Mifune - The Essence of Judo (youtube full vid)

**beardedtaco** · Posted On: 1/06/2012 3:03am

Watched the whole video yesterday and I thought I should share this link. Truly amazing stuff. It's the first time I've seen a 10 degree judoka in action.

It's the complete 1 hour video in 1 part.

Can anyone tell me how old was Mifune in this video ? It's inspirational to see a man his age throwing down whoopass like that.

There is a part where a 10th degree student of Mifune practices throws with a little kid. It's really awesome how he works with the kid and the control he shows.

**Eddie Hardon** · Posted On: 1/06/2012 6:09am

Thanks for posting. I'll check sometime over the weekend hopefully.

By chance, I started to watch a 36mins youtube vid on Koichi Tohei. I had to turn it off after 20mins, it was awful. Far too compliant and, imo, deluded. The topic was Ki v Strength and was recorded in 1988 (I think). It was all in japanese but the drills were axiomatic. Awful.

Anyway, thanks again.

**Naszir** · Posted On: 1/06/2012 7:51am

I think this was filmed around 1948 so Mifune Sensei would have been around 65.

**elipson** · Posted On: 1/07/2012 6:17am

The weapon disarms seemed kinda goofy, same with the defences against strikes.

The sparring at the end was cool though. I remember seeing a video of him once before where it was the same kind of thing, with him blocking every throw without even trying.

Really cool stuff.

**judoka_uk** · Posted On: 1/07/2012 7:28am

Its the tori who aren't even trying, not Mifune.

Nice video though.

**thp** · Posted On: 2/27/2012 10:54pm

There are some helpful insights in this video. Watching Mifune do randori beginning around the 20 minutes mark is pretty fascinating. He is so spry and quick.

**The Cap** · Posted On: 2/29/2012 2:09am

Originally Posted by beardedtaco

Can anyone tell me how old was Mifune in this video ? It's inspirational to see a man his age throwing down whoopass like that.

I have an old copy of this on cassette. He was 73 when it was filmed, and they used the footage in his book "The Canon of Judo".

*Fun fact: the original printing of the book was bound with judo gi fabric around the cover, and the first aid chapter contained a technique to help someone who's testicles have been kicked so hard they've herniated.

**thp** · Posted On: 2/29/2012 8:42am

It would be safe to say that this was made in 1951 or later because the narrator mentions that one of his non Japanese randori partners came to Japan in 1951 to study Judo. btw, I like it when he pulls out the basketball and starts talking about how the ball never loses its center of gravity. It's an especially effective teaching after watching him in randori!