THROAT-HOLD ATTACK AND COUNTER DEFENCES

A THROAT-HOLD FROM THE REAR, AND ITS COMBINATION WITH A THROW — THE DEFENCE — DIFFERENT STYLES OF HAND-BLOWS IN DEFENCE.

In addition to the throat-hold throw-offs already described there is one that must be acquired by every jiu-jitsian. This feat may be designated as the "cork-screw throw-off," or may be known by any more fanciful name that suits the pleasure of the student.

Suppose that the assailant has employed his right hand in securing a throat-hold on the victim, or in forcing his hand under the chin; and that the assailant's left arm is thrown around the lower back of the victim. Such an attack is shown in the illustration opposite page 104 of Japanese Physical Training. It is in this case that the victim may employ the "cork-screw throw-off" to very good advantage.

This is done by the victim throwing up his left arm inside his opponent's right. On the inside the victim's arm crosses the fore-arm of the assailant. Now, the victim's arm is forced out over the outside of the assailant's, the two engaged arms of the combatants crossing at about the elbow. Now, the victim's arm, on the outside of the assailant's, is forced in under the latter's upper arm, so that the backs of the victim's fingers press hard against the upper ribs of the assailant.

It is important that this position be studied until it has been obtained to perfection. As soon as the position has been taken correctly, the victim should tense his own arm in such a way as to crush and weaken his adversary's, the victim at the same time giving as hard a dig as he can with the backs of his left fingers against the assailant's ribs. At the same time the victim forces his right hand under the as­sailant's chin, the thumb on one side of the throat and the fingers on the other. And the assailant's head is forced as far as possible over backward or sideways. In this manner a com­plete throw-off of the assailant's attack is made.

It will serve for the student to remember that he has not mastered this feat in all its de­tails until he is able to throw off the attack in­fallibly. Once the principle of the thing has been mastered, all future effort should be directed to gaining speed in the performance. It is not a difficult trick to acquire, and it is very effective. Should the assailant employ both hands in attacking the throat, then the victim must employ both of his arms against those of his adversary in the "cork-screw throw-off," and it is in this double style of the work that the effectiveness of the throw-off is most quickly seen.

In photograph No. 4 is shown an attack and defence so quickly executed as to appear to be a simultaneous attack. The assailant has se­cured the victim's throat with the right hand, but the victim has caught the left hand with a pinch. This pinch is inflicted by pressing the ball of the thumb into the back of the hand between the bases of the little finger and its neighbour. The thumb is pressed in heavily, and ground over the muscles and nerves en­countered there. It will be seen that the victim, thanks to his quickness, has secured rather the best of it; for, while both of the assailant's hands are now engaged, the victim has his left hand free for whatever style of attack seems best suited, supposedly a solar-plexus jab. Under these circumstances it will be best for the assailant to free his captured hand, if he can do so by a quick wrench, and to follow up this unsuccessful attack by one more accurately judged.

In photograph No. 5 is shown a style of throat-attack that is made from behind. The assailant is simultaneously raising one knee to give a severe blow in the buttocks or at the base of the spine. The knee-blow may be given, if preferred, against either kidney, the point of striking being in the soft part under the last rib. There is a third movement in this attack, which consists of dragging the victim over and dropping him on his back. All three movements should be performed as nearly simultaneously as possible.

This may all be done so swiftly that it would seem impossible to devise an effective counter for the protection of the victim, but the Japanese have solved the difficult problem. It will be understood, of course, that the defence must be made with great speed.

No. 6. THE WRONG WAY TO TRIP.

NO, 7. THE RIGHT WAY TO TRIP.

The simplest defence consists, for the victim, in bending the body over to the right with a swift twist, giving the victim an opportunity to jab his left elbow backward with force into the assailant's solar plexus or abdomen, the force of this shock causing the assailant to abandon his hold. This will do well enough for the beginner in jiu-jitsu, but in the mean­time he should carefully prepare for the two forms of defence that are now to be described.

At the instant of attack the victim seizes his adveisary's wrist with his own left hand. On the inside of the arm, about an inch above the elbow joint, and in line with the "knob" of bone at the joint is a nerve that may be severely pressed with the end of the thumb with a great deal of resulting pain. The victim's right hand is thrown around the assailant's arm at this point, from the outside, and the thumb is pressed forcibly against the nerve. The stu­dent should devote considerable study to the location and punishment of this nerve.

Now, the victim, with his left hand around his opponent's right wrist and his right hand attacking the nerve above the assailant's right elbow, breaks the assailant's hold, forcing the latter's right arm up over the victim's head and down again, so that the victim has squirmed to the right of this attacking arm. In the next breath the victim throws his own right thigh back of his assailant's right thigh. The vic­tim's left arm goes around the back of his as­sailant, while the victim's right hand is thrown across the front of the assailant's body, down, outside, a' d back of the assailant's left knee, back of which it hooks. Now, by giving a quick wrench forward and upward at the as­sailant's left knee, the victim is able to drop his opponent to the floor.

The other form of defence consists in bring­ing the assailant's right arm forward over the right shoulder, after the manner illustrated in photograph No. 24. This is done at the in­stant when the assailant's hands are forced in apart in the manner just described. The palm of the assailant's captured hand is held upward, while the victim pulls down severely at the wrist, forcing the assailant's arm bones to "go the wrong way," and thus inflicting more pain than can be borne with composure. The pressure must be severe enough to force the balked assailant to surrender, and the pressure can be made hard enough, as will be readily understood, to break the assailant's captured arm.

In performing this feat the student must be urged to locate the mentioned nerve above the elbow so thoroughly that he can attack it with­out a second's hesitation or fumbling. And when the assailant's arm is brought over the shoulder the palm of the hand must be up; if the palm is held down it will be understood that the captured arm will bend readily, and the victim's defence will thus be rendered worthless. And while above, it is suggested that the assailant's captured arm be brought over the right shoulder, it is even better if the manoeuvre be so made that the arm is brought, instead, over the victim's left shoulder, and for a reason that will be comprehended after an­other study of photograph No. 24. But the defence of the victim must be made so quickly that circumstances decide which shoulder of the victim is to be used.

In Chapter I. reference has been made to the fact that the jiu-jitsian does not employ his clenched fist in striking a blow, but uses the edge of his hand, generally the little finger edge. This does not mean the edge of the little finger, which should never be struck, but the edge of the palm on the little finger side. In striking, sometimes the palm of the hand is turned upward, and sometimes downward, just as the nature of the blow requires for striking most severely. In some instances, as in strik­ing upward under the chin, the thumb edge of the palm is used, the thumb being folded downward over the palm.

Here is a list of the more important blows that may be struck with the edge of the hand:

Lower Leg.—Across the shin on either side, and well to the front; strike half-way up the lower leg.
Upper Leg.—Strike half-way between knee and trunk, either across front of leg, or at out­side of leg somewhat to the front.
Side Blow.—Squarely on either side of the lower trunk, in the soft part just below the last rib.
Kidney.—Strike over this organ in small of back, in soft part just below last rib.
Wrist.—On either side, just back of joint.
Fore-arm.—On either side, half-way between wrist and elbow.
Upper Arm.—Strike across front of biceps, or on outside of arm and well to the front; in either case point of striking to be midway be­tween elbow and shoulder.
Collar-bone.—In a close clinch, open at one side, strike with little finger edge of palm, hand almost perpendicular and fingers pointing up, on collar-bone midway between breast-bone and point of shoulder. (Too sharp a blow will fracture this bone.)
Shoulder.—A sharp downward blow on top of shoulder, midway between neck and point of shoulder. (A blow that causes a good deal of pain and subsequent soreness.)
Side of the Neck.—Midway between jaw­bone and collar-bone.
Back of the Neck.—Too dangerous. Do not employ, except in a case of "life or death."

Instead, when striking from behind, use heel of hand, fingers pointing upward. Strike heel of hand just at the base of the skull, with a combined forward and upward movement. And even this blow is hardly less dangerous. Both blows are mentioned more by way of caution that they be avoided by the experi­menting student.
Blow across Base of Spine.—Too dangerous. Instead, employ blow over kidney.

All of the blows struck with the edge of the hand are given smartly and with a good deal of force. In striking at throat or neck the right hand of assailant is used against the victim on his right side, instead of at his left, in order that the blow may be given more force.

The edge of the hand should not be struck across the "Adam's apple," but the edge of the fore-arm, covered by the coat-sleeve, may be employed for striking here when necessary.

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