Judo Books for Kids who Love Judo
A Parent’s Guide to buying the right Koka Kids
judo book for your child
Are you looking to support your child’s judo journey with educational and engaging resources? Koka Kids Judo Books provide a unique visual learning approach that can help your child’s understanding and enjoyment of judo. This guide will help you choose the perfect book for your young judoka.
Why choose Koka Kids books?
- Written by Nik Fairbrother, Olympic silver medallist and 8th Dan black belt who brings over 30 years of expertise from the tatami to the page.
-
Tailored for Visual Learners: Approximately 66% of children are visual learners, making these books highly effective for the majority of young judoka.
-
Improved Memory Retention: Step-by-step visual guides help children grasp judo techniques more quickly and effectively.
-
Fosters Long-term Engagement: These books help maintain children’s interest in the sport, encouraging them to stay fit, active and healthy.
-
Boosts Confidence: As children better understand techniques, their confidence in executing them grows.
-
Reinforces Dojo Learning: These books complement what children learn in judo class, providing a valuable reference at home.
Bestsellers
Learn Judo Breakfalls
A great book for beginners, this book teaches kids to roll and fall safely and correctly. Learning how to roll and fall correctly is key to building confidence for judo.
Learn Judo Terminology
Learn 85 Japanese judo words and their English meanings, with easy-to-remember graphics. Plus, there is a free interactive ebook version here – this is a must!
Learn 10 Judo Hold Downs
This is one of the best judo books for kids who are just beginning judo. Master ten hold downs, learn how to escape and how to change from hold to hold. Plus there are ten fun challenges.
Jigoro Kano & Moral Code
A great way for children to learn about the judo moral code, its values, and read the story of how judo’s founder Jigoro Kano invented judo.
Learn Groundwork 20 Turnovers
This book teaches 20 groundwork turnovers and it will help you take your groundwork judo to the next level. For judoka serious about getting better at groundwork, this book will get you there!
Learn 40 Judo Throws
A comprehensive 100 page book covering the complete Judo Syllabus. Learn how to do 40 judo throws with step by step illustrated tutorials. Highly recommended.
Judo Skill Training: 20 Drills
For children looking to work on technique and becoming a better all round judoka. There are 20 training drills to help improve your footwork, timing, balance and entry.
Learn 20 Combinations
Learn twenty combinations and take skills to an advanced level. Learn how to link two and three throws together and you will improve your judo skills by opening up many new directions to throw in.
Make a real impact! Buy a Series
- Choose by ability: We have books to cover beginners, intermediates and advanced levels.
-
Choose by skill: What do you want to improve? Hold downs? Breakfalls? Throws?
- Choose by grade: For juniors go for the Mon Grade Syllabus series, for adults choose the Kyu Grade Syllabus series – everything you need to know right up to brown belt!
Perfect for Beginners & Intermediates
The Koka Kids Beginner Series introduces judoka just starting their journey to the judo basics, including essential Japanese terminology, learning to fall correctly, and the inspiring philosophy of founder Jigoro Kano.
Perfect for everyone
The Koka Kids Technical Series includes five books that help judoka include groundwork and throwing technical skills. They can be bought in any order, but a rough guide of increasing level in ability would be:
Perfect for Junior Mon Grades
A six book series that covers the complete British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus from red belt (novice) right through to brown belt (advanced), that’s from 1st Mon all the way through to 18th Mon.
- British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus – Red Belt (1st-3rd Mon)
- British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus – Yellow Belt (4th-6th Mon)
- British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus – Orange Belt (7th-9th Mon)
- British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus – Green Belt (10th-12th Mon)
- British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus – Blue Belt (13th-15th Mon)
- British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus – Brown Belt (16th-18th Mon)
Perfect for Adult Kyu Grades
A six book series that covers the British Judo Association Kyu Grade Syllabus, from 6th Kyu (red belt) to 1st Kyu (brown belt)
- British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus – Red Belt (1st-3rd Mon)
- British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus – Yellow Belt (4th-6th Mon)
- British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus – Orange Belt (7th-9th Mon)
- British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus – Green Belt (10th-12th Mon)
- British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus – Blue Belt (13th-15th Mon)
- British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus – Brown Belt (16th-18th Mon)
Perfect for Younger Ones
We also have a couple of colouring books for those arty, creative judoka!
Free Books
Interactive Learn Judo Terminology (online)
United States Judo Federation Rank Requirements (online)
Please note: Koka Kids is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.
Read the Reviews
Here are just a few of the reviews and what parents and coaches are saying about the Koka Kids books.
“As a father coach, I’ve perused through dozens of Judo books to find the one that made the most sense to a young Judoka under 10 years old. Wow, this book is it! Very simple to read and understand. My son and I read it together and he gets it very easily.”
“This is, without doubt, the best kid’s book series on Judo anywhere in the world. The bright colors and animated characters are perfect to be naturally appealing to kids. But make no mistake, the technical knowledge contained in the books is anything but childish. If you are looking for a book that you can use in teaching Judo to kids, you simply can’t find better than this series by Olympic medalist Nik Fairbrother. (Trust me, I’ve looked.)
“I bought Judo Terminology, together with 20 Judo Combinations, 10 Judo Hold Downs, Judo Breakfalls, Judo Throws and Judo Groundwork for my 8 year old who wanted to start judo. From the very start he was able to easily understand all of the books. They are excellently written, are very engaging and are illustrated superbly. The explanations and descriptions of the moves have helped my son to understand so much faster and put into practice what his instructor is teaching him. They are now his favourite books. Nik Fairbrother has given the judo enthusiasts a product which is second to none. “
“Love these books. Great for kids all ages! Plus on-line supplemental resources to help with the learning. Highly recommended.”
“I discovered Nik Fairbrother’s Koka Kids several years ago. All of the books and materials are designed in such a way that it’s immediately accessible to children. I have been using the materials and the books with my adult Judo students as well. They are without a doubt best series I’ve even seen – fun and professionally produced.”
FAQ
What is a visual learner?
The majority of kids in any dojo (or classroom) are visual learners which means their preferred modality of comprehension is through images, graphics and visuals. It is estimated 2 out of every 3 children are visual learners.
How do these books help kids learn?
Packed full of illustrations these judo books help children quickly understand judo techniques, as they are able to visualise the move and study the stages in their own time, at their own pace. Especially suited to visual learners.
Help! I don’t know which book to buy?
We have created an online guide here: Parents Guide to Buying the right book for your Child to help you choose.
Which is the best book for my child who has just started judo?
Learn Judo Hold downs & 10 Osaekomi Challenges and Learn Judo Breakfalls & 10 Agility Tests cover judo basics and are suitable to judo beginners and intermediates.
85 Japanese Judo Words is a useful book to get at any stage of learning from beginner upwards. It contains 85 common Japanese judo commands, that will be used by your instructor, and their English meanings.
Which are the best books to learn groundwork judo?
There are two groundwork judo books
Learn Judo Hold downs & 10 Osaekomi Challenges focuses on judo basics and the hold downs, and is suitable for beginners
And 20 Judo Turnovers Learn Newaza Book takes learning newaza to the next level, teaching how to break through defences and turn your partner over, and it more suitable for intermediate or advanced judoka.
Which is the best judo book to learn throws?
40 Judo Throws: Learn every technique in the Gokyo is our best selling judo book.
This comprehensive, 100 page book teaches the reader how to do every single judo technique in the judo syllabus. Perfect for referencing for gradings.
Which are the best judo books for kids looking to improve fitness?
Taking judo training a step further, 10 Judo Throws and 20 Dojo Drills shows judoka of all levels how to train technique.
Learn Judo Breakfalls & 10 Agility Tests will help improve motor skills and coordination with ten fun and challenging agility tests.
Do you have judo colouring books for the younger age groups?
Yes, we have two activity books for young children to enjoy. Judo Colouring Book contains 50 black and white Ippon drawings for you to colour in. While How To Draw the Koka Kids shows you, the steps to draw the cartoon faces, eyes and characters of the Koka Kids team.
Do you have any free judo books?
Yes we do! We have a free online book to help you learn judo words and to give you a taste of what the Koka Kids Judo Books are all about.
