Ju-jitsu. Translated as "gentle art", is a method of fighting that makes use of few or no weapons and employs holds, locks and throws to subdue an opponent. Central to these techniques is the concept ju, from a Chinese character commonly interpreted as 'gentle' in the sense of yielding to an opponent's direction of attack while attempting to control it. This is the concept of "Ju yoku go o sei suru": "the soft conquers the hard". The methods of combat known as Jitsu are at least 2000 years old, with mention in Japanese mythology. The beginnings of Jitsu can be traced to the turbulent period of Japanese history between the 8th and 16th Century. During this time, there was almost constant civil war in Japan and the classical weaponry systems were developed and honed on the battlefield. Close fighting techniques were developed as part of these systems to be used in conjunction with weapons against armoured, armed opponents.
The birth of jitsu probably coincided with the origins of the Samurai class in 792 AD. The army at that time consisted of foot soldiers armed with spears. Officers were recruited from the young sons of the high families and schooled in archery, swordsmanship, and unarmed combat. The Emperor Kammu built the Butokuden (Hall of the Virtues of War) as a formal school for these officers who became known as Samurai. Their name comes from the Japanese word for service, saburaui. To be a samurai you had to be born into a family that had samurai history. The samurai worked for their masters, called shogun, who dominated political life from 1185 until 1868. Medieval samurai were generally illiterate, rural landowners who farmed between battles. The progression from rural workers to 'samurai' took many centuries as they were increasingly called and relied on to defend the ruling classes. The word samurai means 'those who serve' and had come into use by the end of the 8th century. The Mongols invaded Japan in the late 1200's and the Samurai eventually defeated them after many years of fierce fighting. The Samurai developed a style of formation combat and depended on the sword as a primary weapon in battle. In the 1400's, Master swordsmen established schools to teach their style of ken-jutsu (The Art of the Sword). In 1467-77 the Onin War saw the decline of the Shogun's power and began the Sengoku Jidai (The Age of the Country at War) which lasted 150 years.
The first publicly recognised Jitsu ryu was formed by Takenouchie Hisamori in 1532 and consisted of techniques of sword, jo-stick and dagger as well as unarmed techniques. Because these techniques were designed for combatants wearing armour, the large leaping and kicking movements found in many other martial arts were not used in jitsu. The name Ju-Jutsu or Yawara (flexible) first started to be used around 1600. Domaru Armor, composed of alternately arranged black-lacquer leather and iron kozane scales. Tokugawa Ieyasu, original name: Tokugawa Takechiyo (b. 31st Jan 1543, Okazaki, Japan -- d. 1st June, 1616, Sumpu). Founder of the last shogunate in Japan, the Tokugawa, or Edo, shogunate (1603-1867). In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu formed then Tokugawa military government with a commitment to bring peace and economic and political stability. This marked the beginning of the Edo period of Japanese history (1603-1868), during which warring ceased to be a dominant feature of Japanese life.
Under Ieyasu, society was divided into four classes: samurai, peasants, artisans, and merchants. Only the samurai were allowed to wear 2 swords - the short one (wakazashi) at all times, and the katana only outside. This mainly peaceful period of Japanese history presented problems to the samurai, with no battles to fight many were left without income. To do anything else would have been to give up the status of samurai and lower themselves to be merchants or traders. Samurai without masters became ronin (e.g. Musashi - A Book of Five Rings). The government did try to help unemployed samurai with subsidies and by stressing the importance of education - Ieyasu once stated that learning and the military arts should be equally pursued. Many samurai became teachers of the martial arts - shifting from weaponed to weaponless styles. These weaponless styles were developed from the grappling techniques of the weaponed styles and were collectively known as ju-jutsu. During the height of the Edo period, there were more than 700 systems of Jitsu (725 styles were officially recognised). The styles differed in their emphasis on kicking, punching, throwing, locks and take-downs. Many sections of the population began to feel constrained by the Toguwara regime, especially the growing ranks in the merchant class who wanted increased contact with American and European traders. In 1868 the Tokuwara regime was toppled in an abortive civil war known as the Meiji Restoration, in part aided by lower-ranking samurai eager for advancement. This marked the end of the Edo period and moved power from the Shogun back to the Emperor. A large number of the Samurai class supported the Shogun, and so many things related to the Samurai fell into disrepute, including martial arts. Emperor Meiji introduced the "Imperial Oath of Five Articles" which started the process of dismantling the Samurai class. The samurai class lost its privileged position when feudalism was officially abolished in 1871. In 1876, Meiji declared a new law that ended the wearing of swords - the ultimate symbol of the warrior. Discontented former samurai rose in rebellion several times during the 1870s, the most famous being led by the former restoration hero Saigo Takamori. These uprisings were repressed only with great difficulty by the newly established (conscripted) national army. Emperor Meiji Tenno (original name: Mutsuhito) (b. 3 Nov 1852, Kyoto -- d. 30 July 1912, Tokyo). Emperor of Japan from 1867 to 1912, whose reforms transformed Japan from a divided feudal country into a major world power. As can be seen above, Meiji epitomised the adoption of Western ideas, including Western clothing, styles, innovations and food. He also remained true to his roots and wrote over 100,000 traditional Japanese poems. The Samurai had lost their profession and their right to wear swords. Their position as a special class ended after almost 1,000 years. An Imperial edict was issued declaring it a criminal offence to practice the old style combative martial arts. Under this edict Jitsu and many other martial arts were almost lost. However, some masters continued to practice their art in secret, or moved to other countries, allowing the style to continue. It was during this oppression that the first Japanese exponents of the art arrived in Britain. Following the end of American occupation in 1951, the ban on Jitsu was lifted, allowing the free practice of the art. During the US occupation, the various 'jutsu' styles (ju-jutsu, karate-jutsu, ken-jutsu, aiki-jutsu...) were banned for practical reasons and it was thought they might contribute to Japanese militarism. At this point the more sporting and competitive 'do' styles started to gain popularity (judo, karate-do, aikido...). Ju-Jutsu has not adapted as a sport as easily as other martial arts, so competition plays only a minor role.
Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu was founded by Riukiu Myura, a policeman and later chief unarmed combat instructor at the Tokyo police academy. Since a child, he had studied extensively in various jiu jitsu schools (mainly Kodokan jiu jitsu), as well as the art of Shorinji Kempo. He later combined his knowledge of jiu jitsu and Shorinji Kempo and, with his police perspective on modern street fighting situations, formed his own style which he named Shorinji Kempo Jiu Jitsu.
One of his first students, a German Matthew Komp, took the style to Australia in the early 1950's, where he founded a school in Footscray, near Melbourne. In Australia, Jiu Jitsu was not a legal form of self-defense, so Myuara insisted his students were also graded in Judo. One of his first students was Brian Graham, a Yorkshireman who later returned to England as a black belt. On his return to England, Brian Graham held a 2nd Dan in Judo as well as a 5th (Go) Dan in Jiu Jitsu (since graded to 6th Dan Shi'han when Sensei Komp visited Britain in '97). He renamed the style Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu and established the first Samurai Jiu Jitsu Club in Keighly, Yorkshire. Under the guidance of Brian Graham and Peter Farrah (one of Brian's first students), the style spread rapidly in Britain. An association was formed called the National Samurai Jiu Jitsu Association, which was renamed The Jitsu Foundation in 1990. Sadly, Peter Farrah passed away in 1997, but the Foundation has continued to grow and now has over 90 clubs in Britain. As well, a number of instructors have moved to other countries and opened clubs there. The first was Cyprus in 1989, started by Andy Wallace. Although the club continues to thrive, Andy Wallace lost his life in a fire in 1996. In 1993, Andy Dobie moved to Canada and opened clubs at Trent University, Peterborough, and in Ottawa. Then in 1994, Mike Mallen opened his club in Spartenburg, South Carolina in the USA. More recently, clubs have also opened in Greece, Holland, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Japan, and of course Scotland.
Literally, Jiu Jitsu is the technique or art (jutsu) of suppleness, flexibility and gentleness. Judo founder Jigoro Kano traced the art's emergence to the period between 1600 and 1650. In its golden age, late 17th to mid 19th century, more than 700 jujitsu systems appeared in Japan. Among those mentioned prominently in martial arts chronicles are:
Tenjin-Shinyo-ryu, Takenouchi ryu, Sousuishitsu ryu, the Kito ryu (relevant to us) and the Sekiguchi-ryu. Many other ancient and reputable schools, such as the Yagyu-Shingan ryu or the Date clan and the Juki ryu or Sawa Dochi, are listed within the doctrine of jujitsu.
The vital issue in jujitsu was effectiveness in combat. Methods were tested in duels and public competitions among members of various schools. These encounters were frequently lethal. Such testing not only improved weapons and ways of employing them, but established the reputations of the survivors. Jujitsu techniques include kicking, striking, kneeing, throwing, choking, joint locking, holding, and tying, as well as use of certain weapons. Most systems emphasised only one or two major techniques. Jujutsu was always a secondary method of combat to the warrior, since he relied so heavily on his sword.
Although Jujutsu techniques are initially learned individually, in a static position, the essence of Jujutsu is the ability to move from technique to another, or a second or even a third as needed - and as quickly and as often as necessary to control an attacker. Since each system emphasises only a few major techniques (or waza), the principle behind each technique can be applied in numerous situations, not just in the manner in which it is learned in a certain technique. Each technique, in fact, is designed to illustrate and teach a specific principle.
In 1905 the majority of the old schools merged with Kano's school, the famed Kodokan. The schools of aiki-jutsu, however, did not join Kano's movement toward synthesis in jutsu arts. Today, as in the past, they remain independent in matters of organisation and public affiliation, although instructional exchanges are taking place with increasing regularity. No one is completely sure of the true routes of Jiu-Jitsu, however below is information on some styles around at the beginning of the 20th century.