The art of self-defence

It was with interest that I read the two features on self-defence in The Sunday Times of March 8. One dealt directly with the topic, while the other extolled the so-called peaceful virtues of a specific martial art style.

I have been teaching Ju-Jitsu as a holistic fighting system and form of self-protection for 20 years. Hinting or giving the merest notion that self-protection can be learned by attending a course consisting of a number of lessons may prove to be not only misleading but also dangerous.

Such courses may suffice to teach awareness, avoidance drills, communication skills, assertiveness or as an introduction to more intensive training. When it comes down to actual combat techniques, however, then in no way can a novice be expected to react adequately in a real-life 'code red' situation after attending such courses.

Learning how to defend yourself physically is a life-long commitment. If you do not practise regularly and maintain what you learn you will stagnate. Even seasoned martial arts exponents with years of training and experience are subject to this let alone someone who picks up a few techniques by attending a self-defence course.

As to the claim that Aikido is one of the few martial arts sanctioned by Tokyo police I would like to clarify that the Tokyo and Japanese police practise their own brand of Ju-Jitsu known as Kei Satsu Jitsu and Taiho Jitsu. Historically the Tokyo police adopted Ju-Jitsu as their system of combat and restraint as far back as 1882. In fact, one of Jigoro Kano's early notable exploits happened in 1886 when his students defeated the local police Ju-Jitsu team in a contest to establish whether Kano's new style of Judo was superior to classical Ju-Jitsu.

The worst thing that can happen to a student attending a self-defence course or a system which is presented as a timid non-violent form of combat is to be lulled into believing that he can actually cope with hardcore aggression. This can have drastic repercussions on the student's physical and mental well-being.