Many an American reader will skip swiftly over the parts of the book that describe the best diet, the right use of bathing, the wearing of proper clothing, deep breathing, and the necessity for oft-repeated practice in the resistant exercises. These latter are the muscular foundation upon which success in the tricks of combat must rest.
At times the author has taken pupils in jiu-jitsu from among his friends. Almost invariably these pupils have listened impatiently to the fundamental instructions, and have wanted to pass at once to the advanced feats of combat. This is a grave mistake. The foundation must be laid first, and then the superstructure may be built by degrees. There is no danger in jiu-jitsu if each step of the work is taken up thoroughly in its order. In this volume each step is given in sequence.
But there is danger in jiu-jitsu when the advanced work is taken up before the preliminary tasks are mastered. During more than seven years of practice at jiu jitsu the author has been injured but once in combat. That was when an apt young woman pupil wished to
