Archive for the ‘Jujitsu’ Category

Jujitsu is a 2500 year old unarmed combat discipline that has its roots in ancient Japan. The exact date on the creation of this martial art form is hard to trace but techniques resembling that of Jujitsu had already been incorporated into the training methods of the Samurai, from the 8th to the 6th centuries. Earliest Japanese historical records such as the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan) also have passages related to unarmed combat systems.

Before this Japanese martial art developed into what we know as Jujitsu today, there were many other Japanese combat techniques such as Kogusoku, yawara, kumiuchi, and hakuda etc, also collectively known as Sengoku Jujutsu. Traditions finally gave rise to the modern Nihon Jujutsu we know today, which is classified under Edo Jujutsu – the true unarmed Japanese combat system.

Jujitsu gained prominence during the reign of Tokugawa in the 1600s but was soon alienated when Emperor Melse regained power. However, towards the mid-20th century, the ban on Jujitsu in Japan was lifted, following the Meiji restoration, and the combat art form began to be widely practiced.

The Philosophy:

Jujitsu revolves around three basic states of mind – Zanshin, Mushin and Fudoshin. The proper combination of these elements gave the power, preparation and potential to the practitioner to excel in the Jujitsu art.

1. Zanshin – “remaining spirit” – connotes the readiness for anything at any given time.

2. Mushin – “no mind” – Its spontaneity permits instantaneous action without conscious thought.

3. Fudoshin – “immovable mind” –during times of confrontation.
Read the rest of this entry »

Kata competitions, which is where competitors use techniques of the same style and get graded for how well they perform.  You will also find freestyle games where the competitors go after each other.  The defenders are graded on how well they perform.

With the jujitsu system, there is more attention paid to pinning, throwing, choking and strangling techniques.  This is different than other systems of martial arts like karate.  Even though jujitsu is originally a Japanese system, there are some jujitsu schools that use some Chinese moves.

Read the rest of this entry »

Jujitsu is a name used for Japanese martial arts techniques.  The meaning of this word is the “art of softness” or “way of yielding”.  Jujitsu came from Japan as a way of defeat of an opponent without using any weapons.  Since hitting the opponent didn’t do much justice, they would be attacked with pins and throws.  This worked against the attacker’s energy.

How To Martial Arts

There are different ways that people do jujitsu.  Some of the techniques used include, holds, throwing, trapping, biting, gouging, striking and kicking.  At one time, there were self-defense schools that taught their students how to use weapons, but that is no longer the case.

Read the rest of this entry »

Jujitsu is considered a soft art.  It uses balance, leverage and momentum against an attacker’s opponents.  This is different than hard methods, such as karate.  Hard methods tend focus on power, speed and strength.  When learning jujitsu in a class, there are similar factors that apply:

• The students learn traditional jujitsu methods by looking at the instructors and doing what they do.

• Atemi can focus on weak parts of the body.  It breaks up a balance for a lock, throw or a take-down.

• The body of the defender can take full advantage of the weakness of their opponent.  In the meantime, they can choose to use some openings or weak spots.

• An attacker’s momentum is increased to put a joint in a difficult position.  For a take-down or a throw, the balance is broken.

Read the rest of this entry »