Everything about Jiu Jitsu

What is JuJitsu?

Jujitsu is a special form of martial art that developed by Samurai in Japan. ‘Jujutsu’, literally meaning the ‘art of softness’ consists of applying some grappling & striking techniques. The main aim of jujitsu is to dispatch armored enemy or opponent when the use of arms was impractical or forbidden. The most efficient form of dispatching the armed enemy was to use his energy against him & thus, neutralizing his energy rather than opposing it. This came to take the form of pins, joint locks & throws. There are many variations of this form of art, which has diverse approaches. The jujitsu school, which is also called the ryu, may use grappling techniques like throwing, trapping, gouging, biting, etc. Some jujitsu schools also taught the use of weapons. Various other forms have developed from this form of martial art, like the Judo & the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

The term ‘Jujitsu’ was not coined until the 17th century & from then on. The system of unarmed combats came to be known as Nihon koryu jujutsu during the Muromachi period. Most of these battlefield systems including kogusoku, yawara, kumiuchi & hakuda all included under the general heading Sengoku jujutsu. These were not systems of unarmed combats, but means by which an unarmed or lightly armed warrior fights a heavily armed warrior. Again, Edo jujutsu is developed to fight unarmed opponents. The wearing of swords & the use of the hojo-chord is contained in the syllabus of jujutsu even today. The modern jujutsu was founded towards the end of the ‘Tokugawa’ period when more than 2000 jujutsu schools existed. The Tokyo Police Department employed & formulated the system of Keisatsujutsu & Taiho jutsu. In jujutsu, practitioners mainly specialize in the use of many potentially fatal moves. However, students safely practice the otherwise dangerous throws.