This book was written by George Kirby, a fairly well-known instructor from California. He teaches something called Budoshin Jujutsu which is apparently something he has developed himself based on what he learned in two other styles. But as he says in the companion volume to this book Jujutsu: Intermediate Techniques of the Gentle Art, there is usually not too much difference overall between various styles of jujutsu (this obviously before groundfighting jujutsu a la the Gracies came to fore). Most teach the same throws, locks, and combinations. So he insists that there is no need to be concerned with styles and instead we should concentrate on learning the art. Good advice no matter what martial art you practice.
This book is a good representation of practical stand-up jujutsu techniques. There are a few moves that are a bit fanciful and a few that are downright impractical. But combine an instructional program like this with some judo or wrestling to give you some realistic grappling for the ground and you would have a good system for the street.
The book starts off with a brief history of jujutsu in Japan and the West. One of the important points that Kirby makes is that jujutsu did not spring from a single source: the Japanese combined their own indigenous wrestling and combat grappling techniques with those imported from China. By the same token, jujutsu branched out towards the 20th century into judo and aikido. Again, it's a brief account, but it is good for a beginner.
Kirby also discusses some of the theoretical aspects of jujutsu including ki. He doesn't make this into some kind of hocus-pocus stuff: just the basic idea of using your attacker's energy and momentum against them through leverage, distraction, and circular evasion. Another important thing he mentions is learning how to combine moves in new sequences as opposed to learning set combinations. He has some little line diagrams showing different evasive movements against different patterns of attack (i.e., circular entry against straight attack, straight entry against circular attack). Sort of like Kirby's a football coach with these little Xs and Os up there. Then there is a section on how to practice safely and other miscellaneous stuff.
After a little breakfalling and rolling we are on to the actual techniques. One good thing about the book is that techniques are generally presented as beginning to end combinations including a ground submission or final strike. This helps students see what the point of the technique is and how it is used. In my opinion, seeing how a technique is used in a combination actually helps you to better master the individual technique a whole lot faster. All the techniques are labeled in English, though the names themselves are kind of strange. I noticed this in the Intermediate Volume too (where they are in Japanese): everything seems to get lumped together under the name "Drop Throw" or "Rear Throw."
Most of the techniques are responses to strikes, kicks, or grabs. In virtually all, Kirby shows a major throw to bring the person down. In only a few of the techniques can he really be said to go into groundfighting. Most of the time he finishes by standing over or kneeling on the opponent and applying a submission.
A few of the techniques I didn't like:
But all the rest seem to be pretty good, straight forward defenses. Some of the knife defenses would require a lot of coordination under stress but that's probably true of most knife defenses. Also, some of the throws are shown where Kirby gets a standing armlock on, but getting the arm trapped in a position like that before doing the throw would probably work as well without getting an actual lock. The headlock escape on p. 112-113 is nice, but doesn't show a finishing technique.
The book ends with a cross-reference chart and the promotional syllabus for green, purple, and brown belts for some group called the American Ju-jitsu Federation which was founded by Kirby (not to be confused with the American Judo and Ju-jitsu Federation-a Danzan Ryu group).
Overall, a good book. Watch for a review of the Intermediate Volume soon. Unfortunately, its not going to get as good a rating because Kirby starts embellishing a lot of these basic techniques with cute little flourishes that often make them unrealistic. As Bruce Lee said: "Many a martial artist likes something more, something different, not realizing the truth and the way is exhibited in the simple everyday movements."