How Women should deal
with a Bag-snatcher
By JAMES HIPKISS, Ju-Jutsu Champion
of
THERE is a popular conception that
the ability to defend oneself against ruffianly
assault involves the knowledge of a large number of so-called "Ju-Jutsu
tricks."
If an assailant attempts to choke
him, or seizes his arms or his wrists, an exponent of the Japanese Art of
Self-Defence executes certain manoeuvres which either causes his opponent to be
thrown heavily to the ground, rendering him incapable of further movement owing
to the locked position of his arms, or inflicts such unbearable pain upon him
that he will howl for mercy.
Now this mastery over brute strength
and violence is definitely not obtained by certain "tricks" or
counters, but by a scientific principle which is adaptable under any
circumstances, and which is the basic factor of the art.
This is the principle of unbalancing
an opponent, the essential basis of the Art being that "a man without
balance has no strength." An everyday occurrence will demonstrate this.
You are walking along the street, carrying perhaps a bag or a parcel, and
arrive at the end of the footpath before you are aware of it. Your foot does
not receive the support you anticipated, and consequently you stumble. Invariably
you drop the bag or parcel, your mind and strength being concentrated on the
effort to avoid falling.
That is why the Ju-Jutsu exponent
overcomes force and strength with skill. He first unbalances his man, and
whilst he is thus weakened the simple tap which brings about his downfall is
executed.
Therefore the chief thing to study
in connection with methods of self-defence is how to unbalance or disturb the
posture of your adversary. This is much more easily accomplished than it would
appear to be at first.
There are eight directions in which
a man can be thrown — namely, directly forwards, backwards or sideways, also
diagonally forward or backward to the left and right. The first four are difficult
to achieve, owing to the fact that the hip and knee joints are hinged to
facilitate movement in this direction, and one is able to recover balance
quickly by moving one's feet accordingly. Your opponent, then, should always be
pulled or pushed in the diagonal direction, the point being that his knee-joint
becomes stiff and his whole weight is dependent on, the "little-toe
corner" of his foot when his body leans in this manner. His muscles get
out of control as he endeavours to readjust his balance, and it is at this
moment that you can apply a powerful coup-de-grace, however hefty your
adversary may be.
Take for instance, a bag-snatcher
who attempts to tear your hand-bag from beneath your arm. I am presuming that
if your bag contained anything of value you would either hold it tightly or
secure it to your wrist. Whether he seizes your arm or the bag itself, it is a
simple matter for you to step well back, half turning your body. The effect of
this move, if done fairly quickly, is to bring him on to his toes, which
obviously unbalances him slightly.
So far so good but you have not
beaten him yet. However, I shall explain how even a lightly-built girl can
deliver a most effective and in all probability finishing blow.
A blow with a fist can be extremely
hard and devastating if delivered by a trained boxer who knows how to get his
weight behind the punch. But for an untrained man or a girl to strike with a
clenched fish will not greatly disturb a tough assailant, mainly owing to
inaccuracy and faulty timing.
The Japanese have long realised the
value of both the elbow and the stiffened edge of the hand as weapons of
offence, and very little practice will convince you of the truth of their
contention.
Having disturbed
your assailant's posture by stepping back diagonally with, say, your left. foot, you
can take advantage of that very action to swing forward your right arm sharply
from across your chest. There is a, possibility of catching him in the face
with your elbow as you reach forward; but should you miss this, the arm can be
brought back violently, the edge of the hand being held rigid and striking his
neck or throat. A very gentle trial of this blow against the neck of a friendly
"victim" will speedily prove its power, and I should advise all who desire
a practical means of self-preservation, to practise the stepping back with one
foot and the forward swing of the opposite arm until it can be executed, with
ease and grace. It is applicable as a defence against almost any kind of grip
where you have one arm free, the point to remember being that your antagonist
must first be pulled on to the "outer corner" of his foot, when his
attention is so absorbed in recovering his upright posture that a very weak
spot (his throat) is presented as an open, target for your elbow or edge hand
blow.
Mr. James Hipkiss executing the "scissors throw," a most
excellent defence against a boxer. A considerable amount
of practice is required before this can be performed with confidence and
efficiency.
Source:
"The Superman Magazine" April, 1932