WHAT IS SELF DEFENSE (KENPO JUI JITSU)

BY GREAT GRAND MASTER JAMES M. MITOSE

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CLICK HERE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE BOOK!

I have done the "Unthinkable".  I have taken my only copy of James Mitose's book and cut out all the pages so I can scan them into this web page!

Over the next few weeks I will have the entire book up on the web. For now I will put it up in sections. Most of the print in the book is very small; and because of the limitation of quality on JPG pages, it may be hard to read. 

I will first put up the exact scanned pages.   Later I will scan all of the text into text files so that you can print it out.

As you read and re-read each page you will see how much information James Mitose really gave us. 

WARNING:

When James Mitose wrote his book he had to work under many limitations. First the self defense techniques and all their text had to fit on one page. Because of this they were forced to keep the text small and use a limited number of photos for each technique.  Mitose was writing in a "borrowed tongue". (His original edition published was so badly structured  they had to take it out of circulation. That is why many of the original letters are dated 1947 although the book we are using came out in 1953). Mitose was a spy for the US Naval Intelligence and as such was limited as to how much he could actually tell us about himself and his family.

For the picture (self defense) section starting with page 1, I have divided the sections. The first section has fourteen pages. After the first section, each section will have ten pages. Eventually I will put them up in "chapter" form!

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

In both the Japanese and Chinese society "FACE" is very important. In keeping with "Confucian" principles,  both societies are based upon the concept that there are rules and laws to cover everything! 

In the martial arts we use the term "KATA" to mean "Formal Exercise." In Japan the term "Kata" is used to indicate the proper "way" or etiquette to be used for all events or occasions. There is proper "Kata" between the senior executive and his staff. A proper "kata" for the tea ceremony. Proper "kata" for dress - for eating. And there is a very distinctive structure to the "Sensei" and his students and each senior student to the next in line.

In any demonstration of the physical application of techniques the "Senior" always does the techniques and his "UKI" (Receiver) is always of a lower rank. The Sensei in public NEVER "UKI's"  for one of his students. It is just not "Proper Kata". There are a few rare exceptions to this principle which I will cover later.

Most of this has to do with "face"! Let me give you an extreme example. The "Sensei" is the UKI for one of his students who wants to make a "name" for himself. The Technique is a "Choke." The student a applies the choke and when the "Sensei "taps out" the student ignores the signal and renders the Sensei unconscious! 

Warning: this can happen at any level. The UKI must have utmost trust in the "Sensei" because his has put himself in the position where as "UKI" he can be seriously injured or even killed.

Mitose will adhere to this in true fashion in his book. There is a very structured "dojo" level  in each self defense technique.

James Mitose Is #1 (Great Grand Master)

James Mitose never "Uki's" for any of his students; Mitose's favorite "Uki" is Thomas Young!

#2 is Thomas Young - He never "Uki's" for anyone except Mitose!

Young's favorite Uki is William Chow!

#3 is William Chow - his Uki's are always lower rank them himself.

This is true in every picture and every technique.

With one exception! Can you find it? If you do it is of great importance! I will go into this in great detail later.  This was one of James Mitose's "Hiding in plain sight". In all of Mitose's writings and books he keeps giving us clues.  He keeps giving  us the "one corner" and expects us to find the other "three" on our own.

Note: How often Mitose will make the comment: "And strike to the nerve center located there!" Note also how many techniques have Jiu Jitsu applications.  In the "Dojo" -- at each skill level -- Mitose would get more exact with the striking to each nerve center. 

I will be covering this in greater detail when I deal with:

"Sub-Level Four" and advanced Kenpo!