Review: The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu
| Published date | 01 July 1931 |
| Date | 01 July 1931 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X3100400322 |
| Subject Matter | Review |
REVIEWS
475
before in the history of civilization, though no doubt a good deal still remains
to be done in that direction.
After a glance at the history of punishment the author devotes about
two-thirds of her book to a description of the brutal punishments inflicted on
offenders by our ancestors immediate and remote, useful to the historian,
but
suggestive at times of flogging a dead horse.
The
last chapter is devoted to
pillorying the criminal law as it is here, and in U.S.A., exhorting women in
, States cursed byignorant voters' to study this and kindred matters for them-
selves. One feels more in accord with the author here, and where she writes,
, for an efficient Police there is no substitute,' and gives examples of methods
of preventing crime which obtain in other countries. Though few readers
will be unmoved by the eloquence of the author's plea or disposed to doubt
her sincerity, some may think the account of the horrors and futilities of
punishment exaggerated or sentimental. But is it not better to err a little on
that side?
For'
Justice is not done to individuals in this world,' 1and, to
quote Dean Inge again, one's
Maker'
knows, and we do not, how far we are
morally responsible for our characters.' 2
THE
COMPLETE
KANO
JIU-JITSU.
By H.
I.
HANCOCK.
lOS.
6d.
and 5s. (Putnams.)
THISbook deals withjiu-jitsu,orself-defence, and also with judo, or wrestling.
The
former portion explains the methods taughtin Japan whereby the mastery
over an opponent is gained by causing him, in most cases, serious injury.
It
is therefore unsuitable for use by police forces in the United Kingdom. A
few of the holds and locks (vide pages 315-328, 320-35°) could be success-
fully mastered after careful practice, and they could be used with advantage
without causing injury to opponents. Most of these locks and holds are
already taught to police recruits.
The
second portion of the book deals with what is really an excellent
form of sport, though it is a sport which requires two years of continual
training before any pupil in wrestling is up to the standard of a contest. A
permanent room and a prepared floor are further requisites.
The
subject of
, breakfalls,' i.e. the art of learning how to fall without hurting oneself, is
dealt with briefly. Another section deals
with'
kuatsu,' or resuscitation, and
might also with advantage be studied,
but
it is entirely different to the official
methods recognized by the St. John Ambulance and first aid classes.
CRIME
AS
DESTINY.
By
PROFESSOR
DR. J.
LANGE.
6s. net. (George
Allen &Unwin.)
THIS book, translated from the German by Charlotte Haldane, with a Fore-
word by J. B. S. Haldane, is a scientific study of criminal twins.
Professor Lange has investigated the histories of 13 pairs of twins of mon-
ozygotic origin (i.e.derived from the same egg) and brought up together where
one of each pair was a convicted criminal.
In
10 out of the 13 pairs the other
twin was found to be a convicted criminal too. He has also investigated the
records of 17 pairs of twins of dizygotic origin (i.e. derived from separate
eggs) and brought up together where one of each pair was a convicted
criminal.
In
only 2 out of the 17 pairs was the other twin also a convicted
criminal.
The
inference drawn is that under our present social system a man of a
certain constitution put in a certain environment will be a criminal, and,
1Evening Standard, 29. 10 .3° .
IEvening Standard, 3.9.30.
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