Jujutsu ( ; ja, link=no, 柔術 , ), also known as jiu-jitsu and ju-jitsu, is a family of
Japanese martial art
Japanese martial arts refers to the variety of martial arts native to the country of Japan. At least three Japanese terms (''budō'', ''bujutsu'', and ''bugei'') are used interchangeably with the English phrase Japanese martial arts.
The usag ...
s and a system of close combat (unarmed or with a minor weapon) that can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subdue one or more weaponless or armed and armored opponents.
Jiu-jitsu dates back to the 1530s and was coined by Hisamori Tenenouchi when he officially established the first jiu-jitsu school in Japan. This form of martial arts uses few or no weapons at all and includes strikes, throws, holds, and paralyzing attacks against the enemy. Jujutsu developed from the warrior class around the
17th century
The 17th century lasted from January 1, 1601 ( MDCI), to December 31, 1700 ( MDCC). It falls into the early modern period of Europe and in that continent (whose impact on the world was increasing) was characterized by the Baroque cultural moveme ...
in Japan. It was designed to supplement the swordsmanship of a warrior during combat. A
subset
In mathematics, Set (mathematics), set ''A'' is a subset of a set ''B'' if all Element (mathematics), elements of ''A'' are also elements of ''B''; ''B'' is then a superset of ''A''. It is possible for ''A'' and ''B'' to be equal; if they are ...
of techniques from certain styles of jujutsu were used to develop many modern
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; a ...
and
combat sport
A combat sport, or fighting sport, is a competitive contact sport that usually involves one-on-one combat. In many combat sports, a contestant wins by scoring more points than the opponent, submitting the opponent with a hold, disabling the oppon ...
s, such as
judo
is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponi ...
,
aikido
Aikido ( , , , ) is a modern Japanese martial art that is split into many different styles, including Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Aikikai and Ki Aikido. Aikido is now practiced in around 1 ...
,
sambo
, aka = Sombo (in English-speaking countries)
, focus = Hybrid
, country = Soviet Union
, pioneers = Viktor Spiridonov, Vasili Oshchepkov, Anatoly Kharlampiev
, famous_pract = List of Practitioners
, oly ...
,
ARB,
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting (ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...
, and
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...
. The official date of foundation of Jiu Jitsu is 1530.
Characteristics
"
Jū" can be translated as "gentle, soft, supple, flexible, pliable, or yielding", and "
jutsu" can be translated as "art or technique". "Jujutsu" thus has the meaning of "yielding-art", as its core philosophy is to
manipulate the opponent's force against themself rather than confronting it with one's own force.
Jujutsu developed to combat the
samurai
were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retainers of the '' daimyo'' (the great feudal landholders). They h ...
of
feudal Japan
The first human inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago have been traced to Japanese Paleolithic, prehistoric times around 30,000 BC. The Jōmon period, named after its cord-marked pottery, was followed by the Yayoi period in the first millenni ...
as a method for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no form of weapon, or only a short weapon.
Because striking against an armored opponent proved ineffective, practitioners learned that the most efficient methods for neutralizing an enemy took the form of pins,
joint locks
A joint lock is a grappling technique involving manipulation of an opponent's joints in such a way that the joints reach their maximal degree of motion and hyperextension.
In judō these are referred to as, 関節技 ''kansetsu-waza'', "joint loc ...
, and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker's energy against them, rather than directly opposing it.
There are many variations of the art, which leads to a diversity of approaches. Jujutsu schools (''
ryū'') may utilize all forms of grappling techniques to some degree (e.g.,
throwing
Throwing is an action which consists in accelerating a projectile and then releasing it so that it follows a ballistic trajectory, usually with the aim of impacting a remote target. This action is best characterized for animals with prehensile ...
,
takedowns, leg sweeps, trapping, pins,
joint lock
A joint lock is a grappling technique involving manipulation of an opponent's joints in such a way that the joints reach their maximal degree of motion and hyperextension.
In judō these are referred to as, 関節技 ''kansetsu-waza'', "joint loc ...
s,
holds,
chokehold
A chokehold, choke, stranglehold or, in Judo, shime-waza ( ja, 絞技, translation=constriction technique) is a general term for a grappling hold that critically reduces or prevents either air (choking)''The New Oxford Dictionary of English'' ( ...
s, strangulation, gouging, biting, hair pulling, disengagements, and
striking). In addition to jujutsu, many schools teach the use of
weapon
A weapon, arm or armament is any implement or device that can be used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime, law enforcement, s ...
s. Today, jujutsu is practiced in both traditional self-defense oriented and modern sports forms. Derived sport forms include the
Olympic sport
Olympic sports are contested in the Summer Olympic Games and Winter Olympic Games. The 2020 Summer Olympics included 33 sports; the 2022 Winter Olympics included seven sports. Each Olympic sport is represented by an international governing b ...
and martial art of
judo
is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponi ...
, which was developed by
Kanō Jigorō
was a Japanese educator, athlete, and the founder of Judo. Along with Ju-Jutsu, Judo was one of the first Japanese martial arts to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic sport. Pedagogical inno ...
in the late 19th century from several traditional styles of jujutsu, and
sambo
, aka = Sombo (in English-speaking countries)
, focus = Hybrid
, country = Soviet Union
, pioneers = Viktor Spiridonov, Vasili Oshchepkov, Anatoly Kharlampiev
, famous_pract = List of Practitioners
, oly ...
and
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting (ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...
, which were derived from earlier (pre–World War II) versions of Kodokan judo that had more emphasis on
ground fighting
Ground fighting (also called ground work or ground game) is hand-to-hand combat which takes place while the combatants are on the ground. The term is commonly used in mixed martial arts and other combat sports, as well as various forms of martial ...
(which also caused the creation of
kosen judo).
Etymology
''Jujutsu'', the standard
English language
English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, with its earliest forms spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the is ...
spelling, is derived using the
Hepburn romanization system. Before the first half of the 20th century, however, ''jiu-Jitsu'' and ''ju-jitsu'' were preferred, even though the romanization of the second
kanji
are the logographic Chinese characters taken from the Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script and used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese ...
as ''Jitsu'' is not faithful to the standard Japanese pronunciation. It was a non-standardized spelling resulting from how English-speakers heard the second short u in the word, which is pronounced /ɯ/ and therefore close to a short English i. This may also be a reflection of the
speech of Shitamachi that merges 'ju' into 'ji'. Since Japanese martial arts first became widely known of in the West in that time period, these earlier spellings are still common in many places. ''Ju-jitsu'' is still a common spelling in France, Canada, and the United Kingdom while ''jiu-jitsu'' is most widely used in Germany and Brazil. Different from the Japanese pronunciation, the word ''Jujutsu'' is still usually pronounced as if it is spelled ''jujitsu'' in the United States.
Some define jujutsu 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 parrying or blocking 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. As ''jujutsu'' is a collective term, some schools or
ryu adopted
the principle of ju more than others.
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 ''
jutte
A is a specialized weapon that was used by police in Edo period Japan (1603 – 1868).
History
In feudal Japan, it was a crime punishable by death to bring a sword into the ''shōgun''s palace. This law applied to almost everyone, including the ...
'' (truncheon; also called jitter), ''
tantō
A is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ( ''nihonto'') that were worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The tantō dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ...
'' (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
A is a type of traditionally made Japanese sword (''nihonto'') worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. ''Tachi'' and ''katana'' generally differ in length, degree of curvature, and how they were worn when sheathed, the latter depending on t ...
'' (sword), ''
yari
is the term for a traditionally-made Japanese blade (日本刀; nihontō) in the form of a spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. The martial art of wielding the is called .
History
The forerunner of the is thought to be a ...
'' (spear), ''
naginata
The ''naginata'' (, ) is a pole weapon and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades (''nihontō''). ''Naginata'' were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei ( ...
'' (
glaive
A glaive (or glave) is a European polearm, consisting of a single-edged blade on the end of a pole. It is similar to the Japanese naginata, the Chinese guandao, the Korean woldo, and the Russian sovnya.
Overview
Typically, the blade is arou ...
), ''
jō'' (short staff), and ''
bō'' (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 period
The was a period in History of Japan, Japanese history of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 to 1615.
The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the Feudalism, feudal system of Japan under the ...
(1467–1603) ''katchu bu Jutsu'' or ''yoroi kumiuchi'' (fighting with weapons or grappling while clad in armor), or
Edo period
The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characteriz ...
(1603–1867) ''suhada bu Jutsu'' (fighting while dressed in the normal street clothing of the period,
kimono
The is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The kimono is a wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn left side wrapped over right, unless the wearer is deceased. The kimono ...
and
hakama
are a type of traditional Japanese clothing. Originally stemming from (), the trousers worn by members of the Chinese imperial court in the Sui and Tang dynasties, this style was adopted by the Japanese in the form of in the 6th centu ...
).
The first Chinese character of ''jujutsu'' () is the same as the first one in ''
judo
is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponi ...
'' (). The second Chinese character of ''jujutsu'' () is the same as the second one in ''
bujutsu'' ().
History
![Bundesarchiv Bild 102-00504, Berlin, Turn- und Sportwoche im Lustgarten](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-00504%2C_Berlin%2C_Turn-_und_Sportwoche_im_Lustgarten.jpg)
Origins
The written history of Jujutsu first began during the
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from CE 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara). Except for a five-year period (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the cap ...
(c. 710 – c. 794) combining early forms of
Sumo
is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (''dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by thr ...
and various Japanese
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; a ...
which were used on the
battlefield
A battlefield, battleground, or field of battle is the location of a present or historic battle involving ground warfare. It is commonly understood to be limited to the point of contact between opposing forces, though battles may involve troops ...
for close combat. The oldest known styles of Jujutsu are,
Shinden Fudo-ryū
Shinden Fudo-ryū (Immovable Heart School) was a school of Japanese martial arts.
Founded in around 1130CE by Ganpachiro Temeyoshi, Shinden Fudo is one of the oldest styles of Jujutsu. It focuses on working with one's natural surroundings, and a ...
(c. 1130),
Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
Written as 天眞正傳香取神道流 before adoption (1946) of Tōyō kanji. is one of the oldest extant Japanese martial arts, and an exemplar of '' bujutsu''. The Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū was founded by Iizasa Ienao, born in 13 ...
(c. 1447), and
Takenouchi-ryū
is one of the oldest jujutsu koryū in Japan. It was founded in 1532, the first year of Tenbun, on the twenty-fourth of the sixth lunar month by Takenouchi Chūnagon Daijō Nakatsukasadaiyū Hisamori, the lord of Ichinose Castle in Sakushū ...
, which was founded in 1530s. Many jujutsu forms also extensively taught parrying and counterattacking long weapons such as swords or spears via a dagger or other small weapons. In contrast to the neighbouring nations of
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
and
Okinawa
is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).
Naha is the capital and largest city ...
whose martial arts made greater use of
striking techniques, Japanese hand-to-hand combat forms focused heavily upon
throwing
Throwing is an action which consists in accelerating a projectile and then releasing it so that it follows a ballistic trajectory, usually with the aim of impacting a remote target. This action is best characterized for animals with prehensile ...
(including joint-locking throws), immobilizing,
joint locks
A joint lock is a grappling technique involving manipulation of an opponent's joints in such a way that the joints reach their maximal degree of motion and hyperextension.
In judō these are referred to as, 関節技 ''kansetsu-waza'', "joint loc ...
,
choking
Choking, also known as foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO), is a phenomenon that occurs when breathing is impeded by a blockage inside of the respiratory tract. An obstruction that prevents oxygen from entering the lungs results in oxygen de ...
,
strangulation
Strangling is compression of the neck that may lead to unconsciousness or death by causing an increasingly hypoxic state in the brain. Fatal strangling typically occurs in cases of violence, accidents, and is one of two main ways that hanging ...
, and to lesser extent
ground fighting
Ground fighting (also called ground work or ground game) is hand-to-hand combat which takes place while the combatants are on the ground. The term is commonly used in mixed martial arts and other combat sports, as well as various forms of martial ...
.
In the early 17th century during the
Edo period
The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characteriz ...
, jujutsu would continue to evolve due to the strict laws which were imposed by the
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate (, Japanese 徳川幕府 ''Tokugawa bakufu''), also known as the , was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Tokugawa-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia ...
to reduce war as influenced by the Chinese social philosophy of
Neo-Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism (, often shortened to ''lǐxué'' 理學, literally "School of Principle") is a moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy
Chinese philosophy originates in the Spring and Autumn period () and Wa ...
which was obtained during
Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea and spread throughout Japan via scholars such as
Fujiwara Seika
was a Japanese Neo-Confucian philosopher and writer during the Edo period.
His most well-known student was Hayashi Razan (1583–1657).
Life
He was born in Harima Province (now Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture) on February 8, 1561 to the Reize ...
. During this new ideology, weapons and armor became unused decorative items, so hand-to-hand combat flourished as a form of self-defense and new techniques were created to adapt to the changing situation of unarmored opponents. This included the development of various striking techniques in jujutsu which expanded upon the limited striking previously found in jujutsu which targeted vital areas above the shoulders such as the eyes, throat, and back of the neck. However towards the 18th century the number of striking techniques was severely reduced as they were considered less effective and exert too much energy; instead striking in jujutsu primarily became used as a way to distract the opponent or to unbalance him in the lead up to a joint lock, strangle or throw.
During the same period the numerous jujutsu schools would challenge each other to duels which became a popular pastime for warriors under a peaceful unified government, from these challenges
randori
is a term used in Japanese martial arts to describe free-style practice (sparring). The term denotes an exercise in 取り ''tori'', applying technique to a random ( 乱 ''ran'') succession of ''uke'' attacks.
The actual connotation of ''rand ...
was created to practice without risk of breaking the law and the various styles of each school evolved from combating each other without intention to kill.
The term ''jūjutsu'' was not coined until the 17th century, after which time it became a blanket term for a wide variety of grappling-related disciplines and techniques. Prior to that time, these skills had names such as , , , , , , and even the (as early as 1724, almost two centuries before Kanō Jigorō founded the modern art of Kodokan
judo
is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponi ...
).
Today, the systems of unarmed combat that were developed and practiced during the
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate (''Muromachi bakufu'' or ''Ashikaga bakufu''), which was officially established in 1338 by t ...
(1333–1573) are referred to collectively as . At this period in history, the systems practiced were not systems of unarmed combat, but rather means for an unarmed or lightly armed warrior to fight a heavily armed and armored enemy on the battlefield. In battle, it was often impossible for a samurai to use his long sword or polearm, and would, therefore, be forced to rely on his short sword, dagger, or bare hands. When fully armored, the effective use of such "minor" weapons necessitated the employment of grappling skills.
Methods of combat (as mentioned above) included striking (kicking and punching), various
takedowns, trips, throwing (body throws, shoulder and hip throws, joint-locking throws, sacrifice throws, unbalance and leg sweeping throws), restraining (pinning, strangling, grappling, wrestling, and rope tying) and weaponry. Defensive tactics included blocking, evading, off-balancing, blending and escaping. Minor weapons such as the ''
tantō
A is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ( ''nihonto'') that were worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The tantō dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ...
'' (knife), ''
ryofundo kusari'' (weighted chain), ''
kabuto wari'' (helmet breaker), and ''Kaku shi buki'' (secret or disguised weapons) were almost always included in Sengoku jujutsu.
Development
In later times, other
ko-ryū
is a Japanese term for any kind of Japanese school of traditional arts. The term literally translates as "old school" (''ko''—old, '' ryū''—school) or "traditional school". It is sometimes also translated as "old style".
Martial Arts
It ...
developed into systems more familiar to the practitioners of ''Nihon jujutsu'' commonly seen today. These are correctly classified as ''Edo jūjutsu'' (founded during the
Edo period
The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characteriz ...
): they are generally designed to deal with opponents neither wearing armor nor in a battlefield environment but instead utilize grips and holds on opponent's
clothing
Clothing (also known as clothes, apparel, and attire) are items worn on the body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials and natural ...
. Most systems of Edo jujutsu include extensive use of ''atemi waza'' (vital-striking technique), which would be of little use against an armored opponent on a battlefield. They would, however, be quite valuable in confronting an enemy or opponent during peacetime dressed in normal street attire (referred to as "suhada bujutsu"). Occasionally, inconspicuous weapons such as
tantō
A is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ( ''nihonto'') that were worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The tantō dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ...
(daggers) or
tessen (iron fans) were included in the curriculum of Edo jūjutsu.
![Enseignement_méthodique_et_pratique_du_jiu-jitsu_(1911)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Enseignement_m%C3%A9thodique_et_pratique_du_jiu-jitsu_%281911%29.jpg)
Another seldom-seen historical side is a series of techniques originally included in both Sengoku and Edo jujutsu systems. Referred to as ''Hojo waza'' (
hojojutsu, ''Tori Nawa Jutsu'', ''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 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. Since the establishment of the Meiji period with the abolishment of the Samurai and the wearing of swords, the ancient tradition of ''
Yagyū Shingan-ryū
, is a traditional school ('' koryū'') of Japanese martial arts. Different styles of Yagyū Shingan-ryū, such as Heihojutsu and Taijutsu, assert different founders, Takenaga Hayato and Araki Mataemon respectively, but they all go back to Ush ...
'' (Sendai and Edo lines) has focused much towards the Jujutsu (Yawara) contained in its syllabus.
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 were founded after or towards the end of the
Tokugawa period
The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional ''daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characterize ...
(1868) when more than 2000 schools (''ryū'') of jūjutsu existed. Various supposedly traditional ryu and ryuha that are commonly thought of as koryu jujutsu are actually
gendai jūjutsu. Although modern in formation, very few gendai Jujutsu systems have direct historical links to ancient traditions and are incorrectly referred to as traditional martial systems or koryu. Their curriculum reflects an obvious bias towards techniques from judo and Edo jūjutsu systems, and sometimes have little to no emphasis on standing armlocks and joint-locking throws that were common in Koryu styles. They also usually do not teach usage of traditional weapons as opposed to the Sengoku jūjutsu systems that did. The improbability of confronting an armor-clad attacker and using traditional weapons is the reason for this bias.
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.
Jujutsu techniques have been the basis for many military unarmed combat techniques (including British/US/Russian special forces and SO1 police units) for many years. Since the early 1900s, every military service in the world has an unarmed combat course that has been founded on the principal teachings of jujutsu.
In the early 1900s
Edith Garrud
Edith Margaret Garrud (''née'' Williams; 1872–1971) was a British martial arts, martial artist, Suffrage, suffragist and playwright. She was the first British female teacher of jujutsu and one of the first female martial arts instructors in ...
became the first British female teacher of jujutsu, and one of the first female martial arts instructors in the Western world.
There are many forms of sports jujutsu, the original and most popular being judo, now an Olympic sport. One of the most common is mixed-style competitions, where competitors apply a variety of strikes, throws, and holds to score points. There are also
kata
''Kata'' is a Japanese word ( 型 or 形) meaning "form". It refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of martial arts movements made to be practised alone. It can also be reviewed within groups and in unison when training. It is practised ...
competitions, where competitors of the same style perform techniques and are judged on their performance. There are also freestyle competitions, where competitors take turns attacking each other, and the defender is judged on performance. Another more recent form of competition growing much more popular in Europe is the Random Attack form of competition, which is similar to
Randori
is a term used in Japanese martial arts to describe free-style practice (sparring). The term denotes an exercise in 取り ''tori'', applying technique to a random ( 乱 ''ran'') succession of ''uke'' attacks.
The actual connotation of ''rand ...
but more formalized.
Description
The word Jujutsu can be broken down into two parts. "Ju" is a concept. The idea behind this meaning of Ju is "to be gentle", "to give way", "to yield", "to blend", "to move out of harm's way". "Jutsu" is the principle or "the action" part of ju-jutsu. In Japanese this word means art.
Japanese jujutsu systems typically put more emphasis on
throwing
Throwing is an action which consists in accelerating a projectile and then releasing it so that it follows a ballistic trajectory, usually with the aim of impacting a remote target. This action is best characterized for animals with prehensile ...
,
pinning Pinning may refer to:
* Pinning, the effect of certain weapons that cause their targets to be pinned down
* Pinning ceremony (nursing), a symbolic welcoming of new graduates into the nursing profession
* Pinning force, a force acting on a pinned ...
, and
joint-locking techniques as compared with
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; a ...
such as
karate
(; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ) is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tii'' in Okinawan) under the ...
, which rely more on
striking techniques. Striking techniques were seen as less important in most older
Japanese systems because of the protection of
samurai
were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retainers of the '' daimyo'' (the great feudal landholders). They h ...
body armor and because they were considered less effective than throws and grappling so were mostly used as set-ups for their
grappling
Grappling, in hand-to-hand combat, describes sports that consist of gripping or seizing the opponent. Grappling is used at close range to gain a physical advantage over an opponent, either by imposing a position or causing injury. Grappling i ...
techniques and throws, although some styles, such as
Yōshin-ryū
("The School of the Willow Heart") is a common name for one of several different martial traditions founded in Japan during the Edo period. The most popular and well-known was the Yōshin-ryū founded by physician Akiyama Shirōbei Yoshitoki a ...
,
Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū
, meaning "Divine True Willow School", can be classified as a traditional school ('' koryū'') of jujutsu. It was founded by in the 1830s. Its syllabus comprises ''atemi-waza'' (striking techniques), ''nage-waza'' (throwing techniques), ''tor ...
and
Kyushin-ryū
is a form of the martial art Jujutsu consisting of striking, throwing and grappling techniques. It was developed by the Samurai in feudal Japan as a method of dispatching an armored (and often armed) opponent using unarmed techniques. According to ...
had more emphasis on striking. However, many modern-day jujutsu schools include striking, both as a set-up for further techniques or as a stand-alone action.
In jujutsu, practitioners train in the use of many potentially fatal or crippling moves, such as joint-locking throws. However, because students mostly train in a non-competitive environment, the risk is minimized. Students are taught
break falling skills to allow them to safely practice otherwise dangerous
throws.
Old schools and derivations
As jujutsu has so many facets, it has become the foundation for a variety of styles and derivations today. As each instructor incorporated new techniques and tactics into what was taught to them originally, they codified and developed their own
ryu (school) or Federation to help other instructors, schools, and clubs. Some of these schools modified the source material enough that they no longer consider themselves a style of jujutsu. Arguments and discussions amongst the martial arts fraternity have evoked to the topic of whether specific methods are in fact not jujitsu at all. Tracing the history of a specific school can be cumbersome and impossible in some circumstances.
Around the year 1600 there were over 2000 jujutsu
ko-ryū
is a Japanese term for any kind of Japanese school of traditional arts. The term literally translates as "old school" (''ko''—old, '' ryū''—school) or "traditional school". It is sometimes also translated as "old style".
Martial Arts
It ...
styles, most with at least some common descent, characteristics, and shared techniques. Specific technical characteristics, list of techniques, and the way techniques were performed varied from school to school. Many of the generalizations noted above do not hold true for some schools of jujutsu. Schools of jujutsu with long lineages include:
*
Asayama Ichiden-ryū 浅山一傳流
* Akishima-ryū/Akijima-ryū
*
Araki-ryū
* Araki-ryu gunyo-kogusoku
* Maebashi-Han Araki-ryū
* Enka-ryū
* Fuhen-ryū
* Futagami-ryū
* Fuji-ryū Goshindo
*
Dait%C5%8D-ry%C5%AB Aiki-j%C5%ABjutsu
, originally called , is a Japanese martial art that first became widely known in the early 20th century under the headmastership of Takeda Sōkaku. Takeda had extensive training in several martial arts (including Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ry ...
*
Fusen-ryū
was a koryū, traditional school of jujutsu founded by Motsugai Takeda. It contains a complete system of martial arts, including unarmed fighting (''jujutsu''), staff (''bōjutsu''), short staff (''jojutsu''), sword (''kenjutsu''), sword drawing ...
不遷流
*
Gyokushin-ryū
* Hoshiyama-ryū
* Hongaku Kokki-ryū 本覚克己流
*
Hontai Yōshin-ryū 本體楊心流(Takagi Ryu)高木流
* Shingetsu Muso Yanagi-ryū
*
Iga-ryū
is an umbrella term for ninjutsu traditions that come from the Iga region, according to Japanese legend. It became one of the two most well-known ninja traditions in Japan. The ''Iga-ryū'' traditions originated in the Iga Province in the area ar ...
為我流
* Iga-ryūha-Katsushin-ryu 為我流派勝新流柔術
* Ishiguro-ryū 石黒流
*
Kashima Shin-ryū
is a Japanese ''koryū'' martial art whose foundation dates back to the early 16th century.Karl Friday, Friday, Karl F. with Seki Humitake, ''Legacies of the Sword: The Kashima Shin-ryū and Samurai Martial Culture'', Honolulu: University of Ha ...
鹿島神流
* Jigō Tenshin-ryū/Ise Jitoku Tenshin-ryū
* Jishukan-ryū
* Jikishin-ryū
* Koden Koppo Taijutsu Genryu Tenshin-ryū
* Kosogabe-ryū
* Kensō-ryū 兼相流
* Kijin Chosui-ryū/Hontai Kijin Chosui-ryū
* Kiraku-ryū 気楽流
*
Kitō-ryū
is a traditional school ('' koryū'') of the Japanese martial art of jujutsu. Its syllabus comprises ''atemi-waza'' (striking techniques), ''nage-waza'' (throwing techniques), ''kansetsu-waza'' (joint locking techniques) and ''shime-waza'' ( ...
起倒流
* Takenaka-ha Kitō-ryū
*
Kukishin-ryū
, originally "Nine Gods Divine (from heaven) School" (also translated as "Nine Demon Divine (from heaven) School" by many modern groups having different lineages) is a Japanese martial art allegedly founded in the 14th century CE by Kuki Yaku ...
九鬼神流
* Kasumi Shin-ryū
* Enshin-ryū
*
Kyushin-ryū
is a form of the martial art Jujutsu consisting of striking, throwing and grappling techniques. It was developed by the Samurai in feudal Japan as a method of dispatching an armored (and often armed) opponent using unarmed techniques. According to ...
* Natsuhara-ryū 夏原流(夢想直伝流)
* Nanba Ippo-ryū
* Namba Shoshin-ryū
*
Sekiguchi-ryū
, or , is a Japanese martial arts, Japanese martial art founded in the mid-17th century, notable for its Kenjutsu, Iaijutsu, and Jujutsu, including the art of kyusho-jutsu.
History
The founder of Sekiguchi ryu was Sekiguchi Yarokuemon Ujimune, a ...
関口流
* Senshin-ryū
* Shosho-ryū
* Shinto Tenshin-ryū/Tenshin Ko-ryū
* Shin no Shintō-ryū
*
Shindō Yōshin-ryū
, meaning "New Willow School" is a traditional school ('' ko-ryū'') of Japanese martial arts, teaching primarily the art of ''jūjutsu''. The first kanji of the name originally translated into "新=New", but in the mainline branch the kanji for ...
神道楊心流
* Shibukawa-ryū 渋川流
* Shibukawa Ichi-ryū
* Shiten-ryū
* Shishin Takuma-ryū
*
Shinden Fudo-ryū
Shinden Fudo-ryū (Immovable Heart School) was a school of Japanese martial arts.
Founded in around 1130CE by Ganpachiro Temeyoshi, Shinden Fudo is one of the oldest styles of Jujutsu. It focuses on working with one's natural surroundings, and a ...
* Shinnuki-ryū
* Shin no Shindo-ryū
* Shinkage-ryū
*
Sōsuishi-ryū
is a Koryū, traditional Japanese martial art founded in 1650 that focuses on Kumi Uchi (jujutsu) and Koshi no Mawari (iaijutsu and kenjutsu). The title of the school also appears in ancient densho (scrolls documenting the ryuha) as Sōsuishi-ry ...
双水執流 (Sosuishitsu-ryū)
*
Takenouchi-ryū
is one of the oldest jujutsu koryū in Japan. It was founded in 1532, the first year of Tenbun, on the twenty-fourth of the sixth lunar month by Takenouchi Chūnagon Daijō Nakatsukasadaiyū Hisamori, the lord of Ichinose Castle in Sakushū ...
竹内流
* Takenouchi Santo-ryū
* Takenouchi Hogan-ryū
* Bitchū Den Takenouchi-ryū
*
Tatsumi-ryū
is a traditional school ('' koryū'') of Japanese martial arts founded in the early 16th century by Tatsumi Sankyo.
History
Tatsumi Sankyo was born in what is now Ehime Prefecture, Japan, on Shikoku island. He is thought to have been active as ...
立身流
* Tatsumi Shin-ryu
* Takagi-ryū
*
Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
Written as 天眞正傳香取神道流 before adoption (1946) of Tōyō kanji. is one of the oldest extant Japanese martial arts, and an exemplar of '' bujutsu''. The Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū was founded by Iizasa Ienao, born in 13 ...
*
Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū
, meaning "Divine True Willow School", can be classified as a traditional school ('' koryū'') of jujutsu. It was founded by in the 1830s. Its syllabus comprises ''atemi-waza'' (striking techniques), ''nage-waza'' (throwing techniques), ''tor ...
天神真楊流
* Ito-ha Shin'yō-ryū
*
Tsutsumi Hōzan-ryū (Original)
* Inotani-ryū
* Iwaga-ryū
*
Tennen Rishin-ryū
is a Japanese martial art, commonly known as the style practiced by several core members of the Shinsengumi.
Origins
The Tennen Rishin ryu is a traditional swordsmanship school, codified during the Kansei Era (1789–1801) by Kondō Kuranosuke ...
天然理心流
*
Yagyū Shingan-ryū
, is a traditional school ('' koryū'') of Japanese martial arts. Different styles of Yagyū Shingan-ryū, such as Heihojutsu and Taijutsu, assert different founders, Takenaga Hayato and Araki Mataemon respectively, but they all go back to Ush ...
柳生心眼流
* Goto-ha Yagyu Shingan-ryū
* Yamada-ryū
*
Yōshin-ryū
("The School of the Willow Heart") is a common name for one of several different martial traditions founded in Japan during the Edo period. The most popular and well-known was the Yōshin-ryū founded by physician Akiyama Shirōbei Yoshitoki a ...
楊心流
* Akiyama Yoshin-ryū
* Nakamura Yoshin Ko-ryū
* Kurama Yōshin-ryū
*
Totsuka-ha Yoshin-ryū
* Sakkatsu Yōshin-ryū
* Shin Shin-ryū
* Shin Yōshin-ryū
* Motoha Yōshin-ryū
*
Tagaki Yoshin-ryū
* Miura-ryū
* Mubyoshi-ryū
* Nagaoka Ken-ryū
* Nakazawa-ryū
* Oguri-ryū
* Otsubo-ryū
* Okamoto-ryū
* Ryugo-ryū
* Rikishin-ryū
*
Ryōi Shintō-ryū
Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu 良移心当流 柔術, (also known as Fukuno-ryū 福野流, Shintō Yawara 神当和, or Ryōi Shintō-ryū Yawara 良移心當流和) is a traditional school ( Koryū 古流, old style) of Jujutsu ( 柔術), foun ...
* Ryōi Shintō Kasahara-ryū
* Ryushin Katchu-ryū
* Yokokoro-ryū
Aikido
Aikido
Aikido ( , , , ) is a modern Japanese martial art that is split into many different styles, including Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Aikikai and Ki Aikido. Aikido is now practiced in around 1 ...
is a modern martial art developed primarily during the late 1920s through the 1930s by
Morihei Ueshiba
was a Japanese martial artist and founder of the martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher/Old Teacher (old as opposed to ''waka (young) sensei'')".
The son of a landowner from Tanabe, Ueshiba st ...
from the system of
Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu
, originally called , is a Japanese martial art that first became widely known in the early 20th century under the headmastership of Takeda Sōkaku. Takeda had extensive training in several martial arts (including Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ry ...
. Ueshiba was an accomplished student of
with aikido being a systemic refinement of defensive techniques from Aiki-Jujutsu in ways that are intended to prevent harm to either the attacker or the defender. Aikido changed much during Ueshiba's lifetime, so earlier styles (such as
Yoshinkan
Yoshinkan (養神館 ''Yōshinkan'' lit. "Hall of Spirit Cultivation") Aikido is a style of aikido that developed after World War II in the Yoshinkan Dojo of Gozo Shioda (1915–1994). Yoshinkan Aikido is often called the "hard" style of aikido ...
) are more like the original Aiki-Jujutsu than ones (such as
Ki-Aikido
or is a Japanese martial art, a gendai budo (contemporary martial art).
It is part of the martial arts derived from aikido, which appeared after its founder's death in 1969. It started in early 70's with the creation of the Ki Society of Koichi T ...
) that more resemble the techniques and philosophy that Ueshiba stressed towards the end of his life.
Wado Ryu Karate
Wadō-ryū (和道流) is one of the four major karate styles and was founded by Hironori Otsuka (1892–1982). Wadō-ryū is a hybrid of Japanese Martial Arts such as Shindō Yōshin-ryū Ju-jitsu, Shotokan Karate, and Shito Ryu Karate. The style itself places emphasis on not only striking, but tai sabaki, joint locks and throws. It has its origins within Tomari-te.
From one point of view, Wadō-ryū might be considered a style of jū-jutsu rather than karate. Hironori Ōtsuka embraced ju-jitsu and was its chief instructor for a time. When Ōtsuka first registered his school with the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai in 1938, the style was called "Shinshu Wadō-ryū Karate-Jūjutsu," a name that reflects its hybrid character. Ōtsuka was a licensed Shindō Yōshin-ryū practitioner and a student of Yōshin-ryū when he first met the Okinawan karate master Gichin Funakoshi. After having learned from Funakoshi, and after their split, with Okinawan masters such as Kenwa Mabuni and Motobu Chōki, Ōtsuka merged Shindō Yōshin-ryū with Okinawan karate. The result of Ōtsuka's efforts is Wadō-ryū Karate.
Bartitsu
Jujutsu was first introduced to Europe in 1898 by
Edward William Barton-Wright
Edward William Barton-Wright CE, FRSA, MJS (member of the Japan Society) (8 November 186013 September 1951) was an English entrepreneur specialising in both self defence training and physical therapy. He is remembered today as one of the fir ...
, who had studied
Tenjin Shinyō-ryū Tenjin may be:
* Tenjin (kami), the Shinto kami (spirit) of scholarship
* Tenjin, Fukuoka, Japan, the downtown region of the city
** Tenjin Station, a subway station
* Tenjin River, in Tottori Prefecture, Japan
* Tenjin Beach, a recreational beach ...
and
Shinden Fudo-ryū
Shinden Fudo-ryū (Immovable Heart School) was a school of Japanese martial arts.
Founded in around 1130CE by Ganpachiro Temeyoshi, Shinden Fudo is one of the oldest styles of Jujutsu. It focuses on working with one's natural surroundings, and a ...
in
Yokohama
is the second-largest city in Japan by population and the most populous municipality of Japan. It is the capital city and the most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a 2020 population of 3.8 million. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of To ...
and
Kobe
Kobe ( , ; officially , ) is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture Japan. With a population around 1.5 million, Kobe is Japan's seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Tokyo and Yokohama. It is located in Kansai region, whic ...
. He also trained briefly at the
Kodokan
The , or ''Kōdōkan'' (講道館), is the headquarters of the worldwide judo community. The ''kōdōkan'' was founded in 1882 by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo, and is now an eight-story building in Tokyo. Etymology
Literally, ''kō'' ( ...
in
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
. Upon returning to England he folded the basics of all of these styles, as well as
boxing
Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined ...
,
savate
Savate (), also known as boxe française, savate boxing, French boxing or French footfighting, is a French kickboxing combat sport that uses the hands and feet as weapons combining elements of English boxing with graceful kicking techniques.
...
, and forms of
stick fighting
Stick-fighting, stickfighting, or stick fighting is a variety of martial arts which use simple long, slender, blunt, hand-held, generally wooden "sticks" for fighting, such as a gun staff, bō, jō, walking stick, baston, arnis sticks or similar ...
, into an eclectic self-defence system called
Bartitsu.
Judo
![Kano Jigoro](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Kano_Jigoro.jpg)
Modern judo is the classic example of a sport that derived from jujutsu. Many who study judo believe as Kanō did, that judo is not a sport but a self-defense system creating a pathway towards peace and universal harmony. Another layer removed, some popular arts had instructors who studied one of these jujutsu derivatives and later made their own derivative succeed in competition. This created an extensive family of martial arts and sports that can trace their lineage to jujutsu in some part.
The way an opponent is dealt with also depends on the teacher's philosophy with regard to combat. This translates also in different styles or schools of jujutsu.
Not all jujutsu was used in sporting contests, but the practical use in the samurai world ended circa 1890. Techniques like hair-pulling, eye-poking, and groin attacks were and are not considered acceptable in sport, thus, they are excluded from judo competitions or
randori
is a term used in Japanese martial arts to describe free-style practice (sparring). The term denotes an exercise in 取り ''tori'', applying technique to a random ( 乱 ''ran'') succession of ''uke'' attacks.
The actual connotation of ''rand ...
. However, judo did preserve some more lethal, dangerous techniques in its
kata
''Kata'' is a Japanese word ( 型 or 形) meaning "form". It refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of martial arts movements made to be practised alone. It can also be reviewed within groups and in unison when training. It is practised ...
. The kata were intended to be practised by students of all grades but now are mostly practised formally as complete set-routines for performance, kata competition and grading, rather than as individual self-defense techniques in class. However, judo retained the full set of choking and strangling techniques for its sporting form and all manner of joint locks. Even judo's pinning techniques have pain-generating, spine-and-rib-squeezing and smothering aspects. A submission induced by a legal pin is considered a legitimate win. Kanō viewed the safe "contest" aspect of judo as an important part of learning how to control an opponent's body in a real fight. Kanō always considered judo a form of, and development of, jujutsu.
A judo technique starts with gripping the opponent, followed by off-balancing them and using their momentum against them, and then applying the technique. Kuzushi (the art of breaking balance) is also used in jujutsu, whereby an opponent's attack is deflected using their momentum against them in order to arrest their movements then throw them or pin them with a technique — thus controlling the opponent. It is known in both systems that kuzushi is essential in order to use as little energy as possible. Jujutsu differs from judo in a number of ways. In some circumstances, judoka generate kuzushi by striking one's opponent along his weak line. Other methods of generating kuzushi include grabbing, twisting, poking or striking areas of the body known as
atemi points or pressure points (areas of the body where nerves are close to the skin – see
kyusho-jitsu
derive from the supposed meridian points in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Indian Ayurveda and Siddha medicine, and martial arts. They refer to areas on the human body that may produce significant pain or other effects when manipulated in a specifi ...
) to unbalance opponent and set up throws.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting (ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...
(BJJ) was developed after
Mitsuyo Maeda
,Virgílio, pp. 22–25
a Brazilian naturalized as Otávio Maeda (),Virgílio, p. 9
was a Japanese ''judōka'' (judo practitioner) and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions, also being one of the first documented mixed martial artists of t ...
brought judo to Brazil in 1914. Maeda agreed to teach the art to
Luiz França
Luiz França Filho (1910–1982) was a Brazilian martial artist and one of the primary founders of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. França was a student of Soshihiro Satake, Geo Omori, and Mitsuyo Maeda, from whom he learned Kodokan judo (known prior to 1 ...
, Jacintho Ferro and
Carlos Gracie
Carlos Gracie (September 14, 1902October 7, 1994) was a Brazilian martial artist who is credited with being one of the primary developers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Along with his younger brother Hélio Gracie and fellow students Luis França and ...
, son of his friend, businessman and politician
Gastão Gracie
The Gracie Family () are a prominent martial arts family originally from Belém, state of Pará, Brazil whose ancestors came from Paisley, Scotland. They are known for creating the self-defense martial arts system of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, also ...
. Luiz França went on to teach it to
Oswaldo Fadda
Oswaldo Baptista Fadda (August 1, 1920 – April 1, 2005) was a practitioner of jujutsu and developer of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, reaching the rank of "nono grau", a 9th degree red belt. In 2014, he was posthumously awarded the 10th degree ("décimo ...
. After Carlos learned the art from Ferro and Maeda, he passed his knowledge to his brothers Oswaldo, Gastão Jr., and George. Meanwhile,
Hélio Gracie
Hélio Gracie (October 1, 1913 – January 29, 2009) was a Brazilian martial artist who together with his brothers Oswaldo, Gastao Jr, George and Carlos Gracie founded and developed the self-defense martial art system of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, also ...
would peek in and practice the techniques, although he was told he was too young to practise. At the time, Judo was still commonly called Kanō jiu-jitsu (from its founder Kanō Jigorō), which is why this derivative of judo is called ''Brazilian jiu-jitsu'' rather than ''Brazilian judo''.
Its emphasis shifted to
ground fighting
Ground fighting (also called ground work or ground game) is hand-to-hand combat which takes place while the combatants are on the ground. The term is commonly used in mixed martial arts and other combat sports, as well as various forms of martial ...
because the
Gracie family
The Gracie Family () are a prominent martial arts family originally from Belém, state of Pará, Brazil whose ancestors came from Paisley, Scotland. They are known for creating the self-defense martial arts system of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, also kn ...
thought that it was easier to learn than throws and standup grappling, more efficient and much more practical. Carlos and Helio helped the development by promoting fights (mostly against practitioners of other martial arts), competitions and experimenting throughout decades of intense training. BJJ dominated the first large modern
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...
competitions in the United States, causing the emerging field to adopt many of its practices. Less-practised stand-up techniques in Gracie jiujitsu survive in some BJJ clubs from its judo and jujutsu heritage (judo throws, knife defense, gun defense, blocking, striking etc.).
Sambo
![Anatoly Kharlampiev and Alfred Karashchuk](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Anatoly_Kharlampiev_and_Alfred_Karashchuk._1957..jpg)
Sambo (an acronym from ''samozashchita bez oruzhia'', Russian for "
self defense
Self-defense (self-defence primarily in Commonwealth English) is a countermeasure that involves defending the health and well-being of oneself from harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in ...
without a weapon") was an early Soviet martial art, a direct descendant of judo, developed in the 1920s by
Viktor Spiridonov
Viktor Afanasievich Spiridonov (20 December 1882 – 9 September 1944) was a researcher of various kinds of wrestling and martial arts, a Merited Master of Sports of the USSR, and a Honored Coach of the USSR. He was one of the founders of Sam ...
, the
Dynamo Sports Society
Dynamo, also Dinamo, (; , Belarusian: Дынама, ka, დინამო) was a sports and fitness society created in 1923 in the Soviet Union. The society was an association of multi-sport clubs whose members were drawn from the NKVD and, a ...
jujutsu instructor, and
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War ( ja, 日露戦争, Nichiro sensō, Japanese-Russian War; russian: Ру́сско-япóнская войнá, Rússko-yapónskaya voyná) was fought between the Empire of Japan and the Russian Empire during 1904 and 1 ...
veteran. As it was developed largely for police purposes, a special emphasis in Sambo was placed on the standing
armlock
An armlock in grappling is a single or double joint lock that Anatomical terms of motion#General motion, hyperextends, hyperflexes or hyperrotates the elbow, elbow joint or glenohumeral joint, shoulder joint. An armlock that hyper-extends the ...
s and grappling-counters in order to free oneself from hold, apprehend and escort a suspect without taking him down; Sambo utilized
throws mainly as a defensive counter in case of a surprise attack from behind. Instead of
takedowns, it used shakedowns to unbalance the opponent without actually dropping him down, while oneself still maintaining a
steady balance. It was in essence a standing arm-wrestling, armlock mastery-type of martial art, which utilized a variety of different types of armlocks, knots and compression-holds (and counters to protect oneself from them) applied to the opponent's fingers, thumbs, wrist, forearm, elbow, biceps, shoulder, and neck, coupled with
finger pressure on various
trigger points
Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), also known as trigger points, are described as hyperirritable spots in the skeletal muscle. They are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. They are a topic of ongoing controversy, a ...
of human body, particularly sensitive to painful pressure, as well as manipulating the opponent's
sleeve
A sleeve ( ang, slīef, a word allied to ''slip'', cf. Dutch ) is the part of a garment that covers the arm, or through which the arm passes or slips.
The sleeve is a characteristic of fashion seen in almost every country and time period, acro ...
and
collar
Collar may refer to:
Human neckwear
*Clerical collar (informally ''dog collar''), a distinctive collar used by the clergy of some Christian religious denominations
*Collar (clothing), the part of a garment that fastens around or frames the neck
...
to immobilize his upper body, extremities, and subdue him. Sambo combined jujutsu with wrestling, boxing, and savate techniques for extreme street situations.
Later, in the late 1930s it was methodized by Spiridonov's trainee Vladislav Volkov to be taught at military and police academies, and eventually combined with the judo-based wrestling technique developed by
Vasili Oshchepkov
Vasiliy Sergeyevich Oshchepkov (russian: Васи́лий Серге́евич Още́пков); (January 7, 1893 - October 10, 1938) was a Russian researcher of different types of national wrestling and martial arts. He was ranked as a Merit ...
, who was the third foreigner to learn judo in Japan and earned a second-degree black belt awarded by Kanō Jigorō himself, encompassing traditional Central Asian styles of
folk wrestling
A folk wrestling style is any traditional style of wrestling, which may or may not be codified as a modern sport. Most cultures have developed regional forms of grappling.
Europe
Britain
Traditionally wrestling has two main centres in Great ...
researched by Oshchepkov's disciple
Anatoly Kharlampiyev to create
sambo
, aka = Sombo (in English-speaking countries)
, focus = Hybrid
, country = Soviet Union
, pioneers = Viktor Spiridonov, Vasili Oshchepkov, Anatoly Kharlampiev
, famous_pract = List of Practitioners
, oly ...
. As Spiridonov and Oshchepkov disliked each other very much, and both opposed vehemently to unify their effort, it took their disciples to settle the differences and produce a combined system. Modern sports sambo is similar to sport judo or sport Brazilian jiu-jitsu with differences including use of a ''sambovka''
jacket
A jacket is a garment for the upper body, usually extending below the hips. A jacket typically has sleeves, and fastens in the front or slightly on the side. A jacket is generally lighter, tighter-fitting, and less insulating than a coat, which ...
and shorts rather than a full
keikogi
(, "practice", , "dress or "clothes"), also known as or , is a traditional uniform worn for training in Japanese martial arts and their derivatives. Emerging in the late 19th century, the was developed by judo founder Kanō Jigorō.
Origin
Ja ...
, and a special emphasis on
leglocks
A leglock is a joint lock that is directed at joints of the leg such as the ankle, knee or hip joint. A leglock which is directed at joints in the foot, is sometimes referred to as a foot lock and a lock at the hip as a hip lock. Leglocks are fe ...
and holds, but with much less emphasis on
guard
Guard or guards may refer to:
Professional occupations
* Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault
* Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street
* Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning
* Prison ...
and chokes (banned in competition).
Modern schools
After the introduction of jujutsu to the West, many of these more traditional styles underwent a process of adaptation at the hands of Western practitioners, molding the arts of jujutsu to suit western culture in its myriad varieties. There are today many distinctly westernized styles of jujutsu, that stick to their Japanese roots to varying degrees.
Some of the largest post-reformation (founded post-1905)
gendai jujutsu schools include (but are certainly not limited to these in that there are hundreds (possibly thousands), of new branches of "jujutsu"):
*
Judo
is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponi ...
*
Aikido
Aikido ( , , , ) is a modern Japanese martial art that is split into many different styles, including Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Aikikai and Ki Aikido. Aikido is now practiced in around 1 ...
*
Hapkido
Hapkido ( , , also spelled ''hap ki do'' or ''hapki-do''; from Korean 합기도 ''hapgido'' ) is a hybrid Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, grappling, throwing techniques, kicks, punches, and other stri ...
*
Brazilian jiu-jitsu / Gracie jiu-jitsu
*
Wadō-ryū
is one of the four major karate styles and was founded by Hironori Ōtsuka (1892–1982). The style itself places emphasis on not only striking, but ''tai sabaki'', joint locks and throws. It has its origins within Tomari-te karate, but was als ...
*
Hakkō-ryū
Hakkō-ryū () or Hakkō-ryū Jūjutsu () is a school or 'style' of jujutsu descended from Daito-ryu founded in 1941 by Okuyama Ryuho (1901–1987) a student of Sokaku Takeda and a practitioner of shiatsu. This style of self-defense focuses o ...
*
10th Planet jiu-jitsu
*
Danzan-ryū
is a ryū of jujutsu founded by Seishiro Okazaki (1890–1951) in Hawaii. Danzan-ryū jujutsu is of mainly Japanese origin but is most common on the West coast of the United States. The Danzan-ryū syllabus is syncretic, and includes non-J ...
*
Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu
*
Hokutoryu Ju-Jutsu
Hokutoryu Ju-Jutsu is a Finland, Finnish style of the Japanese martial art Jujutsu developed in 1977 by Auvo Niiniketo. The name of the style is Japanese language, Japanese and literally translates as ''Big Dipper-style'', though is more commonl ...
*
Small Circle JuJitsu
*
Atemi Ju-Jitsu / Pariset Ju-Jitsu
*
German ju-jutsu
*
Budoshin Ju-Jitsu
* Ryushin Jujitsu
* Budokwai ju-jutsu
* Seibukan jujutsu
* Nihon jujutsu
* Nihon-Ryu Goshin-Jutsu
* Sentou-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu
* Goshindo
* Jugoshin ryu
* Jiushin ryu
* Kumite-ryu jujutsu
* Quantum jujitsu
* Miletich jiu-jitsu
* Daito-ryu Saigo-ha Aiki-jujutsu
* Nami-ryu Aikijujutsu
* Hakkō Denshin-ryū
* Kokusai jujutsu renmei
* Ishin Ryu ju-jitsu
* Olivecrona jiujitsu
* Kodoryu jujitsu 鴻道流
* Yamabujin Goshin Jutsu
* Matsudaira-Ryu Nikon Juijitsu
* Taigawa-ryu Jujitsu
Sport jujutsu
There are many types of sport jujutsu. One version of sport jujutsu is known as "JJIF Rules Sport Ju-Jitsu", organized by
Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF). The JJIF is a member of
GAISF
Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) is the umbrella organisation for all (Olympic and non-Olympic) international sports federations as well as organisers of multi-sports games and sport-related international association ...
and has been recognized as an official sport of the
World Games
The World Games are an international multi-sport event comprising sports and sporting disciplines that are not contested in the Olympic Games. They are usually held every four years, one year after a Summer Olympic Games, over the course of 11 d ...
.
Sport jujutsu comes in three main variants. In ''Duo'' (self-defense demonstration), both the
tori (attacker) and the
uke
Uke may refer to:
People
* Uke Clanton (1898–1960), Major League Baseball first baseman who played for one season. Nicknamed "Cat", he played for the Cleveland Indians for one game on September 21, 1922
* Uke Rugova
* Sıtkı Üke (1876 ...
(defender) come from the same team and demonstrate self-defense techniques. In this variant, there is a special system named ''Random Attacks'', focusing on instilling quick reaction times against any given attack by defending and countering. The
tori and the
uke
Uke may refer to:
People
* Uke Clanton (1898–1960), Major League Baseball first baseman who played for one season. Nicknamed "Cat", he played for the Cleveland Indians for one game on September 21, 1922
* Uke Rugova
* Sıtkı Üke (1876 ...
are also from the same team but here they do not know what the attack will be, which is given to the tori by the judges, without the uke's knowledge.
The second variant is the ''Fighting System'' (Freefighting) where competitors combine striking, grappling and submissions under rules which emphasise safety. Many of the potentially dangerous techniques such as scissor takedowns, necklocks and digital choking and locking are prohibited in sport jujutsu. There are a number of other styles of sport jujutsu with varying rules.
The third variant is the ''Japanese/Ne Waza'' (grappling) system in which competitors start standing up and work for a submission. Striking is not allowed.
Other variants of competition include Sparring, with various rule sets. Ground fighting similar to BJJ, Kata and Demonstrations.
Sparring and ground fighting can have various rule sets depending on the organisation. Kata can be open hand or with traditional Jujutsu weapons and Demonstrations can be in pairs or teams of up to 7.
Heritage and philosophy
Japanese culture and religion have become intertwined with the martial arts in the public imagination. Buddhism, Shinto, Taoism and Confucianism, Confucian philosophy co-exist in Japan, and people generally mix and match to suit. This reflects the variety of outlook one finds in the different schools.
Jujutsu expresses the philosophy of yielding to an opponent's force rather than trying to oppose force with force. Manipulating an opponent's attack using his force and direction allows jujutsuka to control the balance of their opponent and hence prevent the opponent from resisting the counterattack.
References
External links
"Jujutsu"by Jigorō Kanō and T. Lindsay, 1887 (''Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan'', Volume 15). On jujutsu and the origins of judo.
*
Spalding Athletic Library, Jiu Jitsu, The Effective Japanese Mode of Self Defense
{{Authority control
Jujutsu,
Japanese martial arts