The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-08
SEVERE JOLT FOR JIU-JITSU.
NOT 4 KNOCKOUT. As SERIOUS
TRICKS ARE BARRED.
BOthner'S Three Straight Fails Gained by
Defensive Taetics-HigASh scores In
AEEresSlyeness and StrenEth-Little
japanese Expert Issues statement.

lNNNUaNN ANENNa-ANNH Nhiu FtuNNu IN
AEgTessyeness and Strength-Little
japanese Expert Issues statement.
Very few Of the bone breaking and deadly
qualities OF jiu-jitsu. the Japanese art Of wrest-
ling, we're In evidence at the Grand Central
Palace when Prof. Higashi met George Both
ner In match on last Thursday night. The
affair was best three out Of Ave falls, and the
American, by capturing three straight, was
entitled to the victory.
By losing Higashl cannot be said to be dis
Uaced II anything. his performance was
better than Bothner's, because he did all the
work and displayed admirable pluck, and in the
face Of a big handicap in well ht and the fact
that he was showing before a thoroughly
American crowd he showed wonderful self
] control IL being the first exhibition Of It's
kind in this country. naturally the rules Of the
I match were perplexing. Even the referee,
| Tim Hurst, made several mistakes, but In
view OF his ignorance OF jiu-jitsu his errors
were pardonabe,
Bothner acted mainly on the defensive
from the start. But Bothner afterward said
that he was going against game Of which
he knew little and would not take the initiative,
depending on some catch as catch can ruse
NJ which he was master for success. After
the FIRST fall the Jap became wary OF Both.
ner's leg work, by which tho American was
enabled 70 gain all the falls TO his credit.
Jiu-jitsu experts depend for success upon
a standing posture But Bothner was evil
IDENTITY wise 70 this fact. for ne capsized at
every opportunity. compelling the Jap TO
apply his dangerous locEs, especially the
strange, II he could. while on the mat THIS
was dinicult task for by bringin his head
close to his neck Bothner vas able 70 obuate
any chance OF being choked or put out Of
out the contest Hlgasnl failed 70 try any
bone breaking holds. once In a while
higashi resorted 70 some out-and-out catch
Nelson's, but Georse broke them
The Jap was Bothner's master In strength
and endurance. Although at times he la bored
hard he never appeared 20 be winded or dis.
tressed. Constantly during the match he
chewed gum, but az times showed chagrin
when Bothner failed TO get UP and meet him
llissshi sprans a sensational trick in the
falls, ali right, but did not score. because
BothneT was not down the necessary five
In the last fall that the Jap obtained Bothner
was dazed, and higashi might have ended
the struggle then and there by getting the
strange. But, thinking that the TAI went
he went 70 his chair and permitted Bothner
The crowd WIS a record breaker and In
spector Walsh and hfty policemen had their
hands full IN seeing that the IRE regulations
were observed. There were many japanese
Yesterday Prof Higashi issued long state
ment relative 20 the conditions Of the match.
i am STRANGER TO American ways OF con-
ducting athletic meets and contests. but II !
am to take the incidents last night as con-
shutting fair sample Of the American way
then | am compelled 70 state that the spirit
Of sport as It obtains In this country il very
different from that inculcsted In the people
OF Japan-so different. in fact, that IL would
seem impossible for American and Japanese
athletes 70 meet on any ground that affords
opportunities for actual competitive tests
The articles signed we're an exact trans
lation Of the rules which in Japan are used
when . jiu-jitsian contests With one who is
not jlu-iitsian. In, my simplicity ] sup
posed tnst these rules would be actually
observed In the ring A good deal to my
that the serious tricks be barred. In my
desire 20 have a good,natured contest with
which everybody should be satisfied ! re.
had with Bothner the serious tricks that we're
barred at the last moment constitute about |
have heard since that many people 10 the !
audience wondered why | did not put out
BothneT. BY the speolous statement by
barred" they were deceived Into believing
that | did not use my serious tricks simply
There is but one American so far as
know, who Is familiar with both japanese
and American rules. II was agreed between
HSncock should referee tie contest At At
the last moment just before was ready to
me that this agreement had not been made.
and that Mr., Hancock was to act only a. my
Judge. ! asked Mr.. Hancock 10 act as my
Judge, and he did So or the referee who !
served eill not say more than that he was
wholly ignorant Of the spirit OF the rules
under which It had been agreed TO hold the
contest
1T had been agreed that a flying fall should ]
count made two in succession, each time |
hurting Mr. BothneT over my head. My |
judge claimed the falls for me, but they |
we're disallowed. although explicitly pro- |
vided for in the FINAL dressing room agree |
ment Then I secured another well known |
-jitsu fall by folding my opponents arms |
around me and going over backward, land |
ing him under me on bis back, All three i
Of these falls are allowed under the Japanese 1
rules, as they constitute a real-not a con-
strucuve-victory; but all three were dis
allowed by the American referee"