JIU JITSU BEATEN IN THE SURE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 394, 26 March 1908, Page 4

JIU JITSU BEATEN IN THE SURE.

Kven jiu jilsu is powerless against the surf of the Manly and Bondi beaches, as “Professor” Stevenson, the exponent of that interesting science, discovered while surf-bathing at Sydney the other day. A mass of seaweed entangled itself in his legs, and he found himself swept out by the undertow. The seaweed, he learned, was a much more difficult proposition than a human adversary, for the science knows no trick, or blow, or nerve-paralysing grasp, which will beat the undertow. The man’s long hair, tossed on the surface of the reliefs as he was carried out, attracted attention, and Mr H. R. Aruott, a fellowbather, seized the life-line and dashed into the water. Meanwhile Stevenson was carried further out, swimming desperately with his arms alone. Nearly a quaiterof an hour elapsed before A.ruott reached him, and by that time the rescuer himself was almost in a collapse. In fact, it is questionable whether he could have retained his hold on the drowning athlete had not another gentemaul fully dressed gone to their assistance, while a courageous girl cuught stevenson by his waving locks and towed him tiiumphantly ashore. “They all did their best and I am thankful enough to them,” said Stevenson, “but all the same I never had such a time in my lifea s when started ta bring me to. Talk about jiu-jitsu, it was a parlour game for little boys by comparison. They nearly broke my neck, nearly broke my arms, and nearly broke my legs. I wasn't properly conscious, and I dreamed that I was having a wrestle with an octopus, one to wiu, for the championship of the Pacific. However, they meant well, and if it hadn’t been for Mr Arnolt and the rest they’d have counted ten over me sure.