Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-24
ART OF SELF-DEFENsE
As Taught in Japan and the Results
Reached,

Hcache0.
John A. Cockerin in New York Herald
The whole teaching OF Jiujutsu is sum-
med up in the two ideagraphs composing
the name: 1t is the art of conquering by
yielding" or, literally. the gentle art In
so far as 1t is peculiarly adapted to those
of less powerful physiques. and hence sup
pcsititiously gentle" the name Is not a
misnomer. but in reality Jiujutsu teaches
how to encompass the complete overthrow
of an enemy. including the quickest and
surest modes of killing with the naked
hands. 1t is thus one of the deadliest Of
all methods Of self-defense.
Some days ago 1t was my good fortune
to meet a foreign gentleman in Tokyo who,
be an adept in this difficult and most vaiu-
able art. I am indebted to him for an in
teresting explanation of Jiujutsu. The Or
binary course is one of three years, but he
who wishes to learn the art thoroughly
must give seven or even more years to It's
constant practice. For Jiujutsu is not one
of those things. that, once learned. is not
readily forgotten; mere ACQUAINTANCE
with its intricate rules, its throws and
counters, its attacks and foils, is by no
means sufficient, although such knowledge
is not without value. What is required Is
constant practice, whereby the muscles are
hardened, the eye grows quick and keen,
and each nerve, every fiber makes instant
response to the will.
A Fatal Skill.
A certain degree of facility and skill ac-
quired, and the possessor is better armed
than If he carried weapons, for In the case
of a trained Jiujutsu-ka the hands are ever
ready to be used with instantly fatal skill.
A 1.-THE body. a quick eye and keen per-
ception of what an opponent is thinking OF
or intends to do-like some masters of fenc-
ing, who seem to divine by Intuition what
~, -I,AkH tn tinr0
quart or what not-these are indispensable
adjuncts in the acquisition Of this art.
which, perhaps, more than any other attn
letic exercise. brings every muscle into
play and strengthens the entire frame.
To the onlooker a group Of youths en-
gagged in Jiujutsu contest is surprising in
many ways. Each combatant is dressed in
a thick wadded cotton coat, with short.
broad sleeves. The coat reaches half way
down to the knees, and is firmly kept In
place by stout girdle of cotton cloth, both
this and the coat being of exceptionally
strong make. Before beginning bout the
contestants PROSTATE themselves and touch
the mats-for mats Of special thickness and
make are used in Jiujutsu-with their fore
heads. Taking firm hold of each others
girdle with the right hand and upper part
of the coat with the left, the struggle be-
gins. Practically speaking, Jiujutsu seems
to foreign eyes to be a combination of
with scores of other grips, feints and
throws, which would be considered foul In
foreign lands. The contestants try, in q
hundred ways, to gain the mastery, which
consists not merely IN throwing ones op-
ponent, but, once thrown, in pinning him to
the ground and keeping him hors de combat
until he sues for mercy.
What the Art Includes.
In the regular schools Of Jiujutsu the
varquished man keeps up struggling to the
limit of endurance, for il his powers of re-
sistarce are greater than those of his more
skillful adversary. he may yet stagger to
his feet and begin the bout anew. Should
he acknowledge himself completely worsted
he has only to gently pat the back or
shoulder of his victor. whereupon the vice.
like grip is at once relaxed and the fallen
fighter assisted to his feet. Jiujutsu thus
aims at rendering an adversary completely
harmless, and this is done by scores Of
strange tricks and sletghts, which demand
years of study in order to be thoroughly
comprehended. The art includes stranglng.
hitting at the most vulnerable places of
the body, kicking-indeed everything that
human ingenuity can invent Yet to each
attack. to every sleight, there is a perfect
counter, and, what is still more remarkable
and of high practical Importance. is that
those who have lost consciousness In con-
sequence of a blow. kick, strangling, ETC.,
may so long as no vital injury has been
inflicted, be promptly restored to their
senses by methods known only to initiates,
Of the highest rank