Page:Japanese Physical Training (Hancock).djvu/206

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146
Japanese Physical Training

or waiting for him. After a few of these alternate turnings have been made, the next thing to do is to imagine that the opponent intends to attack him on one side,—say the right,—and then, by a vigorous twist, to rise to the left, at the same time dodging and crouching, ready for the next move of attack.

Leaping forward, with as catlike a bound as can be acquired, is insisted on. This is done with hands outstretched, as if the student were engaged in the effort to grapple with a real opponent. Sometimes the student lands from his bound erect, or at other times sinks to a crouching attitude. Then he is taught to leap sideways, as if he were trying to secure a side grip on his imaginary opponent. Too much stress cannot be laid on the value of this leaping work. It counts for everything in the suddenness and success of attack when, at the beginning of combat, the adversary is more than arm's length away.

The student will be able also to teach himself much in the way of feinting when making such a spring. In much the same way that the trick is employed by American and English boxers