Page:Japanese Physical Training (Hancock).djvu/72

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Japanese Physical Training

on the defence grasps the stick before him with the hands about two feet and a half apart. The assailant takes hold with both hands just inside of his opponent's. Then a struggle follows for the possession of the stick. Every part of the body is brought into play. If one antagonist is much stronger than the other it is not necessary for him to take the stick away. It is sufficient for him to prevent himself from being defeated. After the work has been continued until the contestants are reasonably fatigued, rest follows. The man who has been trying to hold the stick places his hands inside the other's and struggles for possession.

Not before all these preliminary exercises have been shown and understood does the Japanese student of jiu-jitsu pass on to the back-to-back task. This feat is the natural complement of the "struggle" already described. The two men stand with their backs together. The arms are extended at the sides so that the hands are about on a level with the waist-line. The hands are then clasped so that the adversaries' fingers are tightly interlaced, with the backs of the hands opposing. One of