Jujitsu for the "weaker sex" -- 1930s British newsreels

Ellis sends us these, "Two wonderful 1930s British news reels on how 'the weaker sex' can use jujitsu to deal with 'objectionable people'"

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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Raj77

The lady in the second video is gorgeous. Kind of worrying to be attracted to someone slightly older than my grandmother!

Also illustrates the changes in the aristocratic accent since the interwar years.
Anonymous

Oh, HELL YES! I love this.
kentyman

The only person more objectionable than the usual Pool-Ankle-He-Man is the guy who, at the end of the video you helped him make, steps on your penis.
Bender

him- What would you do if someone were to grab you around the throat?

KERTHUMP

her- I’d do THAT.

him- That’s very interesting.
urshrew

This video brings a smile to my face for some reason.
Takuan

we should swap demonstrations gone wrong stories. You know, the snap kick to the groin that actually connects (in front of an audience of children), the boards or bricks that don’t break, the knife defense that doesn’t go so well. So many examples of grace under pressure and the show must go on.
dr.psilo

Tsk, tsk, I can see her panties in the slow-mo of the last one. Not very lady-like.

Quite enjoyable videos. As a practitioner of Aikido, I always enjoy seeing smaller or “weaker” people throw larger people. Strength and speed isn’t everything…
Marcelo

Looking at the related videos I found this one too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83iWBsELJFw
fsck

Oh my, I haven’t smiled so much in ages. If there’s a better use for the internet, I haven’t found it.
The Unusual Suspect

I’d take my lumps from Contestant #1 any day. Rowr!

(Likely one of those “unintended consequences” people so like to go on about.)
arkizzle

Those girls are Bullys! :)
Diana Gill

This utterly made my day. Now I want to wear pin-curls and heels on the mat (or not). The techniques in the 2nd video are ones we use all the time, actually. Thanks!
Scott Lahti

I blogged this as Lady Kick-Astor and the Judo-Christian Rendition.
Enormo

Hmm… I’m kind of sexually attracted the brune- WHOA! *thump*
marley88

“first is the He-man at the pool who delights in throwing people in by their ankles.”

Awesome. I’ve always wanted to know what to do about those brutes!
NidSquid

Absolutely wonderful! Thank you so much for the smiles.
blue balaclava

“Once you have mastered the art of perfect timing and of perfect balance, the rest is a matter of practice.” Damn skippy.

It was a joy to see that first dame be all old skool — and wasn’t she wearing hose during randoori? Boss! And the second one? Simply lovely doing techniques I’d see on the mat today, and in heels, too! Very nice, indeed.
dr.psilo

The highheel-jutsu was definitely a plus.
ommm

the hair toss at 0.56
:O
SkullHyphy

just in time for Valentine’s day
kengland4

If someone were to grab you by the throat, you could make yourself heavy, drop down like a stone, and then punch them in the balls. This is a move we practice in my karate self-defense class.

Kevin
Anonymous

You’ve got to love how decidedly common all the men in these videos are. This silent one is great as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0hkXzY3H20

The BFI’s description: “Best of all are the ‘Hints to the Ladies on Jiu-Jitsu’ – seen here – which feel unnervingly like a long lost chapter from the history of lesbian erotica.”
Junon

My word! Where can I find a sensei like Miss May Whitley?!

Also: Princess Nell’s great-great-great-great-great-grandmother? The original Illustrated Primer?
Jerril

My highschool added self-defense to the girls gym curriculum in the middle of my time there. I’d been taking martial arts classes for years, but TKD isn’t exactly a practical self defense art, especially vs grappling, so I was interested.

It was interesting seeing the girls who hadn’t been exposed before sort themselves into three rough groups: one group of girls who were too “feminine” to use any strength at the beginning of the course and were rather limp wristed and helpless, the “average” girls, and then at the other extreme the girl who, on the first day, bit our instructor on the knee rather badly when asked to defend herself.

Of course for the rest of the year girls were beating up guys to show off their mad self defense skilz, so the year after they added self defense courses for guys too.

@Takuan:

I think an audience of children would be particularly receptive to someone getting kicked in the balls. I think most eight year olds would find it hilarious…
arkizzle

#17 OMMM

Yes! :O