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Here we will be using the term jujitsu, even though the old, Japanese art may just as well be written jujutsu, jiu-jitsu, ju jitsu, ju-jutsu, or any similar varations. The most correct name today, according to several sources, would be jujutsu - ju meaning pliable, flexible, 'soft', adaptable or yielding; jutsu/jitsu is the same as art, system or method. An older name for the art is yawara - yawara being almost identical to the term ju.
The collective term jujitsu was first found to be in use around 1600.
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Side
note: Make
sure you check out all the free stuff inside
'The
Martial Arts Vault' when
you're finished having a look
here!
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Sengoku
jujutsu:
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The
oldest forms, which include the forerunner
to sumo - sumai no sechie, is termed
Nihon koryu jujutsu (Japanese old style
jujutsu), or Sengoku jujutsu. These old
styles had names like yawara riki, hakuda, koshi mawari or kogusoku,
and they were battle tested systems, used
in conjuction with various weapons.
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Edo jujutsu:
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During
the Edo (or Tokugawa) period (1603-1867)
the art began to change into the
Nihon jujutsu commonly seen
today. These systems were not
designed to deal with opponents wearing armor in a battlefield
environment. Thus, most systems of what is termed Edo jujutsu or Nihon jujutsu include
use
of atemi waza (the method of striking vital areas/points). |
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Gendai jujutsu:
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Schools/arts
formed towards the end of - or after
- the Tokugawa period is commonly referred
to as Gendai jujutsu. An example here would
be Hakko ryu ('School of Eight Lights').
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Goshin jujutsu:
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Arts
that are formulated after the Tokugawa period,
being only partially influenced by traditional Nihon jujutsu, should
correctly be referred to as goshin jujutsu
(goshin meaning self-defense). This jujutsu is
usually formulated outside Japan and may include influences from other martial
traditions. Brazilian
jiu-jitsu (like Gracie jiu-jitsu) could be considered examples of goshin jujutsu.
The same is true with our Norwegian style
- Ju Jitsu Norge. |
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The
warrior and the ryu:
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Jujitsu has always been associated with the samurai (the correct name for this Japanese warrior is bushi). It is highly unlikely however that the arts were taught to the elite warrior cast (bushi) only.
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The art was passed on from master to student inside of what is called ryu. A ryu can be seen as a school, tradition, family and collection of knowledge, guided by strict rules. A ryu had typically more than one art in its "program". In addition to jujitsu, a given ryu could teach sword fighting, combat tactics, and a number of other warrior methods.
A ryu was most commonly linked to a spesific
area (han). However, they could also be
linked to a temple or to a village,
or being sponsored by a group of local
bushi.
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During the Tokugawa period several ryu began to specialize in the art of jujitsu. Influenced by the Chinese teachings of neo-Confucianism, some ryu started to shift their focus from the older combat proven methods over to more esthetique values and spiritual outlooks. This change of focus was a driving force in the development of arts such as aikido and judo (both are directly related to, and built on jujitsu).
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To
the West:
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When the Togugawa period ended in the latter half of the 1800's (1853) many of the masters and schools began teaching Western (mostly American and British) diplomats, army personel and police. Some teachers also left Japan, and gradually the arts began to spread to the West.
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Jujitsu found its way to America through Hawaii, and Europe through England and France in the late 1800's end early 1900's.
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The
methods:
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This art (or rather arts) can include a wide selection of methods. You can find punches and kicks; restraints, locks, holds and chokes; throws, takedowns and sweeps; escapes and counters; the use of small weapons and objects; pressure points and nerve techniques; blending/distractions; ground work (grappling) and more.
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The art is also today a competitive sport, mixing punces and kicks with throws and ground work. However, to most exponents, the art is - primarilly - still understood as tools for personal protection, self-defense, survival and combat.
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While there are a limited number of styles within arts like aikido and taekwondo, and karate styles can be counted in a the region of a few hundreds (or maybe even less), there is an almost infinite number of jujitsu styles and systems.
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There are still a few of the really old schools and arts being taught even today, and you will find some of these mentioned below. However, the greatest numbers of jujitsu systems are modern, and many times Western creations, based on older arts, methods, teachings and principles. Quite a few modern styles are blending in things you will typically find in karate, judo and aikido.
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Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
Brazilian jiu-jitsu specializes in groundwork/grappling. It was developed by the famous Gracie family, and it has its roots in judo and older jujitsu. |
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Daito ryu |
Daito-ryu jujutsu became widely known in the early 20th century under the
headmastership of Sokaku
Takeda. Takeda had extensive training in
several martial arts. He referred
to his style as Daito-ryu.
There are many claims that the traditions of
the ryu extend back centuries in Japanese history.
Perhaps the most famous student of Sokaku Takeda was
the founder of aikido - Morihei Ueshiba. |
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Hakko ryu |
Hakko ryu ('School of Eight Lights') is a modern Japanese
jujutsu form (Gendai jujutsu). |
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Sosuishitsu-ryu
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Sosuishitsu-ryu was founded in 1650 by a
samurai from Bungo-Takeda domain - Futagami Hannosuke Masaaki. Masaaki's father was a master of the Takenouchi-ryu and had
founded his own school or ryuha, which was called Futagami-ryu. This school was
later passed down to Masaaki, who also went on to study and master
Takenouchi-ryu. Masaaki felt his techniques were imperfect. He decided to travel
all over Japan and train himself ( called musha shugyo).
Later, Masaaki refined and honed the secret
techniques and forms that he had studied. He then assembled them to what he
believed were the ultimate techniques.
As a result of an enlightenment (satori) he decided to change the name of
Futagami-ryu to Sosuishitsu-ryu, roughly meaning ' school of twin flowing
waters'.
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Takenouchi-ryu |
This school is one of
the oldest koryu jujutsu in Japan. It was founded in 1532 by
Takenouchi Hisamori, who was the lord of Ichinose Castle
in Sakushu.
Although famous for its jujutsu, the
shool is actually a complete
system of martial arts including yoroi kumiuchi (armed grappling), bojutsu, kenjutsu, iaijutsu,
naginatajutsu, tessenjutsu (tessen is an iron fan), hojojutsu (using rope to
restrain), and(sakkatsuho (resuscitation techniques).
The
jujutsu techniques have been influential in the founding of many other schools
in Japan.
The ryu is still actively transmitted today by members of the
Takenouchi family, as well as by other groups within and outside of Japan. |
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Yagyu Shingan-ryu |
Founded in in the early
1600’s byAraki Mataemon - one of Japan’s most famous samurai. Originally, the style was known as “Araki-do”.
It is said that the creation of Yagyu Shingan-Ryu was greatly influenced
by Yagyu Shinkage-ryu. In the early days, both schools were remarkably similar. They both consisted of an array of armed and
unarmed combat techniques.
As the two
schools evolved however, the Shinkage school focused primarily on swordsmanship, where as the
Yagyu Shingan-ryu continued as a comprehensive combat system, focusing on jujutsu, bojutsu (staff fighting), naginatajutsu (glaive fighting), iaijutsu (sword drawing techniques) and
kenjutsu (sword fighting). |
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Jolly
good
jujutsu
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Hosted:
Rapidshare
(how
to)
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| Size:
11.21 MB
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Format:
wmv
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British
jujutsu, a young lady doing
defenses against a 'bandit'
- great, old clip!
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To read abot various new and old ju jitsu books you are recommended to go to: http://www.jujitsu.no/english/books_jujitsu.html.
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Many people tend to think of jujitsu as totally unarmed combat systems. This, however, is only partially correct (as outlined above). Weapons and accessories like rope (hojo), chain,
knife (tanto), bamboo-flute, fan, tessen (a
sort of truncheon, somewhat similar
to the Okinawan sai), pins, and assorted other improvised weapons, were often times used in conjunction with the grappling, throwing, locking, trapping, puncing and kicking of jujitsu/yaswara.
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