CHAPTER 9 SELF-DEFENSE AND RESTRAINT OF PRISONERS Members of the Shore Patrol should become proficient in that branch of self-defense now commonly known as judo. Familiarity with, and regular practice in, judo speeds the reflexes, increases self-confidence, and permits the subjugation of an adversary with a minimum risk of serious injury. Judo is a system of jiu jitsu (Japanese for the "gentle art"), and represents all the best holds and methods of jiu jitsu. It is interesting to note that jiu jitsu was originally developed in China, during the twelfth century, by monks, who were forbidden to carry arms. As they were constantly preyed upon by robber bands, they developed this system of weaponless defense, subsequently copied by the Japanese. Judo, as now developed in America, is superior to the Japanese methods. No special equipment or clothing is necessary when practicing judo, and 20 or 30 minutes a day will make you adept in a short time. The Army has a lengthy course in judo, which is described in the Army's FM 21-150, but it is not necessary for you to be familiar with this entire course. The most desirable and useful features for you, as a shore patrolman, are presented in this chapter. If you desire to go further into the subject, ask your area patrol officer to obtain the Army manual. A trained instructor is helpful in teaching judo, but you can become proficient in the elements of this art without a teacher. Study the illustrations for each hold, and then practice regularly. It is better to practice for 20 or 30 minutes every day, than to put in a couple of hours once a week. Work on one hold at a time. Start by practicing in slow motion, until you know exactly what moves to make for each defense. First, emphasize precision of movement; then start to develop speed. Don't start a new trick until you have completely mastered the one upon which you are working. It is best to allow a minimum of 10 minutes for each trick. Proficiency in judo is based on repetition, until each movement becomes almost instinctive. Allow plenty of room when practicing throwing-tricks; obtain a mat, if possible. Practice in your spare time, as it will be well worth your while. Judo is fun, and besides, it may pay off should you get in a tight spot. By means of judo even the smallest man can handle a large adversary. Remember that there are no "fouls" in judo; it is the art of self-defense, intended to enable you to cope with an opponent who, in all probability, will not be observing the rules of fair play. Remember that you must never inflict more hurt or damage on an opponent than is necessary to subdue him. Brutality is never permitted in the Shore Patrol. BASIC PRINCIPLES To learn to use judo effectively the basic principles must first be mastered. The first principle is balance. No matter what position a man takes, he is off balance in some direction. A man standing with his legs apart is on balance from right to left, and from left to right; however, he is off balance from the front, and also from the rear. Similarly a man with his right foot forward is on balance from his right front and from his left rear, but off balance from left front and right rear, and very little effort is required to unbalance him from these directions. The principle of exerting pressure in the direction in which an opponent is off balance is basic in judo. The second principle is to utilize and develop the muscles located at the center of the body in the lower ab domen, between the hipbones. These are called the internal oblique muscles. The power for every defense comes from these muscles. The third principle is the utilization of an opponent's momentum, or his strength, to subdue him. The opponent is always assumed to be the stronger, and is never opposed directly, but his momentum is used to carry him onward, while the defender directs his movement. The fourth principle is to attack full strength at the point where the opponent is weakest. This may be described as "My maximum strength against your minimum." To illustrate this principle assume that an attacker grasps a defender's wrist. The latter, instead of using only the strength of his arm to tear his wrist loose, concentrates the power of his legs, body, and arms against the attacker's fingers. The fifth and final principle is the knowledge of the major and minor operations. This knowledge is essential to prevent injury during practice, and to avoid serious injury to an opponent who must be subdued. The major operation consists of either getting out of danger, or of applying the essential part of a hold. The minor operation is the application of the pressure. If both operations are carried out simultaneously and with the utmost force, a broken bone or other serious injury may result. In practice, therefore, the major and minor operations must be combined with discretion, or practiced separately. TAKING PRISONERS Ejecting a Troublesome Visitor One means of forcibly escorting a resisting individual is the hand-shake hold. It is particularly useful when applied to an obstreperous drunk. An intoxicated man |