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Preface
ix

hasten on at once to the advanced feats. The author threw his pupil without injury, and then invited her to make the attack in the manner shown. She took a different style of attack, however, and the only way in which the author could have prevented defeat would have been by inflicting an injury that would have weakened his pupil seriously for a long time to come. He preferred to accept defeat, and the result to him was lacerated ligaments of the right leg. Had the pupil been thoroughly grounded in the preliminary work she would have understood how to accomplish the throw without injury.

In the hands of the ignorant, jiu-jitsu may be made dangerous. With those who will study each step in the sequence given in this volume, and who do not try to advance any more rapidly than is warranted by complete mastery of each successive phase of the science, there is no danger, and perfect physical development will come slowly, but with a certainty that must make for happiness.

H. Irving Hancock.

New York, Oct. 23, 1903.