Origins of Ju Jitsu

Ju jitsu (also spelled as jujutsu, jujitsu, jiu jitsu, jiu jutsu, jitsu, jutsu) was developed by Samurai Class of Ancient Japan. Fighting forms have existed in Japan 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 creations of the country and the establishment of the imperial family. Other glimpses can be found in the older records and pictures depicting sumai (or sumo) no sechie, a rite of the Imperial Court in Nara and Kyoto performed for purposes of divination and to help ensure a bountiful harvest.

There is a famous story of a warrior Nomi no Sekuni of Izumo who defeated and killed Tajima no Kehaya in Shimane Prefecture while in the presence of Emperor Suinin. Descriptions of the techniques used during this encounter include striking, throwing, restraining and weaponry.

These systems of unarmed combat began to be known as Nihon koryu jūjutsu (Japanese old-style jujutsu), among other related terms, during the Muromachi Period (1333 - 1573) according to densho (transmission scrolls) of the various ryuha (martial traditions) and historical records. Most of these were battlefield systems to be used with the more common and vital weapon systems.

These fighting arts had various names, including kogusoku, yawara, kumiuchi, and hakuda, all under the general description of Sengoku ju jitsu. They were not systems of unarmed combat, but means for an unarmed or lightly armed warrior to fight a heavily armed and armored enemy on the battlefield. Ideally, the samurai would be armed and would not need to rely on them.


Mother of All Japanese Unarmed Martial Arts

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 or school. Some of these schools modified the source material so much that they no longer considered themselves a style of ju jitsu.

Circa 1600 AD there were over 2000 ryu (schools) of ju jitsu in Japan and there were common features that are characterised of 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.

Ju jitsu was first introduced to Europe in 1899 by Edward William Barton-Wright, who had studied the Tenjin-Shinyo and Shinden-Fudu ryu-ha 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.

Some schools went on to diverge into present day Karate and Aiki styles. The last Japanese divergence occurred in 1905 where a number of jujutsu schools joined the Kodokan. The syllabi of those schools was unified under Jigaro Kano to form judo.

Modern judo is the classic example of a 'sport' which derived from ju jitsu and became distinct. 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 which can trace their lineage to ju jitsu in some part. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu dominated the first large mixed martial arts competitions, causing the emerging field to adopt many of its practices.

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. Because in jujutsu every conceivable technique, including biting, hairpulling, eyegouging etc, is allowed (unlike for instance judo and aikido, 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 (assuming they are proficient).

Old schools of Japanese jujutsu include:
+ Araki-ryu
+ Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu
+ Hontai Yoshin-ryu
+ Sekiguchi Shinshin-ryu
+ Sosuishitsu-ryu
+ Takenouchi-ryu
+ Tatsumi-ryu
+ Tenjin Shinyo-ryu
+ Yagyu Shingan Ryu
+ Yoshin Ryu


Moderns Japanese Martial Arts

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. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, although derived originally from Maeda's Judo, has evolved independently for many years, and could be considered an example of Goshin Jutsu.

After the transplantation of traditional Japanese 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 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.

Some of the largest post-reformation (founded post 1905) ju jitsu schools include (but are certainly not limited to these in that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of new branches, etc.):

+ Danzan Ryu
+ German Ju-Jutsu
+ Goshin Jujitsu
+ Hakko Ryu
+ Hakko Denshin Ryu
+ Jukido Jujitsu
+ Ketsugo Jujutsu
+ Kumite-ryu Jujutsu
+ Sanuces Ryu
+ Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu
+ Small Circle JuJitsu

Some examples of martial arts that have developed from or have been influenced by ju jitsu are:

+ Morihei Ueshiba's Aikido
+ Bartitsu
+ Hapkido
+ Judo (with further developement to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Russian Sambo)
+ Kajukenbo
+ Israeli Kapap and Krav Maga
+ Kenpo – as well as some styles of Japanese Karate.