Jujutsu
Jujutsu
The ancient Japanese martial art of Jujutsu is also known and referred to in English as ju jitsu, jiu jitsu, jiu jutsu (with or without a space). This confusion is due to the non standard way in which the original kanji characters were transliterated. At present the standard way to refer to this art in English is Jujutsu. The word means gentle (or yielding) art.
Jujutsu concerns itself with defending against both armed and unarmed assailants using a variety of methods. Though generally considered an unarmed defensive combat system it also has developed armed and unarmed attack techniques. Weapons handled include dagger (tanto), club (jutte), weighted chain (ryofundo kusari), secret weapons (kakushi buki), among others. Some techniques used when fighting with other types of weapons including sword (tachi), spear (yari), quarterstaff (bo) are also sometimes refereed to as jujutsu. Some old techniques used for handling weapons like hojo cord (waza) have become almost obsolete.
History Origins of jujustu can even be traced to mythological legends of Japan and its founding. In historical period methods used by an unarmed or lightly armed warriors or samurai to defeat an armed and armored warriors in battlefield were called Sengoku jujutsu. It along with other arts for handling weapons was part of samurai training. Edo jujutsu developed to deal with opponents who were dressed in normal clothing (without armor) in peacetime.
During the Tokugawa period in Japan, lasting from 1603 to 1868, thousands of jujutsu schools or systems (known as ryu) came into being. They are collectively known as Gendai (modern) jujutsu. They were based on ancient or traditional (called Nihon) jujutsu systems and tended to be biased towards Edo jujutsu rather than Sengoku jujutsu.
Jujutsu systems developed in recent times with significant influence from other martial arts (Japanese or foreign) are known as Goshin Jujutsu.
Throughout its history some schools have diverged from jujutsu into what can be called separate martial arts .These include Karate, and Aiki arts. At around 1905 several jujutsu ryu joined to form Judo.
Some of the post 1905 jujutsu ryu include Danzan, Fudoshin, Hakko, Hakko Denshin, Kumite, Sanuces, Shingitai Jujutsu, Jukido Jujutsu, and Small circle Jujutsu.
Techniques Jujutsu is based on a philosophy that aims to defeat the opponent by manipulating the opponent?s force and momentum by yielding, than by directly opposing them. Correctly manipulated opponents will find themselves unable to resist the jujutsu practitioner?s (or jujutsuka?s ) attacking techniques. Jujutsukas are also expected to be in a state of constant awareness and be ready to apply the techniques without consciously thinking about them.
In jujutsu every conceivable techniques for defeating the opponent is allowed. However Jujutsu generally places greater emphasis on throwing, pinning, joint locking, strangling, grappling, and immobilizing an opponent, than on striking, kicking and punching common in other martial arts. This may be due to its origin as a system for fighting armored (thus immune to strikes) opponents. However jujutsu systems have continuously evolved during their long history and are still evolving. In the process they have incorporated many techniques from other martial arts, especially Chinese ones.
Jujutsu makes use of joint lock techniques for applying pressures on joints in order to prevent the opponents from using their strength. It also has techniques to throw or take, down opponents sometimes in combination with joint locks.
Jujutsu striking techniques tends concentrate on making the opponent lose his or her balance so that throwing techniques can be applied. In fact most of the movements are directed at making the opponents lose their balance and to create an opening so that other techniques can be applied to throw them down.
Jujutsuka are trained, depending on the actual situation, to take a stance that is considered most favorable for taking advantage of opponent?s flaws and to make their own position as invulnerable as possible.
Training is done primarily by observing and imitating techniques. Given that some of the techniques can be fatal, students have to learn special methods to break their falls, etc. in order to practice them. Jujutsu students need to continuously practice their skills to be truly proficient in their art. The training period may last two or more decades.
Jujutsu techniques form the basis of police and military unarmed combat training in many countries including United States, Britain, and Russia. Jujutsu is also a popular sport. Competitors can participate in freestyle matches, as well as kata performances, where the practitioners are judged for their ability to correctly demonstrate the techniques
Jujutsu schools can differ in the type of ranking systems used, the dress worn, competitions held, and the emphasis they place on traditions of the art.