Easy-to-Learn Jiu Jitsu, by E. J. Harrison

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t is not that unlikely - that many years ago someone had a glance at this book, bought it judging from the cover, and was eventually "somewhat" disappointed. Maybe he (or she) was thinking: "I want to do one of them fancy hitchy-hatchi death-trows on the next punk that can't behave!" hurrying home to tend the garden and prepare dinner in a suburb somewhere in the US in the early parts of the 1950's. Maybe the plan was to do a "flying back-breaker" jiha-jatzy on one of them bad "commies" that seemed to be popping up all over USA back then?

Then, maybe this person sat down after dinner to have a cup of coffee, and a dose of those super-powers, readily available from this book. Naturally, the thought of actually having to exercise had so far not been reflected upon at all. That nasty working-out stuff only makes a mess of your hair, and makes you sweat - what a horrible thought! Thus, he (or she) opened the book with something that may have actually resembled a grin..., ...only to find no super-powers, no indication what so ever on how to do that "commie-killer" hutchi-catchy throw. Disappointment, now!

What the book had in store was a lot of text, and a few pictures of everyday judo. You see, this is to the letter: "The Art of Ju-Jitsu" by Harrison.

The only changes are the title, the cover, as well as any references to Yukio Tani. This may possibly have to do with the anti-japanese sentiments after WW-2? This book was printed 1953. Another minor change from "The Art of Ju-Jitsu" is that they here use the term jiu jitsu. Why? Don't ask me, I was born that year and had more than enough with my gargle-gargle sounds! All I know is that I had nothing to do with it. Honestly!

You can read more about Harrison and Tani by clicking here. E. J. Harrison also wrote the crucial book: "The fighting Spirit of Japan". You can read more about this book here. If you absolutely need everything written on the subject (I thought you did! :), I am sure you can find "Easy-to-Learn Jiu Jitsu" on Abebooks.

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