I posted this in the judo forum but figured I would post here to see if anybody had any information:
Has anyone ever heard of this machine the East Germans built named "Billi?" I'm reading a book entitled "Falling Hard: A Journey into the World of Judo" by Mark Law. In the book, the author (on page 177) begins talking about how the East Germans developed a robot or machine (for wrestling but their judoka used it as well) that they would "grapple" against or hold down and it would not only measure their pressure, but also provide resistance to help them develop.
They also had a machine that would apply top pressure using the brake system from a car and they would practice their bottom escapes.
It seems like the author saw this machine and it was not something they made up but I can't find any evidence of its existance.
Anybody know anything about this?
I am from Germany and I have never heard or red about it here in Germany. Don´t think it was a big issue if it has existed......
Vorsprung durch technik 