Tips for Gaining Speed in Jui-Jitsu

If the reader has the patience and perseverance that he should bring to the work of Jui-Jitsu I will offer him a suggestion that is of great value. Do not attempt to learn more than one trick at a time; do not be in haste to go to another. In this way he will be able to work his way to ever increasing speed.

Several bouts of practice should be devoted to the repeated - even if monotonous - rehearsal of the feat that is under consideration. Jui-Jitsu tricks, in order to be of real value to their possessor, must become in their execution as second nature. The student who departs from this rule, and who tries to make haste, will be sorry for it later on.

The first desideratum is to be able to execute a feat with unvarying precision. Make sure that you can always perform the feat in exactly the same way. Precision counts for nearly everything in the effect that is to be produced on the opponent.

Pay so much attention to precision as not to be in haste to get up speed. When precision has become second nature, then speed will follow quickly. Do not try for speed until it is unnecessary any longer to pay particular attention to the matter of precision.

At this point there is another mistake of which most students are naturally guilty, and it is one that should be rigorously avoided. When working, at last, for speed, do not feel that, for the time being, the matter of precision may be overlooked in favour of rapidity of execution. Never, even temporarily, slight precision for the sake of speed.

Consider the gaining of speed as a matter of no importance when it is acquired at the least expense in the way of precision. After all, patience and the willingness to progress only as rapidly as is consistent with thorough work are the most valuable traits for the student to possess at this point in his training.

After the work of picking up speed, as an addition only to precision, has been gotten fairly under way, it is much better for the student if he can practice with a man well versed in boxing. The boxer, when he has seen the jiu-jitsu method of stopping him, will be able to suggest many other ways in which he might have an opportunity of downing the Jui-Jitsian. And thus, by practice and study against the traps of the boxer, the student is able to teach himself much.

Bear in mind always that speed has not been developed to perfection until the Jui-Jitsian is able to stop a rapid and skilled boxer. It is possible for any agile student to reach this stage of development, for the feats that are employed against the boxer can all be used with greater swiftness than is possible in delivering boxing blows. Hence the student will know when he has gained the right amount of speed with a given feat; it is when he is able to move quickly enough to prevent the boxer from defeating him.

And the student should constantly encourage his boxing companion to suggest all possible ways of delivering the blow so that Jui-Jitsu might not stop it. This affords rugged and varied drill for the novice in Jui-Jitsu.

Of course agility is one of the main factors in gaining speed, although it is not the only requisite. Quick vision, intelligence, and a very considerable degree of automatism are also needed. For making agility there is no better exercise than practicing the feat of taking away a club from an opponent who makes an attack with that weapon. Nor is it at all difficult to learn how to get the club every time.

However, this feat, as in any other in Jui-Jitsu can only be acquired with great patience and self-control.