This is one of the very few fictional books that cover Judo. This one is a story, written at the level of a Junior High School or High School student. John Ball is an accomplished author however, and the book is very readable and interesting story of a teenager who takes up Judo to be able to defend himself. The setting for the story is the San Fernando Judo Club, CA, which is still operating. Although out-of-print, so many libraries owned this that it's relatively easy to locate a copy of it. Worth reading. AUTHOR'S NOTE Judo Boy is an adventure story based on this traditional, exciting, and newly popular sport. While it includes much of the Judo discipline and describes the training methods used, it makes no attempt to instruct the reader in the art. Those looking for how-to-do-it information will find a number of good books in print. Among these the author highly recom- mends Boys' Judo by II. E. Sharp and C. C. Hadly, Jr. (Burton Publishing Co., Los Angeles), both for the authoritative text and the delightful illustrations. Judo boy is the standard international term for any student of the art below the brown belt level. All beginners are called Judo boys. Those who may feel that the Judo dojo (school) described herein is too good to be true might be interested to know that it really exists. So also do many of the people who appear in this story. The author would like to express his great apprecia- tion to the San Fernando Valley Judo Club, to its officers, and to its outstanding faculty of black belt instructors for their un- stinting co-operation and help. Gentlemen, arigato. The author is particularly grateful to the great American judoist and teacher, Master Sego Murakami, for his gracious permission to write him into the story. JOHN BALL, JR. Encino, California contentS Author's Note vii About the Language of Judo xi 1. Encounter in the Park 3 2. Mark Takahashi 7 3. Shiai 17 4. Modern Knighthood 25 5. On the Big Mat 35 6. Evidence 47 7. First Blood 59 8. Portrait of a Sensei 71 9. Victory and Defeat 81 10. Third in the World 91 11. Demonstration 103 12. April 15 115 13. Moment of Truth 131