Hadaka-Jime
The Core Technique for Practical Unarmed Combat
By Moshe Feldenkrais, D.SC.
Available
from Genesis II Publishing
Most people who know the name Moshe Feldenkrais know him as the inventor of the "Feldenkrais Method" For those of you unfamiliar with it, let me quote from Wikipedia and give you a specific link where you can learn more:
The Feldenkrais Method is an educational system centered on movement, aiming to expand and refine the use of the self through awareness. It is intended for those who wish to improve their movement repertoire (dancers, musicians, artists), as well as those wishing to reduce pain or limitations in movement, and many who want to improve their general well-being and personal development.
This method was born out of a need for him personally to overcome injury. Again, to quote Wikipedia:
Just as the Germans were about to arrive in Paris in 1940, Feldenkrais fled to Britain with a jar of "heavy water" and a sheaf of research material with instructions to deliver them to the British Admiralty War Office. Until 1946, he was a science officer in the Admiralty working on Anti-submarine weaponry in Fairliegh, Scotland. His work on improving sonar led to several patents. He also taught self-defense techniques to his fellow servicemen. On slippery submarine decks, he re-aggravated an old soccer knee injury. Refusing an operation, he was prompted to intently explore and develop self-rehabilitation and awareness techniques through self-observation which later evolved into the method. His discoveries led him to begin sharing with others (including colleague J. D. Bernal) through lectures, experimental classes, and one-on-one work with a few.
It was in during this time (1942) when he was teaching ju-jitsu to other military men that he ended up writing "Hadake-Jime: The Core Technique for Practical Unarmed Combat". It was designed for use by the British Home Guard and focuses on the application of one specific movement as a general response to any combat situation one might find themselves in. As the title suggest, it is the choking technique hadaka-jime from Judo upon which this course is based.
Feldenkrais' reasoning for limiting the number of techniques is so that in a short time a man could get in a lot of repetitions and build both skill and confidence in using it in a fight rather than half-knowing many techniques and becoming confused about what to do. He was no novice as far as street fighting went, having spent his teenage years in Palestine helping to build the early Jewish settlements there.
The text its self is broken up into a series of 10 lessons. Lessons 1-3 teach unarmed applications of the choke, numbers 4-6 cover using it against an attacker armed with a knife, 7-9 deal with using it against an attacker with a rifle mounted bayonet, and the 10th covers several variations for unusual positions you might be in. Each lesson is clearly defined and illustrated with black and white photographs.
Plus Moti Nativ has done a great job in writing both a foreword and afterword to the main text so the reader can get some history and even take a peek behind the scenes at the photo shoot for the book which were never published before. This includes a few extra technique photo sequences! Very nice indeed.
This is a must have for collectors of WWII training manuals, very different from a lot of what was being produced. It will also no doubt appeal to some old time Judo fans and of course anyone who is involved in the Feldenkrais Method, just as a historical link to the founder.
Here are some related video clips that you can check out:
YouTube Video - Unarmed Vs. Bayonet from "Hadake-Jime:
The Core Technique for Practical Unarmed Combat" by Moti Nativ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrKLGOsDJro
YouTube Video - What does Hadaka-Jime look like?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JQhHvwuM2o
YouTube Video - Judo Master Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki
demonstrates Hadaka Jime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MehcvFalumM
This Book Is Available from Genesis II Publishing