TWO SAFE, CERTAIN, AND EASY HOLDS FOR REDUCING AN OPPONENT

STRAINING AN ADVERSARY'S ARM OVER THE SHOULDER —HOW THE VICTORY MAY BE FOLLOWED UP WITH A THROW IN EITHER OF THE THREE CASES

Wrestlers have a hold known as the " Nelson.'' The ancient originators of jiu-jitsu devised a hold that is somewhat similar, and the essential principle of the Japanese style of hold is shown clearly in photograph No. 22.

As in American or English wrestling, the assailant secures the hold from behind. The assailant's left arm is thrown under the victim's left arm, forcing that latter member up, and the assailant's hand is pressed against the back of the victim's neck, the fingers gripping at the right. At the same time the assailant's right hand and fore-arm are thrust under the victim's right shoulder and the back of the hand is held pressing against the shoulder. No further description of the hold will be needed, the illustration showing just how it is taken.

This feat may be used as a hold pure and simple, for the purposes of keeping the victim helpless. In the case that the assailant is standing behind the victim, the latter has a slight means of defence and counter by kicking the aggressor's shins with the back of one heel. But if the assailant is on the alert for this demonstration he can squelch it by stepping nimbly back and dragging his victim backward to the ground.
When this trick is used as a hold the victim's head is forced forward and down, while the assailant's right hand drags the victim's right shoulder backward. The victim is thus helpless at his opponent's pleasure, unless the victim re­sorts to the back-heel kick, and it has been explained how this is met by the aggressor. Or, the victim may try to bend far forward so as to lift the assailant from his feet, but in this case the assailant can rapidly shift his hold to one with both hands at the front of the victim's throat, and the aggressor is then in a position to choke his victim and drag him over back­ward.

But when it is intended, from the outset, to throw the victim, the assailant, at the moment of taking the hold, advances his right leg in front of the victim's left. The head is forced forward and down, and the victim's right shoulder is wrenched violently upward. With this combination it is a matter of ease to throw the victim over the leg.

A hold that may be retained at the position of seizing, or that may be carried on to a throw, is all but explained by a glance at photograph No. 23. In this feat the assailant, with his right hand, seizes the victim's right wrist. At the same time the assailant's left arm is forced under the victim's right arm. This combination of attack makes it possible to throw up the victim's right arm. The inner, or palm side of the victim's wrist is held up­ward. The assailant's left hand is pressed squarely over the back of the victim's head, and the head is forced down to the ground.

No. 24. STRAININQ A FOREARM OVER THE SHOULDER.

No. 25. "THE DEVIL'S HAND-SHAKE.*

Now, note the position of the victim's captured right arm. The inside of the wrist of that arm being held up, and the hand being forced downward, it follows that the victim's right arm is being made to bend the "wrong way." Thus the captured arm will be severely strained; it may even be broken if the pressure is ugly enough. It is important for the assailant al­ways to remember to hold the captured right arm of his opponent in the way indicated, and to apply the straining pressure with sufficient force to reduce the victim to surrender. As to the throw, it may be accomplished by forc­ing the victim's head down and down until he collapses on the floor—all the while applying the strain to his captured right arm. The chances are that before the victim is forced to the ground he will call out his surrender, but much depends upon the force with which his right arm is strained—and it cannot be strained at all unless the assailant has paid attention to the method of doing it. In throwing, if de­sired, the assailant may give a trip over his own left leg.

His hold is so important in a variety of conditions of combat that it should be practised long and faithfully, until the student feels cer­tain that he is able to perform it as well as he could do even if he were to add much more practice. While the feat is of great value to any one who may become involved in a personal encounter, and who desires to end it quickly, the attention of police officers is called to this trick as an effective one in subduing a trouble­some prisoner. It is swifter and more effective than clubbing—and decidedly more humane. The victim, after he has been subdued, will know better than to attempt further trouble with a master of such tricks, and the prisoner will not have been mangled or battered, but will feel as comfortable as he did before this assault was made upon him.

A plucky and reasonably muscular woman would find this trick useful in taking care of an intruder whom she found in her home during the absence of her male protectors. The in­truder could be seized and held, without throw­ing, until help arrived, and sufficient straining of the intruder's right arm would cause him to hope as ardently as would the woman for the speedy arrival of the help summoned by screams.

In the practice of this trick care must be taken to avoid fumbling. The difficulty that the novice experiences is in getting his left arm surely and swiftly under the victim's right. If the victim's opposition be quick and determined the neophyte in jiu-jitsu will find it hard to get his left arm under and the hand securely fixed against the back of the victim's head. Yet this must be done surely and well, since the left hand not only presses the victim's head down, but also gives the leverage that re­sults in the successful straining, of the victim's right arm.
Practice, therefore, should be per­sistent until the new jiu-jitsian is able to secure the hold without the suspicion of a fumble.

As to the victim's counter, the only one that is possible, once the hold has been securely taken, is to grip at the muscles of the ag­gressor's left leg and to try to inflict pain there. If this is attempted the assailant should in, crease the straining pressure on his adversary's right arm and make the throw at once.

In proper sequence comes the feat of straining an adversary's arm over the shoulder. This can be applied in a variety of cases, and if used severely enough it is a means of promptly ending an encounter. The position is depicted in photograph No. 24.

The attack may be made under any one of a variety of circumstances. Whenever the op­ponent's arm is extended toward you seize his wrist firmly with both hands, forcing the inside of his wrist upward, and holding it so. At the instant of so seizing the wrist and turning it, swing swiftly around so as to present your back to the opponent. Swing your shoulder under the upper half of his captured arm, and bear down heavily at the wrist. Thus his arm is forced to bend the "wrong way," and the enormous leverage possessed by the aggressor will enable the latter to inflict pain to any de­gree up to the unbearable. The victim can be forced to stand upon the tips of his toes.

If it is wished, a throw can be made. All the assailant has to do is to bend well over for­ward, and, with his pull on the victim's arm, to send the latter flying over his shoulder. But this style of throw may result in a broken arm for the victim, and for this reason the throw should never be employed except in a desperate case. But the throw may be prac­tised, nevertheless, by bending forward and sending the victim part way over the shoulder, then straightening up again and permitting the victim to regain his feet.

Right here it is important to make one point clear to the student of jiu-jitsu. In pulling the victim's arm over the shoulder, make sure that you bring his left arm over your right shoulder, or his right arm over your left shoul­der. Otherwise the trick is pretty certain to end in defeat for the aggressor. Suppose, for instance, that you blunderingly take the as­sailant's right arm over your right shoulder. Then he is in position to use his disengaged left hand in giving you a disastrous blow in the back or over the kidneys. If you take his left arm over your left shoulder the victim has an opportunity to use his right hand in a similar fashion.

Study the illustration once more, and it will be understood that by taking the captured left arm over your right shoulder, or the right arm over your left shoulder, the victim is deprived of his opportunity of countering. This point must always be remembered.

If an antagonist seizes the coat lapel this hold may be instantly taken. If he has seized your throat with one hand, or is reaching for it, the hold can be taken and the painful pres­sure applied before the adversary has time to realise what is about to happen. If an adver­sary pushes you away the hold comes into in­stant play. If he tries to drag you by the coat collar, bring his arm over your shoulder.

This trick can be employed, too, in connec­tion with the trick of catching the boxer's fist that was described in the last chapter. If he strikes at you, the instant that you have im­prisoned his fist, swing and bring his arm over your shoulder—always remembering that the inside of his wrist must be upward.

Now, it will happen often that at the moment of sending his hand your way the opponent will have the inside of his wrist downward. Study, therefore, the best method of seizing his wrist in order to have free play for turning the inside of his wrist upward. And, as the adversary will naturally try to keep his wrist from being twisted, a good deal of practice must be devoted to so turning his wrist that you can always have the opponent's wrist turned upward, and his arm over your shoul­der, before he has had time to understand the nature of the trick that you intend to play upon him.

No. 2ti. SHOULDER-PINCH AND SOLAR-PLEXUS JAB—USEFUL ALSO IN EXPOSING SHAMMED UNCONSCIOUSNESS.

No 27. PREVENTING AN INJURY TO KNEE OB OTHER CONTIGUOUS PARTS.

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