{"product_id":"judo-poems-sid-kelly-9798896692508","title":"Judo Poems","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiscover the Art and Soul of Judo Through Poetry\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat if the principles of throws, balance, kata, randori, and shiai could be remembered not just through drills, but through rhyme? In \u003cem\u003eJudo Poems\u003c\/em\u003e, 9th Dan judoka \u003cstrong\u003eSid Kelly\u003c\/strong\u003e blends over sixty years of martial arts experience with the power of verse, creating an unforgettable guide to the gentle way.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom witty couplets to profound reflections, these poems unlock the secrets of judo in a way that's educational, entertaining, and deeply inspiring. Whether you are a beginner stepping onto the tatami for the first time or a seasoned competitor looking for new insights, this collection brings technique, philosophy, and history to life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInside you'll discover: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e✅ The mechanics of judo explained in verse-learn kuzushi, tsukuri, and kake with ease.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e✅ Practical insights into training methods: form practice (kata), free practice (randori), and contest (shiai).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e✅ Life lessons from the mat: resilience, humility, discipline, and the joy of practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e✅ Tributes and stories from the judo community celebrating the spirit of teachers, students, and champions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e✅ Cultural reflections on how judo has grown from Japan to the rest of the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith a foreword by Olympic medalist Jim Bregman, Judo Poems is more than a book of verse. Since every judoka knows there are lessons you only discover while practicing randori. Consider this poem as a whispered hint from the tatami itself: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA CLEVER GRAPPLER\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA clever grappler can hold them all, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd when held, can untangle from the small and the tall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA clever grappler has knowledge, skill, and fitness, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd to him it's a serious game of physical chess.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen on top he always comes out on top, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd however grueling he'll never stop.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether he's working from the side or head, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis skill and training always brings him out ahead.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf he's held down in an excruciating wrap, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe always has the option to attack.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut however much the hold makes him frown, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt's not long before the holder isn't holding him down.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf he's underneath he'll execute a turnover, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd then when he's on top it's soon all over, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOr from underneath he can search, feel and find, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn arm lock or choke, leaving all uke's hopes behind. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe arts of a grappler are three-fold, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe arm-lock, the strangle, and the hold.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOf the three, the hold is the root of the tree, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBecause its presence permeates all three.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough the physical actions of each hold, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll vary when their story is told, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe action that is invisible and common to all, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIs the skill of control: the heart of grappling wherewithal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether submissions are applied gradually, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOr suddenly and forcefully, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe skill of control is always present, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd every victory of this skill is its present.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMany grapplers purposely circumvent throwing, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDebilitating their standing to mat-work transitioning.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA clever grappler will attempt throws that are bold, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFollowed by arm locks, strangles, and perhaps a hold. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf reading that made you grin and think, \u003cstrong\u003e \"Yes-that's judo,\"\u003c\/strong\u003e then this book is written for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a judoka, martial artist, coach, or simply someone who enjoys poetry, this book will give you new ways to see, remember, and live the art of judo.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStep onto the tatami. Read, reflect, and rediscover the gentle way.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAdd Judo Poems to your cart today and bring the spirit of judo into your training and your life.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Sid Kelly\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798896692508\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Self Publishers\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/06\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 166\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.87lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.50d","brand":"Sid Kelly","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48743003324671,"sku":"9798896692508","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/judo-poems-sid-kelly-9798896692508","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}