Linking Science and Judo for Sustainable Performance
Kevin Launay is an engineer based in the Pays de la Loire region of France. Alongside his professional career, he supports athletes, judoka and high-potential individuals in developing sustainable performance, both physically and mentally. A judo instructor, as well as a certified physical and mental performance coach, he combines scientific knowledge, field experience and the philosophy of judo.
He is the author of ‘Le Manuel de la Performance Athlétique – Préparation Physique et Mentale du Judoka,’ a book he has translated into English and which he discusses here.
“The original version of the book was written in French, published in November 2025. I am a judo coach as well as a physical, mental and nutrition coach and this work is the result of several years of training, field experience and practical application with athletes.
The decision to translate the book into English came naturally. After publishing the French version, I realised that the content could benefit a much wider audience, especially within the international judo community. A key turning point for me was a serious accident at the end of 2024, which forced me to rethink performance, recovery and long-term athlete development. That experience reinforced my desire to share practical and useful knowledge with athletes and coaches. READ MORE
Masutaro Otani - The Life of a Judo Master
The history of judo in Britain was shaped long before modern sporting structures were established. In the early decades of the 20th century, a small number of Japanese masters played a decisive role in introducing and spreading Kodokan judo across the country. Among them was Masutaro Otani, a figure whose influence remains deeply rooted in the foundations of British judo. READ MORE
Koka Kids
Most of the Koka Kids books are now in multiple languages (English, French and Spanish). CLICK HERE
Want judo books that teach, challenge and inspire? Koka kids publishes chlidren's judo books that help children learn and enjoy judo. Delivered world wide.
Put Gold on your Wound and Make it a Strength
Olympisme et Samuraïs by Philippe-Martial Moreau
Best Judo by Isao Inokuma (1979-12-06)
Kodokan Judo Throwing Techniques
Armlocks Neil Adams
Attacking Judo Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki – Hidetoshi Nakanishi
Black belt Neil Ohlenkamp
Competitive Judo Ron Angus
Falling Hard Mark Law
Grips Neil Adams
Judo basics, Pat Harrington
Judo Heart & Soul Hayward Nishioka
Judo in action Kazuzo Kudo
Black belt Neil Ohlenkamp
Kodokan Judo Jigoro Kano
Kodokan Judo Throwing Techniques Toshiro Daigo
Mastering Judo Masao Takahashi
Mind over muscle Jigoro Kano
Pick-Ups Robert Van de Walle
Russian Judo Alexander Iatskevich
Strenght and conditioning of Judo Mike Callan, Andy Burns
The A-Z of Judo Syd Hoare
The canon of Judo Kyuzo Mifune
The complete 7 katas of judo Mikonosuke Kawaishi
The father of Judo Brian N. Watson
The pyjama game Mark Law
The secrets of Judo Jiichi Watanabe
VOYAGES IMMOBILES around the tatami of the world - Nicolas Messner - Editions Astrid Franchet
JUDO WORLD TOUR - The globe-trotting Judoka
by Morgan Girardeau
A crazy plan to some, an ambitious project to others, reckless or brave!!! An idea that first went through my mind in 1996, on the day that I got my black belt: the desire to travel and explore the world, club by club, dojo by dojo, practising judo as I went! Reaching out to others, learning about their culture, their environment, sharing with them this same passion for the effort and the values and principles devised by the founder of this martial art and educational system! This dream of every judoka, this extraordinary personal adventure, from 14 September 2015 to 12 July 2017, I did it! In all humility, I swapped my status as a teacher for that of a student! I went and I managed to take part in training in 41 countries, a symbolic number representing my age when I finished my intense, eventful, moving and challenging journey!
