Jujutsu: traditional Japanese close-combat art of throws, locks, and restraint
Jujutsu is a traditional Japanese martial art emphasizing unarmed techniques—throws, joint locks, pins and strikes—developed by samurai-era schools and later influencing judo, aikido and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Overview
Jujutsu (柔術, jūjutsu) is a class of traditional Japanese martial arts that focuses on defeating an armed or armored opponent using minimal force and few or no weapons. The name is commonly translated as "the art of yielding" or "gentle art," reflecting a central principle: redirecting an attacker's energy rather than meeting it with brute strength.
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History and development
Techniques that became jujutsu emerged among the samurai and battlefield schools in premodern Japan and were systematized into distinct lineages (ryū) during the early modern period. Many classical systems were formalized by the Edo period; some sources mark substantial codification around the 17th century. Over time, these curricula adapted to changes in armor, weapons, and social needs, producing a wide variety of styles.
Techniques and principles
Jujutsu emphasizes techniques that control, disable, or submit an opponent through leverage, timing, and body mechanics. Typical elements include:
- Throws (nage) and takedowns designed to unbalance and ground an opponent.
- Joint locks and manipulations to control or force surrender.
- Pins and holds that immobilize while minimizing injury.
- Strikes and stomps used as setup or to create openings.
The underlying tactical idea is to use an attacker’s momentum and structure against them—often summarized by the idea of "ju" (柔), meaning pliancy or yielding.
Training, pedagogy, and styles
Instruction typically mixes kata (prearranged forms) with partner drills and free practice. Safe falling (ukemi), controlled application of locks, and scenario training are common. Classical schools often used licensing systems rather than modern colored belts; contemporary dojos may adopt sport-like ranks and protective equipment.
Modern influence and uses
Jujutsu is the ancestor or inspiration for several well-known arts. Judo adapted many throwing and grappling concepts into a competitive sport; aikido developed from joint-lock and redirection principles; Brazilian jiu-jitsu emphasized ground fighting and submission in a modern context. Elements of jujutsu also appear in police, military, and self-defense training worldwide.
Notable distinctions
Unlike purely sportive systems, traditional jujutsu often retained techniques intended for real- world combat against armored or armed foes. Styles vary widely: some preserve historical kata and weapon work, while others concentrate on unarmed grappling. Today, practitioners pursue jujutsu for historical study, self-defense, competitive practice, and cross-disciplinary training in martial arts.
Jiu Jitsu as a modern martial art
In the West (Great Britain, USA and Germany) at the beginning of the 20th century a new type of self-defence developed from Judo, Western wrestling and boxing, which became known as Jiu Jitsu. The first Japanese instructors referred to their techniques as Kano Jiu Jitsu, the common name for Judo at the time. In the 1970s, elements from karate were added, and in the 1990s from other fighting styles such as Wing Chun, etc. Today, when Jiu Jitsu is referred to as a martial art, it is usually this modern western style that is meant and not the traditional Jiu Jitsu from Japan.
Name and spelling
Jiu Jitsu is written in Japan with Kanji, Chinese characters, as 柔術. The first character 柔 means "soft, gentle, flexible, yielding", the second character 術 as much as "technique, art, method, skill". What is meant is that one does not rely on raw, directly applied force, but adapts one's strategy and techniques fluidly to the opponent.
Western texts use many different transcriptions. In the internationally used Hepburn system, one writes Jūjutsu. In addition, the form Jiu Jitsu has survived. Probably to make the pronunciation easier to understand, the variant Dschiu Dschitsu is sometimes found in older German texts.
Although Japanese martial arts are quite old, the Sino-Japanese word jūjutsu can only be documented in Japan in texts of the Edo period. In early modern writing, other names such as yawara or yawarajutsu (柔ら / 軟ら / 和ら, or 和術), taijutsu (体術, 體術), Kempō (拳法), Hakuda (白打), Kogusoku (小具足), Koshimawari (腰廻), Kumiuchi (組討, 組打), Torite (捕手, 取手), or Shubaku (手拍, 手縛).
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Jujutsu: traditional Japanese close-combat art of throws, locks, and restraint Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/51470
Sources
- books.google.com : "Jū-jutsu"