Pioneers of American Jujitsu, by Russ St. Hilaire

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his book by Russ St. Hilaire: "Pioneers of American JuJitsu: American JuJitsu Before WW2" shows how ju jitsu was brought to USA - quote: "Pioneers of American JuJitsu tells the fascinating story of how JuJitsu spread from the Orient to America through the efforts of a small contigent of dedicated martial artists. Their stories show how dedication and personal sacrifice can change the face of a society."

The book does just that, and in a very detailed and great way. For anyone interested in the great art of ju jitsu, this book should fill inn a lot of blanks. Let us not forget that some of the pioneers mentioned here, like Wiliam Fairbairn, Wally Jay and Kiyose Nakae, also have influenced European ju jitsu.

First off (in the introduction) the book defines what a pioneer is, and it gives a brief historical overview of ju jitsu in Japan. It also points to the significance of ju jitsu in America ("Jujitsu changed America. Jujitsu, simply a battlefield art in Japan, became much more than that when it hit the American shores.").

In chapter one the author presents unarmed combat in America before ju jitsu, namely boxing and wrestling. It is interesting to learn that both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were respected wrestlers! I find it rather odd that there is no mentioning of the native American Indians here though. Without a doubt their combative methods also included hand-to-hand and wrestling techniques.

In chapter two it is shown how the Americans find ju jitsu. This was mainly through traders, police and army personel in Nagasaki (Japan) and Shanghai (China). Also Hawaii was a major port, where Japanese men where brought to work in the cane fields (according to the book there were over 60,000 Japanese in Hawaii by 1900).

Chapter three is called "JuJitsu Spreads", and it shows how the art is spread throughout Europe and South-America. Chapter four: "JuJitsu vs. American Combat Methods" shows some of the matches that were held between ju jitsuka and wrestlers and boxers in the early part of the 1900s.

In chapter five the various pioneers are presented: John J. O'Brien, Risher Thornbery, Samuel R. Linck, Captain Allan C. Smith, Irving H. Hancock, President Theodore Roosvelt, Anthony J. D. Biddle, William E. Fairbairn, Dermot M. O'Neill, Seishiro Okazaki, Svend J. Jorgensen, Milton Gowdey, Raymond Law, Frances Estes, John K. Cahill, Richard P. Rickerts and Sanzo Seki. Chapter six gives honorable mentions to these masters ("A few JuJitsu Masters who learned between 1940 and 1944, who although were not before WW2, made such a contribution to the early development of Jujitsu in America that they HAD to be included"): Wally Jay, Sig Kufferath, Michael DePasquale, Sr., Peter Siringano, Sr. an Raymond Moore.

This book is one that should be read by anyone interested in the art of ju jitsu. I contains a wealth of interesting information. You can get it if you go to E-bay.

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