Ju-jitsu
Ju-jitsu literally means “gentle art” or more broadly “to conquer by yielding or compliance.” As one of the oldest Japanese martial arts, it originally, but not exclusively, stressed unarmed combat against armed opponents. It was studied by the Samurai to complement their sword and spear techniques. Over the years many of these techniques were either adapted or incorporated by virtually all other Japanese open-handed martial arts. In fact, Jujutsu is sometimes called the father of the Japanese martial arts, with both Aikido and Judo developing directly from it.
History
Ju Jitsu is the modern name for a variety of diverse martial arts that developed in Japan in ancient times. Attempts have been made to link it with the ancient Chinese fighting arts, which, it is believed, first appeared in Japan in pre-recorded history. There are, however, several references in the Kojiki and the Nibongi ancient texts recounting the legendary history of Japan to fighting techniques apparently similar to those of Jujutsu. In one such account, Tatemi Kazuchi is said to have thrown his opponent “as if he were throwing a leaf;” a vivid description of so many of the throwing techniques found in Jujutsu and Judo.
It is now commonly accepted that the various forms of Jujutsu evolved from ancient Japanese fighting techniques. Fighting techniques were further refined during the medieval Kamakura period (1185-1333 a.d.), which also saw the emergence of rival, often feuding, shogunates. The techniques of Jujutsu were studied by the shoguns and their retainers for use in battle. At that time, however, they were considered complementary to “more important” fighting techniques involving swords, spears, and other weapons. Although the original Jujutsu techniques used smaller weapons such as daggers, they were apparently developed for use by soldiers who had lost their main weapons in the melee of battle. Open-handed techniques were needed by unarmed soldiers to either take a weapon from an opponent or simply survive.
It is likely that these techniques were first taught in the Daito-ryu, a twelfth-century school for Samurai. At the Daito-ryu, however, the emphasis in training was on swordsmanship. In 1532 Prince Takenouchi Hisamori established another school, the Kogusoku. According to one legend, the prince learned the basis of his new fighting technique from spirits while he was asleep.
According to another legend, he learned five blocking techniques and the benefit of short weapons over long ones from an ascetic hermit. Originally, the school taught soldiers how to effectively use daggers and staffs against opponents in armour, but it later began to teach open-handed fighting techniques as well. These were called Jujutsu. The Kogusoku later came to incorporate other techniques as well. One of them, hojo-jutsu, or ways to effectively tie up an enemy, is still studied today by members of the Japanese Police force. At the same time, other schools for martial arts began to develop in Japan. Each had a slightly different emphasis. The Yagyu-ryu was the first to employ grappling techniques alongside swordsmanship; it is said that the founder of the Yagyu-ryu learned those techniques from a visiting Chinese dignitary. Kito-ryu, another such school, was the first to absorb Chinese fighting techniques and make them an integral part of Jujutsu.
By the time of the Tokugawa (Edo) period (1615-1868), several hundred fighting arts are known to have emerged in Japan. These included yawara, shubaku, kempo, hakuda, torite, wajutsu, taijutsu, koshi-no-mawari, and, hobaku. As these forms came into contact with one another, they began to share ideas and borrow techniques. Other techniques were kept as closely guarded secrets, although it was not uncommon for one school to send spies to a rival school to try and learn them. It was at this time, too, that atemi used ideas from contemporary anatomy and acupuncture to determine which points of the body would be most sensitive to pain. As the different schools began to merge with one another, they also came to incorporate the principles of atemi and the fighting that evolved became the basis of what is now known as Jujutsu. It was practised by the Samurai and Ninjas alike.
The Golden age of Jujutsu lasted from the late 17th century to the mid 19th century. In that time, over seven hundred different styles are known to have developed. Since this was a relatively peaceful time, there was little opportunity to make use of these techniques in battle. The value of Jujutsu as a means of fighting diminished, and it became more sport like. Nevertheless, remnants of its aggressive style still survive today; Jujutsu is the Japanese martial art best geared to actual street fighting situations. Some of its practitioners became outlaws, while others, who were unwilling to have their techniques shared with possible opponents, swore their students to secrecy.
Under the Emperor Meiji (1868-1912) the Samurai were forbidden to carry their swords. Jujutsu now became a violent street sport that was often over-glorified in public shows. In 1882 one master of Jujutsu, Jigoro Kano, determined that it must be developed from a jutsu (art or skill) into a do (philosophical “way”) and created Kodokan Judo. A similar approach was taken by Ueshiba Morehei, the founder of Aikido, some years later. Many now consider modern style Jujutsu to be a combination of Judo, Aikido, and Karate while still retaining its aggressive style. It is no longer as popular as Aikido or Judo, although attempts have recently been made to revive it as a sport with a new scoring system. International competitions have been held in Canada and Great Britain.
Philosophy
Underlying the traditional martial form of Jujutsu was Bushido, the “way of the warrior,” an austere code of ethics espoused by the Samurai class. Bushido combined principles taken from Shinto, Confucianism, and Zen Buddhism. A code of ethics called Kyuba-no-michi “The way of the Bow and Horse” was first developed by Minamoto Yoritomo and his successors for the warrior classes of 12th century feudal Japan. From Shinto this code adopted the principle of reverence for ones’ ancestors; from Confucianism it took the concept of loyalty to ones’ family and clan; and Zen Buddhism laid the spiritual foundations from which the warrior drew his strength and even his disregard for death. In later years, the emphasis on loyalty to ones’ family and clan was subordinated to loyalty to ones’ lord.
These principles were later expanded upon by Yamaga Soko (1622-1685), a 17th century Samurai and Confucianist philosopher, into a philosophy called Bushido. Yamaga taught that the code of Bushido was relevant at all times and should even be practised in times of peace. According to him, Bushido not only helps to build character: it also prepares a person for any unforeseen circumstances. In much the same way the study of Jujutsu, which Yamaga included as one of the necessary components of Bushido, contributes to a persons’ spiritual and physical development. Nevertheless the more spiritual aspects of Jujutsu are less important than they are in other martial arts. Of all the contemporary Japanese martial arts, Jujutsu is said to be the most aggressive.
Open-Handed Techniques.
Jujutsu employs many different techniques, including kicking, striking, kneeing, throwing, choking, joint locking, the use of specific weapons, resuscitation (kuatsu), immobilisation techniques and ways of tying an opponent. Because it’s the Japanese martial art most concerned with actual street fighting situations, the primary goal is to knock an opponent out, and to this end almost anything is allowed. It is better to render an opponent unconscious than to have to hold him while another opponent attacks. When Jujutsu was first developing, throwing and holding techniques were secondary to blows and punches. Today, however, different schools of Jujutsu emphasise different techniques. In some, throws and holds are used to dislocate a joint or limb. In others punches are used as a distraction and are secondary to the follow-up, either a holding or throwing technique. Throwing and holding are two elements of Jujutsu that later came to be emphasised by Judo and Aikido. Modern Jujutsu has also developed many new techniques, including ways to defend oneself against an opponent armed with a gun (although these are only reserved for the most advanced student.)
In Jujutsu, the strengths of two opponents is irrelevant. By knowing which points on the body are particularly sensitive to pain, one can use minimal effort to obtain effective results. It was also discovered that the smaller the surface that strikes these points, the greater the pain: a jab at the eyes with two fingers can be more effective in a street fighting situation than a punch in the face. The technique in which the vital points of the opponents’ body are attacked is called atemi-waza. Some of the most important striking areas of the atemi-waza are the kneecap (shitsu-kansetu), the testicles (tsurigane), the navel (myojo), the abdomen (hara), the solar plexus (suigetsu), the tip of the chin (jinchu), the jawbone under the ear (dokko), under the nose (jinchu), the temples (kasumi), the top of the nose between the eyes (uto), the top of the forehead (tendo).
To the uninitiated westerner observing Jujutsu for the first time, many of its movements and techniques appear miscalculated and risky. Jujutsu relies upon using the opponents force and in this way to expend the minimum amount of effort. The means of doing this are highly secretive: once learned, the student of Jujutsu is not permitted to reveal them to others. The means of employing an opponents’ force for ones’ own benefit later became one of the central tenets of Aikido.
Weapons
While unarmed combat is stressed, historically, Jujutsu originated from means of using small weapons to defend against larger ones, and the use of these weapons, such as daggers is still taught. The techniques are sometimes applied to larger weapons, such as staffs, and sabres, as well. The first school to use weapons was the Daito-ryu, which was founded by General Shinra Saburo in the 12th century, and which taught the techniques of Aikijutsu. In fact the school received its name from the daito, a type of sword favoured by the Samurai, in which the school specialized.
Skills
Brute force, stamina and physical fitness play a greater role in Jujutsu than most other martial arts; to attain these skills some schools still impose strict dietary and moral regimen in their students. In addition to overall physical fitness and strength, the student of Jujutsu must have both powerful punch and a strong low kick. Agility and speed are also important, as are knowing precisely when to yield and how to time ones movements exactly. These latter techniques, necessary to harness an opponents own force and momentum, are taught only to the most advanced students.
Ju-jitsu and other martial arts.
Although it has incorporated some Chinese elements, Jujutsu is a Japanese fighting art that grew out of the martial tradition of Bushido and the demands of war. Unlike most other Japanese martial arts, its earliest forms had no rules or regulations limiting what were acceptable. Jujutsu was developed for use in battle, where the primary goal was survival and it therefore allowed an opponent to be defeated by any means possible. Aikido and Judo, two martial arts that developed from Jujutsu, eliminated the most martial aspects of Jujutsu or developed them into “Martial Ways”
Jujutsu dojos are among the quietest to be found in the martial arts. It is customary to remain silent and it is very rare for a teacher to discipline a student verbally. Generally a gi is worn, but it is not uncommon, when practicing street fighting techniques, for students to wear their everyday clothing, so as to simulate real street fighting situations.
