Self Defence - The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu - Jiudo

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n case you are looking for "a bible" on how the original Kodokan Judo looked like, this is it! And in case you wonder, it paints a precise picture on the close link between  ju jitsu and judo to begin with (before judo became too much of a sport - up untill the early part of the 1930's). The uppermost book is from 1931, and it's the fourth printing of this extended version (it was released in 1931 for the first time). The first edition altogether is from 1905, and most probably that the earlier editions are less complete than the later printed ones, starting in 1931.

The yellow and orange version was printed from 1961 and onwards. It is a reprint of the original from 1931 with a few changes to it. The section on vital blows (atemi), as well as the one on resuscitation (kuatsu) has been omitted. According to the book, these methods have been considered to be of  a somewhat less practical value. You will also note that the term jiu-do has been changed to judo.

In these books you can really dive in, and study a mutitude of techniques and methods from the early days of the Kodokan. It is a wild guess that this is most of the things one could learn in this style, and a lot it is! Early on this was called jiu-do, then jiudo, before the term judo was penned as the official name. In his prefix, Hancock says: "(...) This volume, therefore, presents, in its entirety, the Kano system of jiu-jitsu, devised by Professor Jiguro Kano, with the additions thereto that have been made by those famous jiu-jitsians, Hoshino and Tsutsumi". And yes, it really says "Jiguro" og "jiu-jitsians" :-)

It may seem (as indicated above) that these books on the Kano jiu-do syllabus has been extended. The older, largest volume is a massive 526 pages, with a lot of stuff! I have seen earlier prints that are somewhat "thinner" than these two.

And you should have one thing clear right from the start: This is no Kodokan Judo pretending to be dressed up as ju jitsu. This is pure and nice ju jitsu from A to Z (saying nothing negative about judo, mind you!). A judoka might not like these books too much, since that person hardly will find any of the throws that is such a vital part of the modern judo syllabus. This is also true about the groundwork/newaza. Like I said, this is ju jitsu, pure bliss for any ju jitsu student or teacher. You will find punches and kicks, atemi, jointlocks, lots of throws and takedowns, counters, "grappling" etc.

You may argue that co-author Katsukuma Higashi was a gentleman with a rather high level of self-esteem. In "The Cosmopolitan" from May 1905 he states (following a visit to New York): "He could teach any 110-pounder of good moral character to meet a man of twice his weight and three times his muscular strength and overcome him under all circumstances." No sh.. Shirley! Then our man Higashi fights a wrestler by the name of Bothner, as well as Yukio Tani  the very same year - and loses both bouts. Oh dear - fighters and self-confidence... I guess you can't have one without the other :-)

If you ever get your hands on either one of these books for sale, buy! This material is absolutely brilliant - a true gift to any ju jitsu or judo practitioner. An early, hard cover version in good shape is going to cost you an arm and half a leg. Still, the more resent, softcover ones should not be to hard to come by. Just go to Abebooks and take it from there!

You would probably also want to have a look at this other great book by Hancock: "Jiu-Jitsu Combat Tricks" (click here)! You can read more about Hancock in this book: "Pioneers of American JuJitsu: American JuJitsu Before WW2".

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