Ju Jitsu

Ju Jitsu literally meaning the "art of softness", or "way of yielding" is a collective name for Japanese martial art styles including unarmed and armed techniques. Ju Jitsu evolved among the samurai of feudal Japan as a method for defeating an armed and armoured opponent without weapons. Due to the ineffectiveness of striking against an armoured opponent, the most efficient methods for neutralizing an enemy took the form of pins, joint locks, and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it.
There are many variations of the art, which leads to a diversity of approaches. Ju Jitsu schools may utilize all forms of grappling techniques to some degree (i.e. throwing, trapping, joint locking, holds, gouging, biting, disengagements, striking, and kicking). In addition to Ju Jitsu, many schools taught the use of weapons.
Today, Ju Jitsu is still practiced both as it was hundreds of years ago, but also in modified forms for sport practice. Derived sports forms include the Olympic sport and martial art of judo, which was developed from several traditional styles of Ju Jitsu by Kano Jigoro in the late 19th century; and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which was in turn derived from earlier version (pre World War II) of Kodokan judo.

Origins

Ju Jitsu was first developed by Samurai. Fighting forms have existed for centuries. The first references to unarmed combat arts or systems is 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 and Kyoto performed for purposes of divination and to help ensure a bountiful harvest.
There is a famous story of a warrior Nomi no Sukune 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 include striking, throwing, restraining and weaponry.
The term "Ju Jitsu" was not coined until the 17th century, after which time it became a blanket term for a wide variety of grappling-related disciplines. Prior to that time, these skills had names such as "short sword grappling", kogusoku koshi no mawari, "grappling" kumiuchi, "body art" taijutsu, "softness" yawara, "art of harmony" wajutsu, "catching hand" torite, and even the "way of softness" judo as early as 1724, almost two centuries before Kano Jigoro founded the modern art of Kodokan Judo.
Today, the systems of unarmed combat that were developed and practiced during the Muromachi period (1333–1573) are referred to collectively as Japanese old-style Ju Jitsu (Nihon koryu jujutsu). 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 armoured enemy on the battlefield. In battle, it was often possible for a samurai to be unable to use his long sword, for various reasons, and be forced to rely on his short sword, dagger, or bare hands. When fully armoured, the effective use of such "minor" weapons necessitated the employment of grappling skills.
Methods of combat (as mentioned above) included striking (kicking and punching), throwing (body throws, joint-lock throws, unbalance throws), restraining (pinning, strangulating, grappling, wrestling) and weaponry. Defensive tactics included blocking, evading, off-balancing, blending and escaping. Minor weapons such as the tanto (dagger), ryufundo kusari (weighted chain), kabuto wari (helmet smasher), and kakushi buki (secret or disguised weapons) were almost always included in Sengoku Ju Jitsu.

Development

In later times, other koryu developed into systems more familiar to the practitioners of Nihon Ju Jitsu commonly seen today. These are correctly classified as Edo Ju Jitsu (founded during the edo period): they are generally designed to deal with opponents neither wearing armour nor in a battlefield environment. Most systems of Edo Ju Jitsu include extensive use of atemi waza (vital-striking technique), which would be of little use against an armoured 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 tanto (daggers) or tessen (iron fans) were included in the curriculum of Edo Ju Jitsu.

Many other legitimate Nihon Ju Jitsu ryu exist but are not considered koryu (ancient traditions). These are called either Gendai Ju Jitsu or modern Ju Jitsu. Modern Ju Jitsu traditions were founded after or towards the end of the Tokugawa period (1868), when more than 2000 schools (ryu) of Ju Jitsu existed. Various traditional ryu and ryuha that are commonly thought of as koryu Ju Jitsu are actually gendai Ju Jitsu. Although modern in formation, very few gendai Ju Jitsu systems have direct historical links to ancient traditions and are incorrectly referred to as traditional martial systems or ryu. Their curriculum reflects an obvious bias towards Edo Ju Jitsu systems as opposed to the Sengoku Ju Jitsu systems. The improbability of confronting an armour-clad attacker is the reason for this bias.
Over time, Gendai Ju Jitsu 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 Ju Jitsu, it may be correctly referred to as goshin (self defense) Ju Jitsu. Goshin Ju Jitsu is usually formulated outside Japan and may include influences from other martial traditions. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which was developed from judo, but with greater emphasis on ground grappling (ne waza), is an excellent example of Goshin Ju Jitsu.
Ju Jitsu techniques have been the basis for many military unarmed combat techniques (including British/US/Russian special forces and SO1 police units) for many years.
There are many forms of sport Ju Jitsu, 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 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.

Description

Japanese Ju Jitsu systems typically place more emphasis on throwing, immobilizing and pinning, joint-locking, choking, and strangling techniques as compared with other martial arts systems such as karate. Atemi-waza (striking techniques) were seen as less important in most older Japanese systems, since samurai body armour protected against many striking techniques. The Chinese quanfa/ch'uan-fa (kenpo or kung fu) systems focus on punching, striking, and kicking more than Ju Jitsu.
The Japanese systems of hakuda, kenpo, and shubaku display some degree of Chinese influence in their emphasis on atemi-waza. In comparison, systems that derive more directly from Japanese sources show less preference for such techniques. However, a few Ju Jitsu schools likely have some Chinese influence in their development. Ju Jitsu ryu vary widely in their techniques, and many do include significant numbers of striking techniques, if only as set-ups for their grappling techniques.
In Ju Jitsu, practitioners train in the use of many potentially fatal moves. However, because students mostly train in a non-competitive environment, risk is minimized. Students are taught break falling skills to allow them to safely practice otherwise dangerous throws.
In Ju Jitsu, there are five main sectors ("arts") of training. The first, the Art of Blocking, is used to defend against attacks. The second, the Art of the Fulcrum Throw, is employed in modern judo. The third, the Art of the Non-fulcrum Throw is employed through throws that involve little or no contact with the opponent. The fourth, the Art of Escaping (Hakko-Dori), is very crucial in many styles of Ju Jitsu. The fifth, the Art of Striking (Atemi-Waza), is used more by modern Ju Jitsuka who do not employ body armor.

Technical characteristics

As a "soft" art, jujitsu systems generally employ the principles of balance, leverage, and momentum to overcome opponents. This is in contrast to "hard" systems (for example, karate or tae kwan do) that tend to emphasize developing power, strength, and speed. Although there is some diversity in the actual look and techniques of the various traditional Ju Jitsu systems, there are significant technical similarities common to all schools:
Students learn traditional Ju Jitsu primarily by observation and imitation of the ryu's waza.
The unarmed waza of most schools emphasize joint-locking techniques (kansetsu waza), that is, threatening a joint's integrity by placing pressure on it in a direction contrary to its normal function, aligning it so that muscular strength cannot be brought to bear, 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; this is an aspect of kuzushi, the art of breaking balance as a set-up for a lock, take-down or throw.
Movements tend to capitalize on an attacker's momentum and openings in order to place a joint in a compromised position or to break their balance as preparation 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 few openings or weaknesses of its own.
Weapons training was a primary goal of Samurai training. Koryu (old/classic) schools typically include the use of weapons. Weapons might include the roku shaku bo (six-foot staff), hanbo (three-foot staff), katana (long sword), wakizashi or kodachi (short sword), tanto (knife), or jitte (short one hook truncheon).

Schools and derivatives

Because Ju Jitsu contains 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 him originally, he could codify and create his own ryu (school). Some of these schools modified the source material so much that they no longer considered themselves a style of Ju Jitsu.

Old schools
Circa 1600 AD there were over 2000 ryu of Ju Jitsu in Japan and there were common features that characterized most of them. The technical characteristics varied from school to school. Many of the generalizations noted above do not hold true for some schools of Ju Jitsu.

Derivatives and influences
Some examples of martial arts that have developed from or have been influenced by Ju Jitsu are: Aikido, Bartitsu, Hapkido, Judo (and thence Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Sambo), Kajukenbo, Kapap, and Kenpo – as well as some styles of Japanese Karate. The Wado-ryu school of Karate, for example, is considered as a branch of Shindō Yōshin-ryu Ju Jitsu which has received strong influences from Okinawan Karate.
Some schools went on to diverge into present day Karate and Aiki styles. The last Japanese divergence occurred in 1905 when a number of Ju Jitsu schools joined the Kodokan. The syllabi of those schools was unified under Kano Jigoro to form Judo.

Bartitsu
Ju Jitsu was first introduced to Europe in 1898 by Edward William Barton-Wright, who had studied Tenjin Shinyō-ryu and Shinden Fudo Ryu in Yokohama and Kobe, respectively. He had also trained briefly at the Kodokan in Tokyo. Upon returning to England he folded the basics of all of these styles, as well as boxing, savate and French stick fighting, into an eclectic self-defence system called Bartitsu.

Judo
Modern judo is the classic example of a 'sport' that derived from Ju Jitsu and became distinct. Another layer removed, some popular arts had instructors who studied one of these Ju Jitsu 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 Ju Jitsu 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 Ju Jitsu. Because in Ju Jitsu every conceivable technique (including biting, hair-pulling, eye-gouging, etcetera) 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.
Not all Ju Jitsu was used in sporting contests, but the practical use in the samurai world ended circa 1890. Techniques like hair-pulling and eye poking were and are not considered conventionally acceptable to use in sport, thus they are not included in judo competitions or randori. Judo did, however, preserve the more lethal, dangerous techniques in its kata. The kata were intended to be practiced by students of all grades, but now are mostly practiced 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 fully legitimate way to win. Kano viewed the safe sport-fighting aspect of judo as an important part of learning how to actually control an opponent's body in a real fight. Kano always considered judo to be a form of, and a development of, Ju Jitsu.
A judo technique starts with gripping your opponent followed by off-balancing the opponent, fitting into the space created, and then applying the technique. In contrast, kuzushi (the art of breaking balance) is attained in Ju Jitsu by blocking and then parrying or deflecting an opponent's attack in order to create the space required to apply a throwing technique. In both systems, kuzushi is essential in order to use as little energy as possible during a fight. Ju Jitsu differs from judo in a number of ways. In some circumstances, jutsuka generate kuzushi by striking one's opponent along his weak line. Other methods of generating kuzushi include grabbing, twisting, or poking areas of the body known as atemi points or pressure points (see kyusho-jitsu) (areas of the body where nerves are close to the skin).

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) was developed after Mitsuyo Maeda brought judo to Brazil in 1914. At the time, judo was still often commonly referred to as "Jiu Jitsu", which explains why this derivative of judo is called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu rather than Brazilian Judo. BJJ dominated the first large modern mixed martial arts competitions, causing the emerging field to adopt many of its practices.

Modern schools
A Japanese-based martial system formulated in modern times (post Tokugawa) that is only partially influenced by traditional Nihon Ju Jitsu, is correctly referred to as goshin (self defense) Ju Jitsu. Goshin Ju Jitsu is usually formulated outside Japan and may include influences from other martial traditions. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, although derived originally from Kodokan Judo, has evolved independently for many years, and could be considered an example of Goshin Jutsu.
After the transplantation of traditional Japanese Ju Jitsu to the West, many of these more traditional styles underwent a process of adaptation at the hands of Western practitioners, moulding the art of Ju Jitsu to suit western culture in its myriad varieties. There are today many distinctly westernized styles of Ju Jitsu, that stick to their Japanese roots to varying degrees.
There are a number of relatively new martial systems identifying themselves as Ju Jitsu. Since they are created in modern (gendai) times, they are often referred to as gendai Ju Jitsu.

Sport Ju Jitsu
Sport Ju Jitsu is an official sport of the World Games and comes in two main variants: Duo (self-defence demonstration) where both the tori (attacker) and the uke (defender) come from the same team and demonstrate self defence techniques, and 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 Ju Jitsu. There are a number of other styles of sport Ju Jitsu with varying rules.