Jiu-jitsu

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Jujutsu ( 柔術; jujutsu, "Gentle art") is a Japanese martial art and origin of Judo.

Names

In the first half of the 20th century, the words jiu-jitsu and ju-jitsu were used incorrectly because the early translators didn't know how to accurately translate Kanji. In many countries Ju-jitsu is still used because of the continuation of the misunderstanding. Ju-Jitsu in France, Canada, Mexico and the United States and Jiu-Jitsu in Germany and Brazil.

The term "jujutsu" was coined in the 17th century. Before that, it was called taijutsu ("physical skill"), yawara ("softness"), wajutsu ("harmonious art"), and even Judo, which dates as early as 1724, nearly almost 200 years before Jigoro Kano created Kodokan Judo.

Origin

This martial art was created by Samurai in feudal Japan for fighting at close range with or without a weapon. Over time, the civilians eventually adapted jujutsu and created many different styles (ryu). Those styles often emphasized different points in the skill, such as striking, grappling, and locks.

Jujutsu styles

• Takenouchi-ryu
• Shinto Yoshin-ryu
• Shinshin-ryu
• Kyoshin-ryu
• Kito-ryu
• Yoshin-ryu
• Tenjin Shinyo-ryu
• Sekiguchi-ryu
• Araki-ryu

Techniques

Jujutsu is not solely an unarmed grappling art. Throws, pinning techniques, jointlocks, chokes, and defenses are its basics. It also teaches the use of weapons. Jiu-jitsu striking techniques make use of the body's vital points. At higher belt levels, more dangerous skills such as biting, gouging, and scraping are commonly in some styles.

Judo takes its techniques from Tenjin Shinyo-ryu, Yoshin-ryu, Kito-ryu, Fusen-ryu, Kyushin-ryu, and Shinshin-ryu. The more dangerous techniques (i.e. biting, gouging, wrist locks, elbow locks, leg lock) were removed, except at more advanced levels.

See also

• Martial arts