Small-Circle Jujitsu is the complete presentation of the system developed by Wally Jay. Bringing together elements from different arts, Jay s broad-based yet focused and effective system incorporates theories, principles and techniques essential to the development of every martial artist, whether a novice or a seasoned veteran. In this definitive instructional text, Jay covers the history of small-circle jujitsu; techniques for warm-ups, falling and resuscitation; details on weaknesses of the human body; locking techniques for wrists, fingers, arms and legs; throwing and choking techniques; and self-defense against strikes, chokes, body grabs and wrist grabs. Jay's system of small-circle jujitsu, based on 50 years of training and teaching experience, works on the premise summarized in his own words: It s not how much you can hurt a person in an altercation but how little you can hurt a person and still control him.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: good reference filled w/technique pictures Comment: great as a review book - love the many pics of techniques similar to zujitsu; master zulu's re-developed style of jujitsu. Customer Rating: Summary: This small book is a Complete Compendium Comment: I wanted to learn more about Wally Jay's Small Circle Jujitsu. While the first 25% of the book has a number of pages that are very, very basic, I guess Jay needs to do the CYA thing. Nevertheless, I was disappointed with this aspect of the book. Give me the joint cranks, and let me work on those. Write another book filled with Philosophy, etc., . I assure you, I will buy that one too. Don't mix the focus.
As well, for people my age, there is a need for reading glasses. But reading glasses, and falling in the dojo don't go well together. So, I think that a larger book would be appropriate, e.g. 8.5" x 11". But, there are DVDs apparently. Maybe that would be better for me.
As for the remaining 75%, they were filled with techniques. Unlike some other reviewers, I WANTED to see more and more techniques. They were not problematic to follow, rather easy actually. There were several panels with exceptionally close photography for some techniques, and I would judge them as being required.
I was very pleased with this purchase. It has earned a permanent spot in my library - Self-Defense section. It has helped me with my learning and never ending quest to perfect my Combat Hapkido joint lock studies.
VERY MUCH WORTH THE PURCHASE !!! Customer Rating: Summary: Sort of a "technique catalog." Comment: Not a bad book, but like many judo & jujutsu books, it takes a sort of "technique catalog" approach, as opposed to a tactical or principles-based approach. Yes, there is some discussion of theory/tactics, but it is not really integrated with the demonstrated techs.
May be a good reference book for Danzan/Kodenkan beginners. Customer Rating: Summary: Excellent brief volume on the system Comment: This is an excellent brief work on Prof. Jay's system. Although the book is comparatively short, at least 50 and probably more like 100 techniques are shown. Techniques are divided between throws, wrist locks, elbow locks, leglocks, and finger locks. Vulnerable areas of the body and how to attack them are shown also.
Another nice feature is Prof. Jay discusses his overall theory of jujitsu and mechanical and martial principles involved, of which there are 10, which he goes into in some detail. Some of these will not be new to any experienced martial artist, such as the importance of balance, but others, such as his push-pull method of doing holds and locks, may be new.
Of course one can't learn a martial art from a book, but if you have some previous knowledge, this book is an excellent introduction and/or review of many of the techniques in Prof. Jay's system. The system I practice has enough overlap so that I found this book a great way to reference and learn somemore about it. I've also had the opportunity to attend two of Prof. Jay's seminars over the years, and would like to say they were great as I expected, and it was a honor to finally meet and get to learn from such a great teacher. And he has put a lot of that knowledge into this book. Customer Rating: Summary: Small Circle or Kodenkan Yawara ? Comment: I did not find what I was looking for here. I was hoping to find an entire book on "Small Circle JuJitsu" and instead found a book that was 80-90% standard Kodenkan JuJitsu at maybe the Shodan Level and only 10-20% of what I would consider "Small Circle JuJitsu". I was 20% satisfied and left feeling empty. Maybe I just lack the experience to understand what his two books convey? But I don't think so!
