belts. Nowhere is this statement found online...except in Brett Gordon's article. Bret Gordon himself in his article admitted that he could not find much online about Sam Lonewolf. I believe this is why Bret then decided to make up a story and state that Sam had multiple tenth degree black belts. In fact, Sam Lonewolf was only an 8th degree black belt and publicly only claimed as such, even in his own "First Nations" system, he did not claim to be a grand master or claim to have multiple tenth degree black belts as Gordon falsely claimed. 

Bret Gordon also stated that Sam Lonewolf was never a black belt under the Tracey Kenpo system. Shortly after Bret Gordon's article, links to sites proving Sam was indeed a senior black belt in the Tracy system were provided. One link showed a date of promotion along with the certificate number of Lonewolf's promotion certificate indicating he was promoted by Mr. Tracey himself. Lonewolf's name later disappears from the family Tracy tree around 2012 or 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20040620102236/http://www.tracyskarate.com/Tracytree/Rokudan.htm 

3rd from bottom - Sam Lonewolf 

Gordon, who states that he is a "good  and respectable journalist", has been presented with all such information proving martial art legitimacy but has made no appropriate corrections to his article. 

As recently as a couple of months ago Bret Gordon was contacted by the Lonewolf family themselves regarding the falsehoods in his article. Gordon has made no actual corrections, not one regarding the article. Gordon refuses to post anything that proves my back ground and seems content to leave his lies up for his readers to see.  

To further prove Bret Gordon's only purpose for this article was to defame me and my instructors, he stated in his article that someone by the name of Gary Lee was contacted.  Bret Gordon wrote in the 2020 article that Gary Lee, had "inherited Sam Lonewolf's system and stated that there was no record of me ever training with Sam Lonewolf". He apparently did not actually verify this information. Gary Lee however sometime this year contacted Bret via email and let Bret know that he, Gary Lee did not actually inherit Sam Lonewolf's system. 

It was discovered, through the Lonewolf family, that Gary Lee in fact was not knowledgeable of Sam Lonewolf's system and had never actually trained with Lonewolf. Bret Gordon was made aware of this as well. In addition to this, Gary Lee also sent a statement via email to the Lonewolf family apologizing for his false claims. He also apologized mentioning me by name specifically for his statement that "there was no record of me training with Sam Lonewolf". https://lonewolfs7th.blogspot.com/2022/08/sam-lonewolf-setting-record-straight.html  

Forwarded email of apology from Gary Lee 

Bret seems to have made a current correction pertaining to being lied to by Gary Lee but again stopped short of recognizing it as proof of my actual training under Sam Lonewolf, nor did he remove any original statements in the article. 

Bret Gordon stated in his article that I made up First Nations Kenpo. The Lonewolf family has also stated that First Nations was what Sam Lonewolf called his system and that I had  Sam's permission to use First Nations. The Lonewolf family has also vouched for me and my long standing with Sam Lonewolf starting in the mid 90's earning my shodan from him in 1998. The Lonewolf family has made all this information available publicly online for months. https://lonewolfs7th.blogspot.com/2022/09/setting-record-straight-mr-bret-gordon.html 

In addition, I have multiple statements from not only the Lonewolf family but Sam Lonewolf's longtime friends, colleagues and those who trained with Sam, as well as Sam himself that verify my background and training history with him. Bret Gordon was not interested in clarifying anything that remotely pointed toward my legitimacy or expertise. 

Bret Gordon then attacked another aspect of my Kenpo training claiming it was non existent. I had been training for sometime under Rick Brumby, of Premier Kenpo in St. Cloud Florida. At the time Mr. Brumby operated under Paul Mills' American Kenpo Karate International (AKKI), The AKKI was/is the best Kenpo organization in the country by far. I took instruction from Mr. Brumby personally, Mr. Brumby was the best of Paul Mills' instructors at the time, this is why I sought him out to elevate my skill in kenpo. This statement was also made available and validated publicly by other parties, however Gordon made no attempt to make any correction. https://greysmithinvestigations.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-log-in-your-eye-by-gerald-greysmith.html

Gordon even attacked a personal relationship that I had with Sensei Ronald Duncan and his son Sensei Gregory Duncan. He attempted to imply that I had no dealing with the Duncan family. I believe he knew this was legitimate as well as I had written a lengthy memorial about Sensei Duncan for the family shortly after he passed away. This memorial and detailed biography is online on Gregory Duncan's website Duncan Martial arts and can easily be found in a web search. Bret Gordon had no intention of mentioning anything in his articles that would remotely point at anything that was actually truthful about my background. https://duncanmartialarts.com/2013/12/26/koga-magazine-publication-biographic-tribute-to-osensei-ronald-duncan/      

Legally I could have Bret Gordon's blog taken down for violating the DMCA, the Digital Millenium Copyright act as ALL my materials, pictures, words, text etc on my blogs and websites are copyrighted and cannot be used without my express permission. This notice is visibly posted on my sites and blogs. I chose not to take this route and gave Bret Gordon every opportunity to remove his false misleading article and apologize. Despite everything presented however to this day he hasn't. 

Bret Gordon also in his article stated that he did not know me or know who I was. Gordon did indeed know who I was and what I was teaching. Three years prior to writing his article, Gordon sent a private message to me on Facebook in 2017. 

2017 FaceBook message from Bret Gordon

He asked me if I could write articles specifically for his blog to share my knowledge and expertise. I believe this further shows and validates that he was well aware of my credentials and intentionally skirted them in his 2020 article. 

Even when it came to making his so called later corrections at the bottom of his article, http://www.join-usama.com/blog/pot-meet-kettle, Bret Gordon purposely ignored multiple credentials from legitimate and prestigious organizations and national governing bodies. The sole purpose of his article was to paint me as a fraud and or put my reputation under scrutiny regardless of my legitimate licensed credentials, the depth of my knowledge and expertise. He seems to insist that his totally fabricated and very inaccurate article is representative of the truth and not that of hate, disdain and pure unadulterated jealousy of those who have trained hard for many years and made accomplishments in our fields, something that he is unable to do or attain. 

At any point, at any point in the past two years, Bret Gordon could have simply stated that he received the wrong information and made the proper corrections, or could have simply and quietly removed the article. However, he hasn't taken any real corrective measures to this day. Bret Gordon's entire article was debunked almost immediately after he wrote it in 2020 and even more so now in recent months by others including, as mentioned before, one of his own sources, Gary Lee. 

Gordon has repeatedly implied that he has an affiliation to Kodokan. He was claiming to be a 5th degree black belt in judo about three years ago, teaching judo as Kano intended. Today however he claims to be a 2^nd degree black belt connected to the Kodokan through some organization called the USA TKJ. Regardless of his claims Gordon has no affiliation at all with the Kodokan, the All Japan Judo federation or any of the Kodokan recognized NGBs or through his instructor. He has no verifiable training or a "lineage" to Mifune or the Kodokan through, Jack Stern, a person whose judo training is also unverifiable. Bret Gordon is unable to verify ANY of his own martial arts claims and ranks in them AT ALL. 

Bret Gordon certainly has not verified them to the extent that I have verified EVERY one of mine (not even to the extent that I have verified mine in this statement). He cannot even produce a single picture of any early judo training. Despite Bret Gordon's attempted character assassination, I am a sought after instructor and I am regarded as an expert in my fields.