FINISHING TOUCHES IN THE JAPANESE SCIENCE OF ATTACK AND DEFENCE

A SUM­MARY OF THE BEST FEATS FOR WOMEN TO PRACTISE AND TO USE AT NEED-FINAL CAUTIONS TO THE STUDENT WHO WOULD BE EXPERT IN " JIU-JITSU "

It is in acquiring the finishing touches of the ancient art that the student shows whether or not he is naturally fitted for expert work in jiu-jitsu. Every feat that he performs is based on some natural law, and the extension and perfection of the feat depend upon the stu­dents' ability to observe natural laws and to apply them.

For example, when striking downward with an edge-of-the-hand blow the student should discover that the blow is both more easy and more effective if the weight of his body be added to the impulse. Then a little thought will show the jiu-jitsian that by springing slightly off his feet just before landing with his hand the weight of his body will be added to the blow.

After a very little practice the student will find that this knowledge and its application has greatly increased his efficiency. It will then occur to the student that a brisk forward impulse will add to the value of any blow or jab he may use in frontal attack. He must study, now, how to give that forward impulse.

In the same manner he will find out for him­self just how to make his weight count for the most when trying to bear down an opponent; and he will learn how to straighten up with the weight of the opponent on his back.

No indications for the solution of these prob­lems are to be offered to the student now. If he cannot solve them for himself, after a little effort, he may know that he is lacking the in­stincts that make the true jiu-jitsian.

Not very many years ago it would have been considered, in this country, an impertinent thing to suggest that women should learn these combat tricks, or at least the simplest and most serviceable of them. But of late years the athletic woman has begun to develop a health­ful interest in the lighter work of boxing and wrestling, and so it is natural that she should continue her education in the matter of physi­cal encounter, and become something of an expert in jiu-jitsu. It was in London that women first fell in with this idea, and Japanese instructors became suddenly in great demand. The craze quickly crossed the ocean, and in the United States, to-day, there are not a few women who are capable of holding their own in combat with men.

Several of the feats that the author has de­scribed in the present volume may be learned readily by women, and should be used by them at any time of need and in the absence of their natural protectors. The edge-of-the-hand blow over the jugular is one that is easy of acquire­ment by women. The hold that is secured by bending the arm up behind the back is another feat that should be practised by women. The "come along," and, in fact, many of the appli­cations of "bending the arm the wrong way " are of especial value to women who do not think it beneath their dignity to be able to defend themselves at a pinch. And every woman who feels the slightest interest in the subject should persuade herself to practise repeatedly at the trick of stopping and catching an assailant's fist and of "breaking " the attacking arm over her shoulder.     

And especially effective for women are the jabs that may be delivered with either elbow in the short ribs of an opponent, or in the soft parts just below. If a woman is annoyed by a fellow who steps up to her side in a crowded street it does not come amiss to know how to give him an effective elbow jab in the solar plexus or in the abdomen. The woman who can do this neatly will save herself from further annoyance.

Any of the holds or throws that have been explained in these pages will be of service to the woman who finds an intruder in her home at a time when its natural male protectors are away. But, as the average American woman of athletic tendencies is still a trifle backward in the desire to learn throws she will content herself at present with mastering a few holds, and be satisfied with this method of securing an intruder. Here is a simple hold that will serve for the detention of a thief or insolent rascal until her cries bring a policeman or a neighbour:
For the purpose of practice, stand at the left side of the practice opponent, and a little to the rear at the same time. The intended victim should stand with his arms hanging naturally at his side. The student thrusts her left arm between his left arm and the body, and at a point barely above his elbow. Her left arm is forced horizontally across his back.

Now, at the same instant, her right hand pounces upon his right elbow, and that arm is forced over towards his left. Her left hand seizes his right arm just above the elbow, while her left elbow hooks with his left elbow. The hand that is resting forcibly on his right elbow forces this right arm over to where it can be seized.

It is easy, then, for the woman assailant to hold the victim's arms behind his back with her left arm and hand, and her right hand still on his right elbow keeps his right arm in place. In addition, she is able to release her right hand for the striking of a blow if it becomes necessary.

With some practice any woman of ordinary strength can acquire the knack of seizing and holding a man in this fashion. She can take him quite unawares and render him helpless without the outlay of much exertion. She must, however, look out that he does not suc­ceed in kicking back with his heel, and, if he does try it, she must be prepared to strike or to choke with her right hand, which may be spared for the purpose.

There are many other feats in jiu-jitsu that a woman may learn to employ with most con­vincing embarrassment to a male assailant, and the author would suggest that all the tricks of combat that he has described be experimented with by our American women and by their English sisters, and that the most attractive be thoroughly mastered. If a feat in combat is needed by a woman but once in her lifetime, yet is ready when the moment comes, it is worth all the cost of effort in learning it.

A few words of final caution, if they are heed-ed. will be of value to the student of either sex.

In the first place, do not be eager to learn too much at the outset. One feat, mastered, is worth a half-dozen that are but half-learned. It is far better, in the beginning, to take up but one trick, and to keep at that until the performance of it is natural and easy for the student. Then devote the same amount of effort to a second trick. When the two are well mastered, practise them alternately during a few bouts, then adding a third, and, after a few days more, a fourth trick. This may seem tedious to the student, but it will repay him well where he will meet only with ultimate disappointment if he gives way to the rather natural impulse to pick up at least a dozen feats during the first bout of practice.

Patience, steadiness, thoroughness pay heavy dividends in the study of jiu-jitsu. Four years is the average length of time devoted to the study of the art in a Japanese school.

Care must be taken not to carry the effort to the wearying point in any one practice bout. The body may not suffer, but jiu-jitsu, in its best development, is subtle and crafty, and the active mind can be tired very easily. When the fatigue point for the brain is reached, all further practice in that bout is detrimental to the student's practice. Twenty minutes in a day is enough time to devote to practice, if the student's mind be kept keenly on the alert. The practice bout should never last longer than a half an hour.

If it can be borne in mind, at all times, that the bout should be even more of a mental than a physical drill, then the best results will be obtained. In jiu-jitsu extreme discipline of the mind is both a requirement and a result.