Fred Neff's martial arts books from Endless Fist Society, Inc.:
Ju-jitsu Questions Answered by Fred Neff

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WARNING: THE ANSWERS TO READERS QUESTIONS ARE NOT MEANT TO TAKE THE PLACE OF TRAINING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A QUALIFIED INSTRUCTOR. READERS SHOULD TAKE PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AT ALL TIMES WHEN PRACTICING MARTIAL ARTS INCLUDING:

• Practicing defense and attack with a partner only under the supervision of a qualified instructor.

• While practicing, always wear safety equipment such as a head guard, mouthpiece, groin-cup, knee guards and any other protective gear needed.

• Any grappling or throwing should be done only on a thick mat designed for such use and then only under the supervision of a qualified instructor.

• When practicing with a partner, do not put all of your force into a blow. Start your practice slowly and gradually with the consent of your partner speed up the execution of techniques. Practice full power techniques only on a punching bag-not on a human partner. The instructor should be present to supervise the practice session.

• Do not make contact with your training partner unless he or she agrees to it, you are both wearing full safety equipment, you are sure that both people have the ability to control their blows, and you are supervised by your instructor.

• During practice, never hit sensitive areas on your partner, such as the eyes, nose, throat, neck, ribs, groin, knees, or any area, along the centerline on the rear of the body. Do not even pretend to throw blows to such sensitive areas on a practice partner.

• Do not apply locks or throws without your opponent understanding in advance that you are working on these types of techniques. Work out a warning system with your partner in advance of practice. Never surprise your training partner with a throw, sweep, lock or hold and be sure that your partner is ready to start before executing these techniques. No throws should be done until the person to be thrown has been properly trained by a qualified instructor on falling. Do not practice any technique with someone who does not understand what is required in martial art practice. Make sure a qualified instructor explains and demonstrates any new techniques to you and your partner. Treat all training partners with respect and consideration for their safety.

Is there a practical reason why ju-jitsu teaches to wait for an attacker to make the first move?
Answer by Fred Neff: Ju-jitsu uses the opponent's own power against him or her. Each time an attacher moves against you, he or she will potentially leave an opening for counter attack or be off-balance so that he or she is open to a ju-jitsu throw. This opening can be exploited by the ju-jitsu student. For example, when an attacker puts all of his or her weight behind the attack, that force may then be directed by the alert ju-jitsu practitioner in such a way as to throw the attacker to the ground. Ju-jitsu teaches patience, alertness and proper body mechanics so that an attacker's own first aggressive move can quickly be exploited by a ju-jitsu student to quickly bring an end to the aggression with an appropriate ju-jitsu strike, kick, throw or hold.

Can I talk my way out of a fight by warning a bully that I know ju-jitsu?
Answer by Fred Neff: A ju-jitsu student should never brag or talk about the skill that he or she may have acquired in fighting, but instead show his ju-jitsu skill by quiet confidence and courtesy toward others. When confronted by an aggressor it is important to be alert and confident. In this way, you can quickly counter any attack by exploiting your adversary's weaknesses. Ju-jitsu teaches a person should earn respect by actions rather than words. A ju-jitsu student learns to concentrate on getting along well with people, as well as learning ju-jitsu skills.

Is it possible to learn to use ju-jitsu techniques from the movies and television?
Answer by Fred Neff: The movies and television show sensationalized versions of ju-jitsu techniques. At times the ju-jitsu techniques used are not based on practical utility, but rather visual effect. It is usually the basic ju-jitsu techniques that are more effective in ending a fight. A good ju-jitsu book may be far for more useful for getting initial exposure to the art of ju-jitsu than watching movies or television. Lessons from a qualified ju-jitsu teacher are especially useful for ju-jitsu students to develop a strong foundation in the basic ju-jitsu methods through practice of authentic time tested ju-jitsu techniques.

Will it take a long time for me to learn ju-jitsu for practical self-defense?
Answer by Fred Neff: The art of ju-jitsu is very effective for practical self-defense. If you review a good ju-jitsu book you will find examples of practical self-defense responses, but it is important to keep in mind that it may take a great deal of practice before you can actually do the same ju-jitsu technique in a real fight. It is also important to keep in mind that there are different styles of ju-jitsu with their own special emphasis. Some ju-jitsu styles spend a long time on body conditioning and falling before getting into practical self-defense while still other ju-jitsu styles tend toward teaching practical ju-jitsu self-defense moves early on to students. It is important for ju-jitsu students to be patient in learning the art of ju-jitsu. Usually a student of ju-jitsu is more likely to be able to defend himself or herself with ju-jitsu if the training has given him or her a firm foundation in ju-jitsu, which can only be learned over a prolonged period of practice. During this practice time the ju-jitsu student will condition the body, learn to fall, learn basic throwing manuevers, joint locks, sensitive areas of the body, strikes and kicks. It is always best to carefully check out the emphasis of a particular school of ju-jitsu before enrolling so that you make sure that its curriculum and goals meet your expectations. Once enrolled it may take considerable patience and persistence to learn the art of ju-jitsu, but the rewards may far exceed your expectation. The art of ju-jitsu can be far more than just practical self-defense. It can be life enhancing skill that will teach lessons that make life more meaningful and enjoyable whether you ever have to use ju-jitsu or not to end a confrontation.

Further questions and answers by Fred Neff related to ju-jitsu
can be found in the martial arts books by Fred Neff we sell.