A Japanese who is versed in the snares of jiu-jitsu is better equipped for fighting than any man can be who is not so equipped. At the base of all true jiu-jitsu are good nature and leniency. The adept in jiu-jitsu must never be a bully; he must not go about with the proverbial chip on his shoulder.



Yet the Japanese are proverbially polite and they are patient to an extreme. The Japanese who is threatened by a bully does not immediately set himself in aggressive action. Instead, he smiles, and does his best to smooth the difficulty over.

Back of his smile lurks the consciousness that no man but a jiu-jitsian of greater skill than his own can by any possibility defeat him. When one knows in advance that he is to win in an encounter he can afford to be patient.

The student should learn all of the ways in which he is likely to be attacked. The most popular form of attack with an Anglo-Saxon is to let his fist fly straight out from the shoulder. This the student knows how to stop by catching the fist and "breaking" the assailant's arm over his own shoulder. Probably this is the most important single feat for use in encountering a boxer.

The student must take pains to get well past the theoretical stage in this performance. He should render himself, through constant practice, letter-perfect in the use of the trick. Never be satisfied with the speed that has been gained; always strive for better and better speed. It is well, though, to bear in mind that it is a cardinal rule in boxing that a counter can be employed, if it be a good one, in slightly less time than is required for the assault.

But, in practising this trick of catching the opponent's fist, do not overlook the importance of the fendings that may be made with the edge of the hand against an assailant's arm.

A method of attacking a man that is employed much in this country consists of rushing at him, securing him by both shoulders, or by the upper arms, giving him the back heel of wrestling, and throwing him to the ground. This can be met promptly, and stopped effectively by the jiu-jitsian for the latter has one of his hands at the assailant's back. Here there are two ways in which the jiu-jitsian can defend himself. One is to employ his elbow in a jab at the short ribs of his assailant. Usually this blow can be delivered with great severity, and it can be landed at the instant that the aggressor has taken hold.

The other method is for the jiu-jitsian to use the hand that is at his enemy's back in a kidney blow. Very often an alert man on the defensive can use both blows at the very instant that the aggressor takes the clinch

It is well, too, for the jiu-jitsian to remember that he should never be satisfied with one defensive blow when two or three can be used in rapid succession. Study out how many blows may be used in swift sequence and with disconcerting effect on the antagonist.

In rough-and-tumble clinches it is a favourite trick to use the knee against the crotch or the abdomen, and if the jiu-jitsian permits himself to be caught unawares in this fashion he is all but sure to be defeated.

When a clinch is to be made, always swing one side of the body toward the assailant, keeping the nearer leg in such position that the aggressor cannot land with his knee either in the crotch or in the abdomen. This knack can be acquired with a little practice. This position has the added advantage of enabling the jiu-jitsian to use his own knee where his enemy has not taken a similar precaution.

Thus it can be seen that a person adept in jiu-jitsu has all means at his disposal if he ever is in the position of having to protect himself. What confidence this instills!