THE JAPANESE ART OF JU-JITSU

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1726, 29 March 1905, Page 61

THE JAPANESE ART OF JU-JITSU

A most interesting exhibition of Jujitsu (pronounced “je\\ T -jitss”), was given at Chelsea Barracks on January 27tli. The programme included demonstrations in the art of falling, of how to upset an opponent by disturbing his balance, oi how to throw an opponent, and concluded by bouts between the Japanese teachers and some young soldiers trained wrestling. So little is known in this country of the art of Ju-jitsu, the Japanese method of training, that this practical demonstration could not fail to be oi deep interest. In England, Ju-jitsu is commonly believed to be wrestling pure and simple. In reality, although its literal meaning is “muscle-breaking/’ i is the art of defeating brute strength by stratagem —an art Avliich enables the smallest and lightest weight men or wo men to protect themselves from an opponent possessing twice or three times their strength, provided he is ignoran* of this science of self-defence. The Japanese have studied the problem of DEFEATING BBiUTEI STRENGTH BY ABT for some hundreds of years. To save one’s own strength, to defend oneself by slerglit of body while drawing from one’s opponent all his strength: this is the aE of Ju-jitsu. Much time and thought have been given in Britain to the consideration ol the wisest methods of physical culture. We have studied the French, the German, the Danish, the Swiss, and, above all, the Swedish methods'; but avc have completely passed, over the Japanese. Y r et those aa lio have lived in Japan, and avlio by experience are entitled to be heard, mattain that a feAv weeks’ training in Jujitsu will yield better results in muscle development, power of endurance, and suppleness of body than ten times the amount of Avork done in an English or German gymnasium. Mr 11. Irving Hancock, Avho has studied Ju-jitsu for c;gi•; or nine years, savs" : : ‘‘Six Avecks of instruction, the preliminary strength-pro-ducing training of Ju-jitsu, will yield bet ter results in muscle, endurance, and agility than Avill the same amount of rime

per week spent in a gymnasium throughout a whole school year. And the same six weeks of drilling in Ju-jitsu exercises will accomplish more than may ho looked for from years spent at the light calisthenics taught in many of our schools.” He goes on to remind us that if this statement should seem exaggerated in 1300, when the allied ar.Aes of the civilised Powers marched against Pekin, the Japanese were the- first among all the troops in point of endurance in the field, and day after dav outmarched cur troops (which were second) by 50 per cent. In the early pari of the present war with Russia the Japanese marched twenty-five miles a day through most bitter weather; under the -same c rcuinstances our men would consider fifteen miles a day a satisfactory average. The conclusion drawn is that Ju-jitsu is responsible for this splendid endurance and toughness, seeing that it is the only physical training which the Japanese receive. THE! REAL SECRET of the perfection of the physique altained by the Japanese is that they are not cont- nt, as we are in this country, to go through a course cf physical culture which takes place twice a week for half an hour, and wh eh "lasts at most a few years. The Japanese begin physical training at the very earliest age, and it is continued pretty well every day all through life. Long illnesses and physical weakness are considered to belong only to old age. and those wanting in strength are looked upon as freaks. The main object of a. student of Ju-jitsu is by stratagem to render an antagonist helpless without using up his own strength. By this it must not be supposed that it consists of tricks merely. It includes a thorough knowledge cf anatomy, of internal and external hydropathy, of diet, and the vital principles -of proper living. The Japanese place diet above every ocher consideration, and argue that to do physical exercises and to live in an unwholesome manner is useless. They eat hardly any meat, and live chiefly upon rice, fish, vegetables, and fruit, while they drink much water. They treat their bodies as a drain, and consequently regard the drinking of -water as an absolute- necessity. Tlie great value of water has beep, recognised by the Samurai, and the student of Ju-jitsu drinks on an average a gallon of water in twenty-four hours. If lie feels ill he increases the close of water, and finds this such ail excellent medicine that lie seldom consults a physician. Regular bathing is also one of the FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THEIR PHYSICAL TRAINING,

in order that external impurities may be constantly removed. The Japanese also thoroughly realist the importance of open air. They go out in the early morning and breathe in long draughts of fresh air. Their window* consist of thin porous oiled paper ( through winch the air penetrates, arranged to slide back, and night- and day they are open, so that the ventilation is perfect. It is said that they do not suffer from the ordinary diseases of so-called civilised nations, such as phthisis and rheumatism, that insonnra is unknown, ancl that they are the healthiest people in the world.

In the actual application. of Ju-jitsu the aim seems to be to manoeuvre to get the opponent into some position in which ad\ y antage can be taken of some simple fact in anatomy to paralyse resistance. Tim schoolboy trick of suddenly tAv : sting another boy’s arm behind his back and thus disabling him may be compared to some of their sleights of hand. But they have elaborated a complete system, and Avorlc not only Avith their hands, but with their arms, their feet, and their legs. They have also made a study of the balance of the body, and can take advantage of the momentary failure of poise in an opponent to lift him from the ground and literally throw him over their head. This is, of course, not altogether free from danger to limb and even to life, so that the art of falling and the art of throwing are tAvo of the most important things to be learnt. It is easy to see that framing in Ju-jitsu not only develops in telligence, alertness, and quickness of eye. but makes the body supple and strong, It is for these reasons that in a contesi they can get the better of men tAviee their strength and weight. This was demonstrated at the Chelsea Barracks Avhero young English, Irish and Scots soldiers of fine physique and plenty of pluck Avere disposed of one after the other by the Japanese feathei'Aveights.—“Medical Journal.”

* “Physical Training for Children by Japanese Methods/" by H. Irving Hancock. New York and London: G. Putnam’s Sons.