Jujutsu

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Jujitsu (also jujitsu, ju jitsu, ju jutsu, or jiu jitsu; from the Japanese 柔術 jūjutsu "gentle/yielding/compliant Art") is a Japanese martial art. Some define jujitsu and similar arts rather narrowly as "unarmed" close combat systems used to defeat or control an enemy who is similarly unarmed. Basic methods of attack include hitting or striking, thrusting or punching, kicking, throwing, pinning or immobilizing, strangling, and joint-locking. Great pains were also taken by the bushi (classic warriors) to develop effective methods of defense, including strikes, thrusts and kicks, receiving throws or joint-locking techniques (i.e., falling safely and knowing how to "blend" to neutralize a technique's effect), releasing oneself from an enemy's grasp, and changing or shifting one's position to evade or neutralize an attack.

From a broader point of view, based on the curricula of many of the classical Japanese arts themselves, however, these arts may perhaps be more accurately defined as unarmed methods of dealing with an enemy who was armed, together with methods of using minor weapons such as the jitte (truncheon; also called jutte), tanto (knife), or kakushi buki (hidden weapons), such as the ryofundo kusari (weighted chain) or the bankokuchoki (a type of knuckle-duster), to defeat both armed or unarmed opponents.

Furthermore, the term jujutsu was also sometimes used to refer to tactics for infighting used with the warrior's major weapons: katana or tachi (sword), yari (spear), naginata (glaive), and jo (short staff), bo (quarterstaff). These close combat methods were an important part of the different martial systems that were developed for use on the battlefield. They can be generally characterized as either Sengoku Jidai (Sengoku Period, 1467-1603) katchu bujutsu or yoroi kumiuchi (fighting with weapons or grappling while clad in armor), or Edo Jidai (Edo Period, 1603-1867) suhada bujutsu (fighting while dressed in the normal street clothing of the period, kimono and hakama).

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The beginning

Fighting forms have existed in Japan for centuries. The first references to such unarmed combat arts or systems can be found in the earliest purported historical records of Japan, the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan), which relate the mythological creation of the country and the establishment of the Imperial family. Other glimpses can be found in the older records and pictures depicting sumai (or sumo) no sechie, a rite of the Imperial Court in Nara and Kyoto performed for purposes of divination and to help ensure a bountiful harvest.

There is a famous story of a warrior Nomi no Sekuni of Izumo who defeated and killed Tajima no Kehaya in Shimane prefecture while in the presence of Emperor Suinin. Descriptions of the techniques used during this encounter included striking, throwing, restraining and weaponry. These systems of unarmed combat began to be known as Nihon koryu jujutsu (japanese old-style jujutsu), among other related terms, during the Muromachi period (1333-1573), according to densho (transmission scrolls) of the various ryuha (martial traditions) and historical records.

Most of these were battlefield-based systems to be practiced as companion arts to the more common and vital weapon systems. These fighting arts actually used many different names. Kogusoku, yawara, kumiuchi, and hakuda are just a few, but all of these systems fall under the general description of Sengoku jujutsu. In reality, these grappling systems were not really unarmed systems of combat, but are more accurately described as means whereby an unarmed or lightly armed warrior could defeat a heavily armed and armored enemy on the battlefield.

Methods of combat (as just mentioned above) included striking (kicking, punching), throwing (body throws, joint-lock throws, unbalance throws), restraining (pinning, strangling, grappling, wrestling) and weaponry. Defensive tactics included blocking, evading, off balancing, blending and escaping. Minor weapons such as the tanto (dagger), ryofundo kusari (weighted chain), jitte (helmet smasher), and kakushi buki (secret or disguised weapons) were almost always included in Sengoku jujutsu.

In later times, other koryu developed into systems more familiar to the practitioners of Nihon jujutsu commonly seen today. These are correctly classified as Edo jujutsu (founded during the edo period): systems generally designed to deal with opponents neither wearing armor nor in a battlefield environment. For this reason, most systems of Edo jujutsu include extensive use of atemi waza (vital-striking technique). These tactics would obviously be of little use against an armored opponent on a battlefield. They would, however, be quite valuable to anyone confronting an enemy or opponent during peacetime dressed in normal street attire. Occasionally, inconspicuous weapons such as tanto (daggers) or tessen (iron fans) were included in the curriculum of Edo jujutsu.

Another seldom seen but interesting historical aside is a series of techniques originally included in both Sengoku and Edo jujutsu systems. Referred to as hojo waza (捕縄術 hojojutsu, nawa jutsu, hayanawa and others), it involves the use of a hojo cord, (sometimes the sageo or tasuke) to restrain or strangle an attacker. These techniques have for the most part faded from use in modern times, but Tokyo police units still train in their use today and continue to carry a hojo cord in addition to handcuffs. The very old Takenouchi Ryu is one of the better-recognized systems that continue extensive training in hojo waza.

Many other legitimate Nihon jujutsu ryu exist but are not considered koryu (ancient traditions). These are called either Gendai jujutsu or modern jujutsu. Modern jujutsu traditions are founded after or towards the end of the Tokugawa period (1603-1868). Various traditional ryu and ryuha that are commonly thought of as koryu jujutsu are actually gendai jujutsu. These include Hakko Ryu, Daito Ryu, and many others. Although modern in formation, gendai jujutsu systems have direct historical links to ancient traditions and are correctly referred to as traditional martial systems or ryu. Their curriculum reflects an obvious bias towards Edo jujutsu systems as opposed to the Sengoku jujutsu systems. The improbability of confronting an armor-clad attacker is the obvious reason for this bias.

Image:JUJITSU (AND RIFLES) in an agricultural school.jpg Over time, Gendai jujutsu has been embraced by law enforcement officials worldwide and continues to be the foundation for many specialized systems used by police. Perhaps the most famous of these specialized police systems is the Keisatsujutsu (police art) Taiho jutsu (arresting art) system formulated and employed by the Tokyo Police Department.

If a Japanese based martial system is formulated in modern times (post Tokugawa) but is only partially influenced by traditional Nihon jujutsu, it may be correctly referred to as goshin (self defense) jujutsu. Goshin jujutsu is usually formulated outside Japan and may include influences from other martial traditions. The Brazilian Gracie jujutsu system, and all Brazilian jujutsu in general, although derived originally from Judo have evolved independently for many years, and could be considered examples of Goshin Jujutsu.

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The development of close combat systems

Regardless of where they live, people spend a great deal of time developing and perfecting methods of using weapons for hunting and fighting. If successful, personal experiences and insights (often gained on the battlefield) help individuals to establish particular "styles," "schools," or "traditions" — in Japanese, the bujutsu ryu-ha.

Compared with the empty-handed fighting arts of neighboring China and Korea, Japanese jujutsu systems place more emphasis on throwing, immobilizing and pinning, jointlocking, and strangling techniques. Atemiwaza (striking techniques) are of secondary importance in most Japanese systems, as Samurai body armour protected against most striking techniques. The Chinese Quanfa/Ch'uan-fa (Kenpo or Kempo) emphasize punching, striking, and kicking more.

It is generally felt that the Japanese systems of hakuda, kenpo, and shubaku display some degree of Chinese influence in their particular emphasis on atemiwaza, while systems that are derived from a more purely Japanese source do not show any special preference for such techniques, but will use them as and when they fit into their systems.

The way an opponent is dealt with is also dependent on the philosophy of the teacher with regard to combat. This translates also in different styles or schools of jujutsu. Because in jujutsu every conceivable technique, including biting, hairpulling, eyegouging etc. is allowed (unlike for instance judo, which does not place emphasis on punching or kicking tactics, or karate, which does not heavily emphasize grappling and throwing) practitioners have an unlimited choice of techniques.

Some teachers will favor so called 'Hard systems' that emphasise a more abrasive approach to blocking and countering , while others will favor taking a 'soft approach' in which tori's attack will be conserved by parry's and defections from which a counter defence is employed. Some schools, notably the 'Brazilian Jiu Jitsu' system only concentrate ground work for use in sporting competition, where due to rules, most fights end up on the ground.

Jujitsu techniques have been the basis for many military unarmed combat techniques (including British/US/Russian special forces and SO1 police units) for many years.

Although there were and are many Ryu's (schools) of Japanese jujutsu, there are common features that are characteristic of most of them. Since there are a number of relatively new martial systems identifying themselves as jujutsu, it is appropriate to look at those characteristics which distinguish a style as traditional Japanese jujutsu.

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Heritage

All Japanese jujutsu have cultural indicators which help give a sense of the traditional character of a school, and include:

  • An atmosphere of courtesy and respect, a context intended to help cultivate the appropriate kokoro, or "heart".
  • The type of keikogi or training suit worn, which is usually plain white, often with a dark hakama (the most colorful uniform might be plain black or the traditional blue of quilted keikogi; you are not likely to see stars and stripes or camouflage uniforms).
  • Lack of ostentatious display, with an attempt to achieve or express the sense of rustic simplicity (expressed in such concepts as wabi-sabi in Japanese) common in many of Japan's traditional arts.
  • The use of the traditional (e.g., Shoden, Chuden, Okuden, and menkyo kaiden levels) ranking system, perhaps as a parallel track to the more contemporary and increasingly common dan-i (kyu/dan) ranking.
  • There is the lack of tournament trophies, long-term contracts, tags and emblems, rows of badges or any other superficial distractions.
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Technical characteristics

Although there is some diversity in the actual look and techniques of the various traditional jujutsu systems, there are significant technical similarities:

  • Students learn traditional jujutsu primarily by observation and imitation as patterned by the ryu's kata (prearranged forms).
  • Most kata emphasize joint-locking techniques, that is threatening a joint's integrity by placing pressure on it in a direction contrary to its normal function, or take-down or throwing techniques, or a combination of take-downs and joint-locks.
  • Sometimes atemi (strikes) are targeted to some vulnerable area of the body will be used to help create kuzushi (the art of breaking balance) or otherwise set-up the opponent for a lock, take-down or throw.
  • In Ju Jitsu either force meets force directly (hard style), or force of an attack is used to facilitate a defensive couter attack (soft style). In general, there is great emphasis placed on maintaining the attackers flow of momentum (which follows from the art's name, in which ju connotes pliability and suppleness.
  • Movements tend to emphasize circularity, and capitalize on an attacker's momentum and openings in order to place a joint in a compromised position or to break balance as preparatory for a take-down or throw.
  • The defender's own body is positioned so as to take optimal advantage of the attacker's weaknesses while simultaneously presenting as few openings or weaknesses of its own.
  • It must not be forgoten that Weapons training was the primary goal of samurai training. Ko-Ryu (weapons school) is the study of Samurai fighting using weapons. Systems of Ko-Ryu use kata as an instructional method but also students practice cutting techniques in isolation. Weapons might include, for example, the roku shaku bo (long staff), hanbo (short staff), katana (long sword), wakizashi or kodachi (short sword), and tanto (knife), some of the main repertoire of traditional weaponry.
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Philosophical dimensions

Japanese culture and religion have become intertwinned into the martial arts. Zen, Budhism, Shintoism, Daoism and Confusionist philoshophy co exist in Japan and people generally mix and match to suit. Ju Jitsu (translating as the gentle art) expresses the philosophy of giving/yeilding to an opponents force rather than trying to oppose force with force. To manipulate an opponents attack using his force and direction, allow Ju Jitsuka to control the balance of their opponent and hence prevent the opponent from resisting the counter attack.

The Japanese characterised states of mind that a warrior should be able to adopt in combat to facilitate victory.

These include: an all-encompassing awareness, zanshin (literally "remaining spirit"), in which the practitioner is ready for anything, at any time; the spontaneity of mushin (literally "no mind") which allows immediate action without conscious thought; and a state of equanimity or imperturbability known as fudoshin (literally "immovable mind").

Together, these states of mind tremendously strengthen the jujutsu practitioners position during combat, allowing him the utmost potential for reactive action. Such effectiveness and the technical competence and mental mastery on which it stands, however, is possible only after a considerable period of serious and devoted training. In modern times such as our lifestyles limit practice, it can take 30 years to master our Ju Jitsu style. In ancient Japan, Ju Jitsu training dominated Samurai life and exponents would mature much quicker.

These various characteristics or components, taken together, largely describe the principal elements of traditional Japanese jujutsu. If most or all of these characteristics are not noticeable in a so-called jujutsu system, then the legitimacy of the system as bona fide Nihon jujutsu would be highly suspect. This is not to say that the system or school in question does not offer a good training program or effective techniques. It simply suggests that such a system may be more accurately labeled with some other term.

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Jujutsu as sport

Jui-Jitsu may not be considered by some to be a true "sport," but rather a learned skill or practice. Accordingly, genuine Ju Jutsu practitioners use every conceivable technique to win in combat. There are no rules in Ju Jutsu, and hence it may not be considered a sport. A "sport" must have rules. In Ju Jutsu the only goal is to survive or die honourably. In an attempt to modernise the samurai arts and preserve them in the modern world, the emperor instructed Jigaro Kano to re-organise the martial arts making them acceptable to a more westernised Japan. Those who would not accept Kano's Jiu-Do emigrated to Britain, France and the US. Thus Ju Jutsu became established in the west as Jiu-Do was taking hold in Japan. The essential difference between Ju Jutsu and Ju-Do is that those who practice Ju Jutsu do not accept the dilution of the Jutsu's devised by Kano, and prefer instead to maintain traditional training methods that served centuries of Samurai.

Those who seek to create a sport form of Ju Jutsu ought to consider that Ju-Do already exists, and a new format is not necessary. It is perhaps ironic, that as Ju-Do continues to evolve by removing risky techniques from its format, another split has occured. Those who enjoy more pugilism are now adopting the phrase 'Sport Ju Jutsu' or 'Brazilian Ju Jitsu' in order to distinguish themselves from practitioners of Ju-Do. This has led to the confusion we now have. Ju Jutsu (Ju Jitsu/Jiu Jitsu/Jiu Jutsu) is now an art, and a sport. Ju-Do is now a diluted form of 'Sport Ju Jutsu' in effect, although the evolution has occured from soft to less soft.

It is therefore vital that we all be aware of the distinctions between terms so avoiding argument. Ju Jutsu (Jitsu) should refer to the combat systems practiced in their original forms pre Jigaro Kano. Ju-Do should be considered an altered form of Ju-Jutsu that removes components considered to be dangerous, and because it has strict rules should be considered a sport and not a combat system. 'Sport Ju Jutsu' and Brazilian Ju Jitsu should be considered as another divergence of Ju Jutsu from art to sport. Sport Ju Jitsu has rules which confine the availible strategies to win. Therefore one can consider it diluted Ju Jutsu but in a way divergent to that of Ju-Do. Not only does Ju Jutsu maintain the instruction of dangerous techniques, such as throwing a person from a standing position while having an arm in a jointlock, which can result in serious injuries. Ju Jutsu also maintains the emphasis on co operative training. This prevents fatal injury, and alows the pupil to learn the full breadth of a techniques dynamic (from static learning to dynamic combat) in a progressive fashion. This is why it can take a student in excess of 20 years to mature as an exponent (in our modern world). In Ju Jutsu, by ethos there are no rules, and practitioners train in the use of many potentially fatal moves. However, because students train in a non competitive environment, training in Ju Jutsu is perhaps as risky as training to ice skate or gymnastics. Students are taught all necessary break falling skills to allow them to routinely practice otherwise fatal throws.

Ju Jutsu is not a mixture of Karate-Do and Ju-do. As a fighting system, it would be lying to describe it as just a mixture of striking, throwing, kicking, trapping and grappling. As an art of course it utilises these tools. Ju Jutsu is to Sport Ju Jutsu as a house is to a tent. A house takes a long time to build and requires solid foundations. Building a house requires the co-operation of a great many skills, and is not competitive. Once built, a house can keep out theives and surive much bad weather and cold. A tent on the other hand is a simple design that keeps out the rain and allows temporary residence. A glorified umbrella if you like. If simple boxing is like the umbrella, Sport Ju Jutsu is like the tent, Ju-Do like the caravan and Ju Jutsu/Gung Fu are the houses.

Many people prefer to learn sport just as many people are not prepared to build a house. Its easier to put up a tent, and simpler to master. Such pugalists fight in competition using a method they glorify as 'fighting system'. This system consists of one round of combat with phases stolen from Karate, Ju-Do and Wrestling. In the first phase, only atemi (striking) are allowed. In the next phase, grappling and throwing are added, but continuing on the ground (newaza) is not allowed. In the last phase, groundfighting is allowed, including chokeholds. Only 'half-contact' is used, meaning that striking is allowed but serious attempts to knock out the opponent (as in boxing) are prohibited. This allows people to believe they are involved in ultimate fighting, whilst knowing that really, knowbody is going to be killed as in real combat. Judges award points for techniques used and the fighter with the most points wins. This essentially means that you get points for applying techniques that in reality would not effectivly function in combat

Another mode of training in Ju Jitsu deals with multiple attacks. This in recent years has also become perverted into a form of competition. 2 defenders will take their places in the center of the mat (tatami), surrounded by 4 attackers, 1 on each corner of the mat. The attackers will choose who and how to attack. A defender can therefore be faced with 0 to 4 opponents at a time. Attacks must be straightforward, without feints (obviously faining is considered to sneaky for delicate palattes). This is also 'half-contact.' Competition is one round of 2 minutes. There are 3 judges who will indicate at the end of the round which defender did the best job of defending himself according to the rules. The judges watch not only for effectiveness of individual techniques, but also how the defender keeps oversight and control of the situation when faced with multiple attacker (Judges delight at watching 2 unskilled exponents getting a good beating from the 4 attackers, those who dance better and avoid complete humiliation win). You get disqualified if you actually make a technique work and accidentally harm your attacker. Taking down one opponent with a difficult technique but leaving yourself open for the other attackers will not score very well (but the judges will have a great laugh at your expense, while using a simple attack (throwing your attacker in the way of the others) will defer your beating by a few seconds so impressing the judges.

A third competition method is called 'duo system.' During such a competition, a couple of fighters (same sex or mixed) have to present a predetermined sequence of techniqes to demonstrate how moves can be creatively sequenced to form a skill.

'Combat Jujitsu' was developed by another group of pugilists who wanted to find another unique and creative way to overcome their boredom with boxing and judo. In Combat Jujitsu, two opponents spar for a maximum of two minutes and victory is determined primarily by submission (A term pertaining to a knockout as in boxing or the application of a technique that makes the opponent give up due to pain or bordom). Minimal padding on the feet, hands and head is allowed so that if by accident one of the opponents breaks the rules and actually forgets to pull the punch, the victim does not suffer the normal consequences of actual combat. Strikes and throws are 'full contact'( a phrase pertaining to mean; more than just a slap but less than what would be required to kill outright) while both opponents are upright but strikes to the head are not allowed when on the floor (This is because on the floor your ment to grapple not win by way of using one's brain). Nerve strikes and joint locks are 'half contact' (Thus preventing their use as adequate strategy of overcoming an opponent.

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What's in a name?

Jujutsu, Jujitsu, Jiu Jitsu; there are a wide range of spellings used in English for this Japanese martial art. In the native Japanese, jūjutsu is written in kanji (Japanese ideograms) as 柔術, but the romanization of the Japanese word into the English language has been performed several times using several different systems. Japan was bullied out of isolation in 1854 because American colonialists treatened to attack Japan with its modern navel armardour if Japan didn't open up to trade with the west. Japan had not developed such modern weapons because it had been in frequent cival war for hundreds of years. Japan reluctantly agreed to suplicate and this led to the desolution of the Samurai class and the unique Japanese culture. The result of this assimilation was the conversion of Ju Jitsu systems to Jui-Do. To this affect we can say that western powers affectively try to force other nations cultural practices into extinction by the treat of use of force, demanding that they adopt western standards of civility.

Jujutsu, the current standard, is derived using the Hepburn romanization system. Before the first half of the 20th century, however, jiu-jitsu and then jujitsu were preferred. Since this corresponded to a period of time when Japanese martial arts first became widely known of in the West, these earlier spellings are still common in many places, though the romanization of the second kanji as jitsu is unfaithful to the Japanese pronunciation.

The Chinese character 柔 (Chinese language|Mandarin: róu; Japanese language|Japanese: jū) is the same as the first one in 柔道 (Mandarin: róudào; Japanese: judo). The Chinese character 術 (Mandarin: shù; Japanese: jutsu) is the same as the second one in 武術 (Mandarin: wǔshù)

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Father of a large family of derivatives

Because jujutsu is both so encompassing and has its origin hundreds of years ago, it has become the foundation for a variety of styles and derivations today. As each instructor incorporated new techniques and tactics to what was taught to him originally, he could codify and create his own ryu or school. Some of these schools modified the source material so much that they no longer considered themselves a breed of jujutsu. Modern judo is the classic example of an 'Sport' which was derived from jujutsu but is today distinct. Another layer removed, some popular arts had instructors who studied one of these jujutsu-derivatives and made their own derivative succeed in competition. This creates an extensive family of martial arts and sports which can trace their lineage to jujutsu in some part. Brazilian jiu-jitsu has dominated the TV grappling competitions, as the rules of such competions favours that style of grappling, and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu has furthered modern grappling onto new levels.


The schools of jujitsu:


After the transplantation of traditional Japanese jujitsu to the west, many of these more traditional styles underwent a process of adaptation at the hands of western practitioners, molding the arts of jujitsu to suit western culture in its myriad varieties. There are today many distinctly westernized styles of jujitsu, a few of which stick to the roots and basics of ancient Ju Jitsu, but many of which do not. Some schools of Ju Jitsu in the west have dubious heretige and are not regulated by governing bodies - it is important to try a number of schools and carefully consider whether the students of a school can actually make their techniques work.

Ju Jitsu associations and schools


The following martial arts have derived from or are influenced by jujutsu or have founding instructors that studied a derivative of jujutsu.

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See also

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External links

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