Spaldings Athletic Handbooks: Jiu Jitsu

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palding's "Red Cover Series" of Athletic Handbooks seems to be a part of what was termed their Athletic Library series. That is a collection of "how to" books - covering anything and everything within the sports world: pole jumping, golf, running, baseball, cricket, tennis, boxing, wrestling aso.

The booklet "How to Wrestle" (read about it here) was printed in 1910, being a part of their Athletic Library. The jiu jitso booklet that you are viewing here is a part of what they called "Red Cover Series" of Athletic Handbooks. It is the same size as the wrestling booklet, but much thinner. Since it is printed in 1927, the prize has gone up to a staggering 25 cents.

In the wrestling booklet you will find the prize is the same for both - 10 cents. This may indicate that there was an earlier, and larger volume of the jiu jitsu booklet; or it may be that the "Red Cover Series" had less content than the Athletic Handbooks, but that the prize was the same for both.

Both booklets, the one about wrestling as well as the jiu jitsu number here belongs to group XIV (14): "Manly Sports" :-) So there! You are free to use this as ammunition when some bozo claims: "jiu-jitsu is so gay!"

The techniques here seems to be taken from "The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu - judo". The pictures are almost identical to some of the ones you will find there, even though the persons in the pictures - to my eyes at least - are someone else. The models are wearing the same belts and uniforms, sporting pants that could be taken straight from the Robin Hood spoof by Mel Brooks: "Men in Thights".

Since there is a portrait picture of K. Higashi - co-author to "The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu - Judo" - it reinforces the impression that we are in fact seeing methods from the early Kano system here.

All in all this is a nice booklet showing a glimpse of a long forgotten time. Personally I'm quite content that at least parts of the fashion of the day is gone. I don't really long for tights with leather knee patches. You might argue that white pyjama's isn't the most sexy outfit either. Oh, well...

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