Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-05-19
JIU JlTsu TO BE AVOIDED.
Fair knowledge Of Boxing of More
Service to Americans Than the
Japanese Art.

Jiu-Jitsu is a complicated system of
trick wrestling evolved by the Japan
ese after centuries of trial and prac-
tice by the ruling classes. 1t depends,
says American Medicine, upon an in
innate anatomic knowledge of the
joints and peripheral nerves. The
wrestler tries to seize his opponent in
such way that he can twist joint,
say the shoulder, SO as to give great
pain. American school boys have
trick of seizing another's index finger
and bending it back until pain causes
the sufferer to cry for mercy, and this
is typical of jiu-jitsu. 1t is combined
with such tricks as pressing upon ex-
posed nerves or tender spots in joints,
such as under the lobe of the ear,
while holding the opponent in spe-
cies of chancery, or an effort may be
made to choke the opponent. AS soon
as the antagonist relaXes his guard,
in moment of pain, the other slips
behind him, and while back to back,
throws him over his head by dexter
GUS movement. While still stunned,
cuffed, or, in the olden times, dis
patched with the sword The system
was carefully taught to all the camurai
or ruling caste, but the mass of the
people were kept in ignorance of it's
tricks. At present it is apparently
used by only the police, to assist
them in overpowering men much
larger than themselves.
The qualities of Japanese juggler
are required for eXpertness-very fiex-
ible joints, great muscular power,
cool head and a feline agility which
no race possesses except the Japan
ese, and even with these natural
traits, the Jap requires several years
to learn the numerous tricks, and
must keep in constant practice. Eu-
| ropeans who attempt to become expert
do not succeed, so that it is not at all
| probable that it can be transplanted
to America and flourish. The footpad
has more efficient means of attack,
and the victim is not as we'll off as he
would be with a fair knowledge of
boxing.
Jiu-Jtsu is advocated as a system Of
calisthenics, and there is at present a
tendency TO introduce it from this
standpoint, but it's dangers are so great
that it would be wise for the medical
profession to frown upon it. Only Jap
| anese joints and bones can withstand
such usage and we can rest assured
that if the present tendency succeeds,
| physicians will meet with a series of
cases of twisted, sprained and perman-
| emily damaged joints and traumatic
neuritis Already there are reports OF
| fatalities from the violent throws upon
the floor, and it would seem to be more
dangerous to life than boxing and foot
ball. Americans who have witnessed
| jiu-jitsu bouts in Japan, between native
experts in their native costume, OF
lack of it, know that even with the
floor heavily padded with mattresses,
the eXertion is so violent and a man
can be thrown with such force, that it
is only by the greatest skill and agility
that the Japanese themselves escape
serious injury. If one is ruined the
others, with Oriental carelessness of
| life, do not seem to care particularly.
| Physicians, therefore, should utter a
word of warning whenever the occa-
sion arises against this new lad, and
though it is not exactly yellow peril
from the Orient, it bids fair to produce
more evil than good. We hope that it
will not be introduced into the ath-
letic drills of our military schools, par
ticularly those at West Point and An
apolis.