Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/469

 447 RECREATIONS 4 / Fig. 2 " The Struggle." Raise and lower the arms alternately may mean any loss of womanly grace. The exact contrary is the fact. The exercises that are to be described will do all that is necessary for the bringing of the muscles into a condition of fitness without interfering in the slightest with the rounded contour and soft outlines of figure which are no small part of womanly beauty. Jiu-jitsu requires that every part of the body shall be well developed and in good working order. From this it follows that the exercises must be such as to affect the whole of the body and limbs, for it is obvious that it is but little use being strong and fit in one part and weak in another. Exercises It is necessary that, in practising some exercises, the help of a companion should be obtained. Both will benefit equally. There are many exer- cises, however, that may be practised alone. Let the two students stand at each other's right side, facing each other and a little apart ; the right hands are to be clenched, and crossed on the inside of the wrists, about eighteen inches from the body and just below the hip-line (Fig. i). One then tries to push the other's wrist backward, swinging her as far round as the latter can go without losing her balance. The muscles of the arm engaged should be held as rigidly tense as possible. The assailant — for it should be arranged which is to get the better of the struggle — keeping up the pressure, walks round the other until a half-circle has been formed. The defender should not shift her feet ; and against the pressure employed upon her arm, which must be stiff and tensed, she must Fig. 4. A valuable but safe and simple exercise for developing strength Fig. 3. Arms extended and fingers intertwined resist just sufficiently as not to defeat the attacker's purpose. The half-circle completed, assailant and defendant change places, attacker becoming defender. The movement with the right arm completed, the same should be gone through with the left wrists crossed. This exercise, as with all others, must not be kept up too long, two bouts with each arm being, at first, quite sufficient ; and between each exercise either student must take half a dozen full, deep breaths — of course, through the nose. Another exercise is denominated " The Struggle." The parties stand facing each other, eighteen inches apart and the feet about sixteen inches distant. Each then leans forward until the chests touch. The arms are extended sideways, one pointing upwards, the other down, and opposing hands are locked by the intertwining of the fingers. Then, without causing undue fatigue, each presses against the other, striving to force her opponent back against the wall. It will be well if, during the