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JuJitsu: The Essentials

by Hanshi Robert G. Ross

299 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); illustrated; catalogue #04-0493; ISBN 1-4120-2665-2; US$38.00, C$44.25, EUR31.00, £22.00

A myth-busting, scientific and pedagogic journey through the tools that make JuJitsu work, challenging those responsible for change.

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About the Book      About the Author      Excerpts      Catalogue Information

About the Book

This is the first book of its kind to explain JuJitsu in such detail. Its breadth and depth covers all ancillary parts connected to the study, practice and coaching of JuJitsu, from the principles involved to the biomechanics and physics.

The book is well illustrated, with over 100 diagrams, graphs, figures and photographs, many of which are full colour, and helpful coaching tips. It's aimed at those who wish to study or coach the art, and is an excellent resource for those who practice by de-mystifying the coaching and training processes and explaining how we learn. It details the establishment of JuJitsu within the UK, the development of JuJitsu globally, and the philosophical aspects of JuJitsu. It also covers such highly topical and controversial issues as drugs in sport and emergency care in a superlative way, so that any reader will be able to make an informed view on either issue. The author describes the common injuries sustained in JuJitsu and deliberates on their cause, signs, symptoms and treatment, providing the reader with an invaluable resource into this area.

The author brings a new dimension to the coaching process by combining sports science with the traditional martial arts values and techniques of JuJitsu, utilising the sciences to explain techniques and theories that have pervaded and been passed down through the years. This is a remarkable subtle blend of the physical, psychological and spiritual which brings the relevance of traditional JuJitsu into the 21st century. This is a must-have book for all serious students, coaches and masters of martial arts.

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About the Author

Born and educated in Dundee, Robert's first contact with the martial arts was Judo. He progressed through Aikido, Karate and one or two other eclectic arts to arrive at JuJitsu. He is a founder member of the Scottish Ju Jitsu Association (SJJA) where he has held the office of General Secretary since its inception in 1979. Robert also holds the office of Director of Coaching with a direct responsibility for technical standards within the SJJA. Robert's combative profile in Martial arts is diversely extensive and currently he holds 8th Dan in Ju Jitsu, a fistful of other black belt grades from various other JuJitsu styles around the world and traditional Japanese weapon systems. Robert has been a prolific student of Iaido, learning as many as 4 different schools of Iai, and Kō Ryu comprising of Kyudo, Yarijutsu, Hojojutsu, Taihojutsu, Hanbo, Bo, Tanto, etc.

As well as being active in Scotland, Robert has travelled the world on hundreds of occasions representing Scotland in numerous competitions, seminars, teaching and coaching bringing him much earned international recognition. Besides being instrumental in establishing the SJJA Headquarters, Robert is very proactive in the field of coaching and is a recognised coach tutor having constructed and delivered the SJJA Coach Education Programme. As Director of Coaching he carries the responsibility for elite and national squads and resources, delivery of the coach education programmes and the accreditation of coaches.

Robert has a keen and proactive interest in sports medicine sciences and holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Sport Science and Modalities in Sports Health. Currently, he operates as a sports therapist at the Dundee Sports Medicine Centre, which he established in 1987. The centre is a valuable local community resource offering quality treatment and rehabilitation to all sports people injured as a consequence of to their participation in sport. He is well known locally, and nationally, caring for players and participants of various sports including football, rugby, hockey, swimming, martial arts, power sports, dance and many more. Sports people travel far and wide to seek his expertise.

Robert is honoured having been inducted into four halls of fame for JuJitsu and Sports Medicine and in 2003 was appointed the Soke Dai of Toyojin Ryu. He is a director and life member of the Kokusai Senshu Tokukai and the Scottish Branch Chief of the Hontai Yoshin Ryu.

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Excerpts

"So what does this book bring to the arena? This book brings a method to the arena, a method to facilitate evolution with understanding, not just a reason for change because it suits one person. The crux of this book is to provide all Ju Jitsu practitioners, be they students or masters, with the pedagogic and scientific information they need to make improvements to 'what they do' to their art or system or simply understand it. Everyone tailors the techniques of an art or system by developing frameworks and delivery mechanisms to suit themselves, but this doesn't necessarily change the overall system."

"Much has been lost and little gained in these 'evolutionary' years. Exploitation has superseded sense and science, and competition has replaced respect and honour with winning. Exploitation in the form of over-commercialisation has damaged the martial arts with poor instruction and bad coaching practices... Ju Jitsu's path has seen many hairpin bends and now across the world its diversity is sometimes staggering. Some Ju Jitsu has remained very staid and traditional. Some styles have been 'developed' to update its relevance and blend a number of effective technical components. Some have simply gone off on a bizarre tangent and are barely like Ju Jitsu. Diversity does not always mean a good selection to choose from. In this instance diversity has seen a great deal of dilution of real technique and the inclusion of fanciful nonsense which has no bearing on the tenets of Ju Jitsu."

"Having ones mass properly dispersed across the space between the feet is important. It will be relational to the centre of gravity and ultimately will affect ones ability to respond quickly. If one is off balance, the difficulty of correcting this position means making an additional action prior to your desired action. The body's neuromuscular pathways will also determine the speed of response and will serve as the feedback system to provide the brain or spinal cortex with the necessary information to stay upright or in the right position at the right time. Posture and balance go hand in hand, although posture embodies more the way in which one carries oneself acting against gravity subconsciously. Some muscles can have a dual function in that they control the body's posture as well as carry out locomotion."

"Errors can be classified in 3 ways. The 1st is a learning error and occurs because the student has learned the technique wrongly and therefore will perform it wrongly. The 2nd type is a performance error. The technique may have been learned and schooled but in one single solitary performance an error occurs perhaps due to a lapse in concentration or through momentary bad judgement on the performers' part. This one time error needs to be corrected before it becomes habitual. Lastly, is the coach-derived error, an error made by the coach while imparting information or demonstrating."

"Coaches will have prepared themselves for the session by carrying out some planning of a technical and administrative nature. This will be vital to the success and safety of the session. A risk assessment carried out at the beginning of the session by the coach will highlight any dangers and put into action a plan to resolve them if they exist e.g. in the event of evacuation where students should go etc., or in the event of an injury what students should do etc."

"All training theories are useless without the tools to put them into application."

"Each student must also know what is required should they meet an unexpected resistance. Using the resistance of an opponent against the opponent is a skill in itself, one which every good coach should encourage the finding and exploitation of. Progress in these areas should be made incrementally according to the abilities of the student. Outstrip student's abilities and it will lead to the undermining of their confidence."

"A coach may be faced with having to address the problems of students taking either performance enhancing or recreational drugs, or indeed their participation while taking prescribed medicines. Coaches will likely be the last person to be informed, but, knowing what to look for, and what to do about it, may avert a serious drug situation."

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Catalogue Information

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