New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-08
JUJUTSU.
CURIOUS STYLES OF WRESTLING PRAC'
TISED IN JAPAN-A GENTLE
ARTn IN NAME ONLY


The national athletic exercises OF the Japanese are
few In number. They not. as people. FOND OF
outdoor sports. Cricket and baseball have been In
troduced. but only faint enthusiasm Is exhibited
for either the majority condemning both games a.
childish or unmanly. Rowing is coming each year
into greater favor. yet regattas held BY the stu.
dents Of only two three Government schools the
publicity necessarily attendant upon such exhbi'
tons being dislked
There are. IN fact, only three kinds Of athletic
exercises in which the Japanese consent to take
part or which they deem worthy Of cultivation.
The first. kind Of polo, is now known to very few
people 1t is game requiring much skill. constant
practice. a steady eye and no mean knowledge OF
horsemanship. There are few old families In which
this fine sport is still kept UP. for It has always
been q game patronized exclusively by nobemen or
samurai OF higher rank
Then comes kenjutsu, the Sword art" or fene.
ing, an athletic exercise OF the highest value and
one which has been developed in a purely national
manner the whole art being totally different from
what 1t is In other countries. The sword Is held in
both hands. the attacks and parties are novel and
subject to unusual rules. yet It Is exercise emf.
nently calculated TO bring every muscle Of the body
into play to train the and quicken the percept.
I've faculties; for, japanese swordsmen are wont to
the secret OF Is perceive what stroke
the opponent Is about to give before he actually
lunses. or, in other words to read the opponents
thoughts. Prior to the Restoration, knowledge Of
fencing was vastly more important than 40.
quaintance with reading and writing. Every "a.
mural v as taught that his trenchant blade
his very soul. and even merchants and craftsmen,
SUCH as had no right to swords given to
practising the art the best form OF sef-defencs
But since the early years OF the Meij period fenc-
ing has gone greatly out Of vogue. though It Is su
kept up and in quiet streets often hear the
clash OF the spl.t-bamboo fencing-sti mngling
with the shouts of the combatants.
Yet the art of fencing will never again be what n
once was. With the secret OF forging those match.
less blades OF Bizen. the masterpieces Of such men
Masamune and Hormitsu. the great love for the
art has passed away. II Is practised mostly By
youths who take IT up a sort OF hygienic exer.
else. There used to be hundreds Of celebrated
tiers OF the sword; at present there many
score.
There is. however one form OF athletic sport that
Is still kept alive. and this in the opinion OF the
greatest and most patriotic men OF Japan. should
become still more popular and enjoy widespread
favor. This is ''juju:su." literally the gentle art"
a misnomer. indeed. II 1t is supposed TO imply any
passive condition. for OF all athletic exercises II
demands the greatest amount Of physical activity.
brings every muscle into play and requires years Of
is. in a word kind Of wrestling which teaches NOT
only how TO throw, disable MAIN antagonist,
ana finally to At least 70
hold ones own by dint OF admirable address, mus.
cular suppleness and undaunted courage
pesense e ms st Of % - Of
adroit, which an adept jujutsukee though OF puny
the hundreds Of tricks, twists falls he has
been taught prove of no avail. he knows where to
lay his sr2nssr opponent unconscious or XIII him
knowledge OF the physical form, but would even do
are SO perfectly trained that blow viii fall harm.
the With p %a wSns 5. J Sssmsa ds sn
blows and foul catches in Western lands pro-
fsss TESS are simply ready to meet any kind Of at.
order to secure victory It IS I gentle sr,
therefore. only in so far as it teaches those who
ly superior force. AS such il is infinitely more
scisnthc more thorough and more valuable
where though in It. principal features II has
mnrk * resemblance nsa to the Cornish mi system
Ming dynasty a Chinaman named Chin Genpin
pc M n 70 4ea na sp
Fukuno Isobe and Miura, each OF whom founded
Visited China about 80 ago and u that aurns
EnowsSse Of certain Kicks and falls blows and the
tro Of man s temporarily u .a or Of
finally the whole system Of jujutsu was afterward
s Of rr dae. f on myths
a eIp sna is apa5 n ns dsS ,hsT.
kicks and fatal blows. But a system OF dangerous
Of or takenouch:ryu as Early as 5a2 the founder OF
this style being famous swordsman
standing and falling style; the "fenshin- shinyo-
ryu." the willow style: and the "shingan.
ryu." true face style Moreover. each and every
style rc ludes the two departments Of "satsu" or
"atemi the art OF rendering opponen, power
less. OF suffocating. tanning otherwise putting
him hors de combat: and ''katsu." the art OF re-
vvlng an unconscious person. or one apparently
dead.
In both these departments really marvellous things
taught, many OF which would surprise even
medical adopts. Bone-setting. after peculiar and
fashion. is also included In the mysteries Of