I would concede that my comrades may have served their case better by some judicious editing of the translation.
However, I think that they understand the German wording and meaning thereof.
The contentious example at hand is that of
schnelligchait or “quickness”.
Perhaps I would rephrase the translation dealing with "quickness" like this:
In all wrestling there should be three things --
The first is skill.
The second is quickness.
The third is correct deployment of strength.
Thus you should note that the best is quickness which does not allow someone to use a counter.
Next you should note that with every weaker foe you should wrestle before he attacks, and with every equal foe you should wrestle while he attacks, and with every stronger foe you should wrestle after he attacks.
And in all wrestling "before" it is quickness that works. In all wrestling "while" it is balance that works. And in all wrestling "after" it is the knee-joint / yielding way that works.
It is clear to me that Jud Ott says
schnelligchait because he meant “quickness”. If he had meant "pressure" then he likely would have used the word
drucken / trucken found commonly among the fight-masters of
Kunst des Fechtens. Furthermore, I would assert that advocacy of "pressure" instead of "quickness" as a main tactic (or worse yet as a constant tactic) in this sort of wrestling only sets one up to get more readily countered with a hip-throw, leg-trip or even hurled by the notorious
Bubenringen. Such an agressor gets treated as does the stronger foe. Quickness and correct deployment of strength drive one’s skill.
I think regarding all the Jud Ott principles and specifically the one of "quickness" that the authors demonstrate ample understanding. The commentary indicates this to me. Let us look at how they analyse "quickness":
The next trait is “quickness”, which allows one to react quickly, regain initiative and, in connection with the foresight (developed during learning new techniques and devices, leading to the minimization of the results of being surprised or accidents) makes the wrestler a formidable opponent.
The role of “quickness” is underlined as the most important from the three aforementioned traits. The master adds that the quickness does not allow one’s opponent to make a counter. It is a very sensible message. When the attack reaches its target thanks to its speed, then the opponent remains without any chance to apply a countermeasure.
Next we read, what trait or solution works in a given time situation – “Before”, “With”, “After”. When we act “before”, the quickness works. Without it we won’t succeed “before”.
So I think that the authors understand Jud Ott
ringen.
