Ippon Again!, produced by BAKKEN RECORD and published by Pony Canyon, is an anime adaptation of the ongoing judo-centric manga series written by Yuu Muruoaka. After deciding to quit judo at the end of middle school, due to changing her priorities to being successful in her high school education and upcoming entrance exams, Michi Sonoda is suddenly reminded of how much she loved the sport and her training. Together with Hiura Towa, the competitor she lost her last match to, and Sanae Takigawa, her childhood best friend, they decide to start up the judo club and find themselves participating in tournaments once again.
Ippon Again! is heavily focused on the competitive aspects of judo; with countless demonstrations of different techniques and stances, the series also gets quite technical and informative. This makes the series an ideal starting place for individuals wishing to learn about one of the world's most popular sports at a reasonable pace. Here's why Ippon Again! is must-watch for fans of combat sports.
Ippon Again! Teaches the Fundamentals of Judo
Judo, the art of throwing and grappling was invented by Dr. Jigoro Kano in 1882 by combining jiujutsu with the various features from different jiujutsu schools. The biggest difference between judo and jiujutsu is the fact that judo is more based around throws, while jiujutsu focuses on submissions. Judo later became an Olympic sport in 1964. While unbeknownst to many living in the Western hemisphere, judo is one of the most popular competitive sports in the world next to soccer, with over 200 countries being members of the International Judo Federation. Judo, like many other combat sports, can also be quite dangerous because the emphasis is placed on throwing the opponent to the ground.
The martial art of judo is often overlooked because it isn't talked about as much, due to being shadowed by other martial arts such as boxing and jiujutsu in mainstream media, however, some of the most legendary fighters in the UFC have used judo moves quite often. The UFC's First Female Champion Ronda Rousey, a multiple gold medalist in judo, and the UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and his protégé Islam Makhachev, both of whom have performed many brilliant judo throws throughout their careers, are excellent examples of well-known martial artists who have used judo.
An Inventive, Unique Sports Anime
Ippon Again! is a fantastic place to start learning more about the Japanese wrestling sport, as the series goes in-depth enough for anyone new to Judo to comprehend the sport thoroughly -- such as the application of the judogi, the utilization of distance and balance, and the huge diversity of throws and submissions. Audiences will also learn the rules of judo matches such as the scoring methods: ippon and waza-ari. This is all portrayed by our three main characters as they compete from tournament-to-tournament against a long list of diverse opponents.
Real judo techniques, like the yagura nage and sode tsurikomi goshi, are frequently used in the series, hence why current judokas will also greatly appreciate it. Ippon Again! is a rare gem to have been adapted, as anime about combat sports that portray the sport in a non-fantastical way come only once in a blue moon. Ippon Again! is a series chock-full of waza-ari and ippons that shouldn't be missed.
Ippon Again! is based on the manga of the same title, published in the Weekly Shōnen Champion on October 18, 2018. The manga is currently ongoing and has 20 volumes released. Ippon Again! will be available for streaming on HIDIVE January 8, 2023.