Special Home Guard Training Chard HOME GUARD SELF-DEFENCE

JU-JITSU is unequalled as a science of self-defence and every Home Guard should have some knowledge of it. It would take a very large volume to hold all that could be written about it, so on this page we have concentrated on a number of easily-learned throws, holds and locks. The first lesson of all is always on the art of falling. This is illustrated in Fig. 1. Here an ex-"rugger" player should excel, for he has had considerable experience of falls of all kinds. The "breakfall" as it is called is a method of striking the palm of the hand upon the ground to absorb much of the shock. To be effective this blow must be delivered at absolutely the correct moment. The first practice lesson is shown at "C." From a squatting position, with arms stretched forward and crossed at the wrists, the beginner rolls backwards and as he does so opens his arms and strikes one hand upon the mat. As confidence is gained the novice should increase the speed and height of his fall until it can be done successfully from an upright position. At "A," we show contact with the ground during a breakfall. Often the body executes a complete somersault. Forward breakfall is given at "B." Starting from a crouching position the hand touches the floor, wrist and elbow give way, the shoulder makes contact and with the head tucked out of harms way a forward somersault is completed. Once again practice enables the novice to execute the fall from a standing position. A spectacular throw deserving a picture to itself, is given in Fig. 2. As the antagonist attacks, grasp his lapels and roll backwards with bent legs. The toe of the right foot is placed against his abdomen and as he rolls over the leg is straightened, throwing him some distance behind you. It will be seen that in this manoeuvre, correct timing is essential, and this applies to ju-jitsu generally. More throws are given in Fig. 3. "A." Left hand grasps opponent's right sleeve and pulls. Right hand under right armpit grasping shoulder. Opponent's own forward momentum and your own body below his centre of gravity results in the throw illustrated. "B." When opponent's right foot is farther forward than usual, using the sole of your left foot, sweep the outer side of his right ankle and pull his weight forward to his right. Executed correctly this should result in a heavy fall. "C." Right hand round opponent's body, feint to lift him. As he leans forward turn on the feet until your back is towards him and throw forward over the hip. "D." A similar throw over the left hip. "E." The "hock" throw, a good defence against a boxer. "F." "Knee-wheel." Opponent leans forward, with weight on right leg. Place left foot against the outside of his right knee, and pull his right sleeve towards your left, at the same time lifting his left side with your right. "G." A violent and possibly dangerous throw. Opponent with right arm outstretched, pull him forward by his right sleeve with your left hand, describe a rapid left turn passing right arm around his right elbow. When in position shown, roll to the right falling on your side so that the victim's body is thrown round you and flung violently to the ground. In Fig. 4, we illustrate two useful arm locks. In "A," to be successful, the right hand is braced by grasping one's own jacket. At "B," the left leg is over the opponent's throat and chest and the toe of the right foot under his right side. His right arm is forced backwards across the thigh or groin. Strangleholds are illustrated in Fig. 5. At "A," the left arm is a lever against the back of the opponent's head while the right hand grips his clothing and draws it round his throat. In "B" also, the clothing is used to strangle the victim. "C" is a deadly-hold in which the right arm is around the victim's neck and the hand grasps one's own coat. The left arm is again used as a lever against the lack of his head. To frustrate a knife attack as in "D," grasp the right wrist with the right hand, and the clothing with the left. To make an attacking opponent release his grip, painful pressure can be exerted with the thumb and fingers at various points on his hands, arms and wrists, as at "A," "C" and "D" in Fig. 6. A sharp blow with the edge of the hand under the nose, as at "B," can also be extremely painful. Source: Oct-1940