Publisher's Synopsis
Until the publication of 'Tricks of Self-Defence' in about 1910, most, if not all, of the English language books on jujitsu and connected martial arts dealt more with the systems in question. These were often quite complicated and took time to master. W. H. Collingridge's concept was to publish a more practical, illustrated textbook for the everyday person in the street, outlining the effective applications that anyone can easily pick up in order to defend themselves. The result was this book which graphically outlines thirty-three 'Standing Positions', and nine 'Ground Tricks'. All of these require little space to practise and notably some use arm or wrist grappling, while applying pressure to nerve or pressure points. In these respects, 'Tricks of Self-Defence, A Useful Book for Everybody', is considered to be the first of its genre in English to record Japanese techniques of applied practical self-defence.
