Judo At A Glance

Author: E.J. Harrison
Pub: 1953 by I. & M. Ottenheimer
Pages: 91
Ranking:
Out of Print

I've never seen anything written by E.J. Harrison that I've been disappointed with. Some interesting historical tidbits can be found in this small book. No photos, just a few line drawings, don't expect to actually learn any Judo techniques. But a fascinating little book nonetheless.

                  Contents

Chapter                                     Page
  I.   Introductory ......................... 9
 II.   Historical Outline of Ju-Jitsu ...... 15
III.   Outfit Needed - Branches of Judo - 
       The Breakfall - Corect Posture - How to
       "Break" Opponent's Posture - Teaching
       of Judo ............................. 24
 IV.   Tricks of Throwing, or "Nage-Waza" .. 36
  V.   Tricks of Ground Work, or "Ne-Waza" . 64
 VI.   Locks on Bones and Joints - "Kwan-
       Setsu-waza" or "Gyaku" .............. 82

THE ART OF JU - JITSU
INTRODUCTORY

ALTHOUGH it must be, roughly speaking, nearly thirty years ago that my friend and colleague, the famous Yukio Tani, introduced the Japanese art of Ju-Jitsu (more correctly Ju-Jutsu) into England there has hitherto been lacking in English a really authoritative handbook on the subject, published at a price within the means of the majority. In the following pages I have there-fore done my best to supply, in a necessarily condensed form, an explanation, in logical sequence, of the more useful "tricks" (for want of a better word) in the extensive Ju-Jitsu repertoire, together with some account of the history and underlying principles of the art.

I think it will be generally agreed that a manual of this character should nowadays serve a doubt purpose, for not only is Ju-Jitsu to be commended as intrinsically a splendid exercise beneficial to health and likly to promote all-round physical development, but the mastery of even a few of its many holds and throws affords the pupil of either sex a highly effective means of resisting sudden attack. I have never been prone to advance exaggerated claims for the supernormal efficacy of Ju-Jitsu against an armed and a resolute opponent, but none the less, within my own long experience, both as a pupil and an instructor, I have verified a good many instances in which its exponents have owed their escape from violent robbery, if nothing worse, to their knowledge of the art and their ability to apply it at the psychological moment.

The demonstrable truth that knowledge of Ju-Jitsu enables its possessor to overcome a physically stronger adversary should appeal peculiarly to women, in these spacious days of bag-snatching, criminal assault, and other excesses directed by male degenerates against members of the "weaker sex." It is hardly too much to say that proficiency in Ju-Jitsu might on occasion even save the life of a seemingly frail woman in circumstances of this kind. Thus Ju-Jitsu not only affords an admirable system of physical training, but equally a method of self-defence second to none and superior to most in an emergency. It has this additional advantage, that it can be successfully practised by both sexes, almost irrespective of age, provided, of course, that the pupil does not suffer from some organic disability.

The present manual does not profess to be exhaustive. Anything in the nature of a comprehensive up-to-date survey of this field would call for a volume far larger than any that has yet appeared, perhaps in any language. As I have already intimated, in the following pages I have tried to explain the more frequently used holds, locks, and throws, as taught at the famous school of the art in Tokyo, known as the Kodokwan, founded by Dr. Jigoro Kano, Principal of the Higher Normal School or Teachers' Training College, of the same city. Dr. Kano, now a singularly vigorous veteran in the seventies, in his youth made a special study of all the better-known systems (in Japanese "ryugi" or sects) of Ju-Jitsu, and after carefully selecting the best that each system had to offer, and rejecting a great deal that was superfluous, he finally elaborated his own eclectic system styled judo, which is to-day the one almost universally recognized throughout Japan, where it is taught by Kodokan instructors in the Army and Navy, the police, universities and higher schools. Even the adherents of other older "sects," which still survive in Japan, frequently join the Kodokwan or some of its affiliated branch schools, in order to obtain its certificate of proficiency, which never fails to give them a higher standing in the ranks of the profession than that of their contemporaries not possessing such a qualification. Although, therefore, in deference to the older nomenclature, as being more widely known in this country, I have hitherto used the word Ju-Jitsu, I wish to make it perfectly dear that the versions of the various "tricks" described h these pages are those authorized and accepted by the Kodokwan of Tokyo, and should properly be called part of the repertoire of judo.

The difference in meaning between the two words is very simple. The word Ju-Jitsu is in Japanese written with two ideographs, the first, "Ju," meaning "to obey, submit to, weak, soft, pliable"; and the second, "Jutsu," meaning " art " or "science," The use of the first character is intended to imply that Ju-Jitsu relies for its triumphs not upon brute strength but upon skill and finesse, the ability to win by appearing to yield. Thus in Ju-Jitsu the opponent underneath may have the other at his mercy, though to the inexperienced onlooker he may appear to be defeated. In the newer word "judo," the second character, " do," means a " way " or " path," the object of this designation being to emphasize the ethical side of Dr. Kano's system, which had not been quite so much in evidence among the older sects.

Thus the administration of the Kodokwan and its affiliated bodies throughout Japan devote considerable attention to the personal conduct of individual members, so that no student, however physically skilful in the art, may hope for promotion if his behaviour outside the, school (in Japanese the "dojo"), falls below the standard insisted upon by the Kodokwan authorities. Moreover, disciplinary action is usually taken, even to the extent of suspension or expulsion, against members of the Kodokwan known to have abused their knowledge of the art.

Readers of these pages, familiar with any other form of physical culture, game or sport, do not need to be told that no textbook, however good, can wholly take the place of the human element in tuition. On the other hand, given competent tuition and regular practice, an authorized textbook can certainly serve as a very useful auxiliary to enable the serious student to grasp basic principles, the rationale, so to speak, of judo. Moreover, if the reader of these pages cannot conveniently join a school or class, there is no reason why, in conjunction with a friend or friends, and with the aid of this manual, he should not be able to gain a very fair grasp of the several holds, locks and throws described. Unless, indeed, my manual helps him to achieve this result, it will have sadly failed of its purpose.

If, however, any of my readers live in London or vicinity, and if this, so to speak, first course has whet their appetite for more, they cannot do better than join the Budokwai (Military Ways Society) at No. 15, Lower Grosvenor Place, S.W.I, where both judo and Kendo (Japanese fencing) are taught by experienced and qualified instructors. The Budokwai was founded in 1918, by Mr. G. Koizumi, for many years a resident of London. Himself a skilful and powerful exponent of every branch of the art, he has succeeded in gathering around him a devoted band of followers, and at the cost of much personal sacrifice in placing the society upon secure and lasting foundations. The Budokwai is directly affiliated to the Kodokan of Tokyo, whose representatives visit it from time to time, and the certificates of proficiency issued by the Budokwai are fully recognized by the Kodokan. Mr. Yukio Tani, referred to else-where in these pages, is on the Society's permanent teaching staff, and needless to say his name alone is one to conjure with. I myself have been connected with the Budokwai since 1919, and attend it regularly as a voluntary unpaid teacher.

The practical utility of the present manual is enhanced by excellent line illustrations from the clever pencil of Dr. H. Shepheard, who, in addition to his professional activities, as a medical man, has had a very wide and varied artistic experience. He is further greatly helped in the task of making judo sketches by his own fundamental knowledge of the art, which he has now practised for a number of years at the Budokwai, of which he is one at the earliest members.