The present craze for physical culture has been given an additional stimulus by the introduction into regions of the Japanese system of defence and offence known as jiu jitsu. For a number of years American visitors to the island empire had brought home accounts of a species of muscular exercise practised in that remote country which seemed to savour of jugglery pure and simple. The recent initiation of many Americans into the preliminary mysteries of the art has demonstrated the fact that jiu jitsu is a legitimate and most wonderful phase of physical culture. Moreover, it is an art which occupies a higher plane than the mere muscular development of athletics because its acquirement involves a knowledge of anatomy and physiology which is not essential in the cruder methods of civilisation. So convincing and so suggestive of possibilities has jiu jitsu appeared in the capable hands of certain native exponents of the art who have visited America that it is proposed, in all seriousness apparently, to introduce some of its leading features into the system of police training here.

Translated literally, the term jiu jitsu means "muscle breaking." More liberally construed, it may be called "muscle wrenching." No Japanese who is a master of the art will attempt to do violence to the muscles of his opponent; he seeks his subjection by many subtle twists of his joints and pinches of his nerves. He never wrestles; he regards it as an unrefined way of seeking an end which may be reached by more scientific and less brutal methods. He is even more scornful in his estimate of pugilism. It is true that a jiu jitsu expert could not enter the ring and conform to its rules with success but there is no doubt whatever that if he were permitted to practice his own art, his opponent being restricted to the rules of boxing, the Japanese would be the victor.

Although the Japanese have practised jiu jitsu for 2,500 years, it has never come into general use until recently.

Soldiers, sailors and policemen were taught a certain amount of it as a public necessity, but the higher classes conscious of its value as a distinction tried to keep it from the masses. It was well understood by the ordinary Japanese that he could not advance far in the mysteries of the art, and he learned as the most available substitute. The most expert wrestler in the empire however is willing to confess that he is no match for the adept in jiu jitsu.

There are at least six distinct methods of practising jiu jitsu, each of which is based on scientific regulations of the functions of the human system. Every muscle is taken into the account and at least four years are required in which to accomplish notable results. They must be years too of patient never relaxing practice and willingness to abide by almost imperceptible results. The student must adopt a regimen which will develop his own powers to the utmost extent and he must have an absolute knowledge of the anatomical points of vulnerability of the human structure. He must know his anatomy more exhaustively than a medical student. He must be so familiar with the nerve distribution in the human body that it is constantly before his eyes. He must, in short, be able without a moments hesitation to put his finger on every spot which is not secure against the manipulation of jiu jitsu.

Having perfected himself in the minutiae of anatomy, the student in jiu jitsu, familiar now with all the weaker features of the human system, must proceed methodically and determinedly to correct those natural disadvantages in his own body. Every weak spot must be strengthened. He must be taught to endure with equanimity a clutch at his pomum adami that would prostrate an amateur and to accept with a smile a jab in the inguinal region that would make a pugilist helpless. That process of hardening requires great patience on the part of both instructor and student. It is accomplished by means of constant friendly bouts, the novices punishment growing dally a trifle more severe. He permits his throat to be pinched until a vicious twist which once would have given him agonising pain now causes him no especial discomfort. He is not regarded as competent until he is able to endure the test of having a heavy bamboo pole placed across his throat, with, three men on either side pressing downward upon his Adam's apple as strenuously as they can. Having obtained this immunity from external impressions, there is little to be feared from strangulation. Almost every muscle in the body has its special form of treatment. The methods used in jiu jitsu bear little resemblance to those employed by physical culturists in America. Muscular strain is never carried to the point of fatigue. At the earliest indication of muscular tire the student is placed in the recumbent posture and bidden to relax every part of his body. Deep breathing is practice in the same manner; a slight gasp or a too quick heart beat is the signal for instant abandonment of the exercise. When the breathing becomes normal the study is resumed. This control of the respiratory apparatus is a prominent feature in jiu jitsu, and infinite patience is spent upon its cultivation.

There are abundant and most sufficient reasons, it would appear, why this most effective of all means of self defence cannot be acquired by all. A good physique is not a positive disqualification but it is by no means essential. The preliminary factor that is regarded as of most importance is temperament. Before an expert jiu jit concerns himself about the muscles of his would be pupil he makes a study of his disposition. He endeavours to satisfy himself that the candidate is worthy to be initiated into the mysteries of jiu jitsu. The neophyte must first of all be slow to anger and one who will not prostitute his art to base or criminal uses. Jiu jitsu, runs the Japanese saying, is not for him who would kill, but rather for him who would save his life and the lives of others. In the hands of unprincipled or unbalanced persons it would be a curse instead of a blessing. The exercise of no other art demands more deliberation and judgement. The blow or muscular twist that would disable an opponent temporarily is but a trifle less in degree than the stroke that would bring annihilation

BY ANDREW PATCHEN.