History

Jiu-Jitsu is an ancient Japanese art that has been passed on from teacher to student for centuries, and it is only in the last century that Jiu-Jitsu techniques began to be recorded and published. The term Jiu-Jitsu may be defined as “gentle art“, jiu translating as gentle, flexible or supple, and jitsu as technique or art. Unlike some of the other arts derived from jiu-jitsu, notably judo (ju – gentle, flexible or supple, do – way), jiu-jitsu is not a sport.

Originally jiu-jitsu contests were fought to the death. Jiu-jitsu is regarded by many as the ultimate self-defence incorporating atemi work, throwing, choking and locking techniques, joint manipulation, utilisation of pressure points and weapons training.

Different aspects of jiu-jitsu may be identifiable as forming the basis for several other martial arts including judo (throwing, locking and choking), karate (atemi strikes and kicks) and aikido (joint, momentum and balance manipulation). As with all martial arts, many different styles or ryus of jiu-jitsu now exist both inside and outside of Japan. The diversity of style may be due to the fact that jiu-jitsu was until relatively recently an oral or visual tradition, now open to Western interpretation and translation.