The Art of Ju-Jitsu does not owe its origin or development to any particular individual, family or school. Its origin like so many things Japanese is traced back to the mythological age. The gods Kashima and Kadori are reputed to have availed themselves of the Art to chastise lawless inhabitants of the Eastern Japanese provinces.

The development of Ju-Jitsu throughout Japanese history is a controversial issue. There exist two major schools of thought. One holds that at around the year 1650 a Chinese named Chin-Gen-Pin developed a few gripping techniques "Tes" which were all intended to kill or seriously maim the adversary. It is believed that Chin went to Tokyo where he sold his secret techniques to three Samurai warriors, members of the Daimyo family and that his system continued to be developed by this clan.

Another school of thought maintains that a Japanese doctor Akiyama Shiirobei Yoshitoki travelled to China and learnt unarmed combat under a Chinese Doctor, Haku-Tei or Pao-Chuan. On returning to Japan Akiyama realised that one of the techniques he had learnt required considerable strength to be applied. While watching the reactions of a willow tree and a cherry tree on a stormy day he observed that the strong branches of the cherry tree did not bend under the weight of the snow-fall but eventually they broke while the delicate but supple branches of the willow tree yielded to the weight only to spring back undamaged. This inspired the doctor to evolve a system of combat whereby the weaker of the antagonists could overcome by yielding in the manner of the willow tree.

At that time Akiyama developed the Yoshin Ryu (Willow Heart School) of Ju-Jitsu which survives to this day.

The first recorded attempt to organise Ju-Jitsu techniques into one identifiable system was undertaken by Hisamiro Takenouchi who founded the Takenouchi-Ryu in 1532. This style is regarded as the first homogeneous source of Ju-Jitsu techniques. By the Edo period (1603-1868) hundreds of Ju-Jitsu schools existed all over Japan. Amongst the most notorious and which survive to this day are the Tenshin Shinyo-Ryu, Ryoshintu-Ryu, Takenouchi-Ryu, Kiraku-Ryu and Arata-Ryu. In those days exponents of Ju-Jitsu used to travel all over Japan visiting and studying under different Masters as well as participating in challenge matches.

One such notorious warrior was Ukayama Hochroji who never lost a single challenge match throughout his life. Ukayama Hochroji founded his own school and style of Ju-Jitsu based on striking techniques (Atemi Waza) the Tenshin Shinyo Ryu.

Bushido

What is Bushido? This word alone can easily be defined, but the true meaning is very profound. Here we can only scratch the surface of the topic, for Bushido is interwoven within the very fabric of Japanese history. For a proper understanding one must delve deep into the meaning of Feudalism, Zen, Buddhism, Shintoism, and the teaching of Confucius and Mencius, to name a few!

The simplistic approach to defining the term requires us to split the word Bushido into its three component parts: Bu-Shi-Do

BU - Military or combat

SHI - Knight or warrior

DO - Way or path

Bushido then literally means Military - Knight - Way or more commonly referred to as the "Way of the warrior".

Bushido is basically a code of moral principles and honour governing the lives and conduct of the noble Knights of Japan (samurai). It was not a written code; at best it consists of a few maxims handed down from mouth or from the pen of some well-known warrior or philosopher. The only english word that comes close is 'chivalry', but this does Bushido scant justice.

The code of Bushido is represented in the seven folds of the Hakama (5 at the front and 2 at the rear) and their meanings are:

1. YUKI Courage, Valour, Bravery.

2. JIN Humanity, Charity, Benevolence.

3. GI Justice, Righteousness, Integrity.

4. REI Etiquette, Courtesy, Civility.

5. MAKOTO Sincerity, Honesty, Reality.

6. CHUDGI Loyalty, Fidelity, Devotion.

7. MEIYO Honour, Credit, Glory, Reputation, Dignity.

This code which the Samurai followed, prescribed a severe etiquette for them. They devoted their lives and spirit to one activity, beyond the level of the ordinary man, transcending considerations of life or death. It was a way of being, of behaving towards one's fellow man, and absolute fidelity to a line of life a lord or master. Which demanded the giving up of the self when necessary.

Yakuza

By the late 19^th century Ju-jitsu had fallen into disrepute. Samurai warriors were prohibited to wear their revered swords in public and many of them commenced to perform roles as debt collectors, bodyguards and enforcers for the Japanese Mafia (Yakuza). Since they could not openly use their swords they made extensive use of their Ju-Jitsu techniques in the conflicts that ensued. Classical Ju-Jitsu is a product of a violent era and some of its techniques can easily be described as lethal and vicious.

Today two distinct types of Ju-Jitsu exist. These are the classical systems of Ju-Jitsu still practised in Japan and which are based on the practise of Kata and the Goshin (Modern) Ju-Jitsu which has evolved in Europe, America and Brazil. It is also to be observed that in recent years an offshoot of Goshin Ju-Jitsu has developed promoting Ju-Jitsu as a sport. Although this movement is meant to propagate the practise of Ju-Jitsu however this is a contradiction to the fundamental concept of Ju-Jitsu because once practised as a sport Ju-Jitsu becomes Ju-do.

Probably one of the most significant developments in the history of Ju-jitsu originated when Jigoro Kano took up learning Ju-Jitsu in order to defend himself against bullies who used to pick on him. Training in Ju-Jitsu in those days was a tough and painful experience. There were many injuries and fatalities were not unknown to occur.

After becoming a master of both the Kito and Tenshin schools of Ju-Jitsu, Prof. Jigoro Kano realised that although Ju-Jitsu was an effective and potent system of combat it had gained a very bad reputation. This reputation was attracting only aggressive and criminal individuals to its folds who were only interested in the violent nature of the art.

Prof. Jigoro Kano set about transforming the art of Ju-Jitsu into the art of Jiudo. This modified version of Ju-Jitsu was developed with the aim of providing a safe and recreational form of Martial Art, which could be practised safely by one and all. Up till the late fifties Ju-Jitsu Katas and Atemi waza (Striking techniques) were taught as an advanced form of Judo to senior dan grades. In fact old Judo manuals written the 1920s up till the 1950s describe Ju-Jitsu Katas such as the Kime-no-kata and Ju-no-kata besides including Atemi waza and Kuatso (methods of resuscitation). As Judo grew in popularity and gained Olympic recognition these aspects of Ju-Jitsu and some of the original concepts developed by Prof. Jigoro Kano were gradually abandoned by the occidental world. Meanwhile interest in the art of Ju-Jitsu grew steadily as it continued to evolve mainly in Europe, America and Brazil. Today thanks to the exploits of the Brazilian Gracie family Ju-Jitsu has reaffirmed its superiority and potential as a complete no-holds barred system of combat.

Literally translated the words Ju-Jitsu mean the " pliable Art or method". Ju means "gentleness or to be pliable" while Jitsu means "method or way". The words Ju-Jitsu are meant to describe the concept behind the science of the art where the exponent yields and adopts himself to the power and strength of his adversary rather than matching brute strength with brute strength. Ju-Jitsu can be better described by its maxim of " Ju-Yoku-Go-O-Sei Suru" which means flexibility masters hardness.

A relaxed physical posture does not mean a relaxed mental one, a ju-jutsu practitioner while being relaxed and calm in body will be aware and alert in mind. Ju-Jitsu is a complete self-defence system, which is both practical in application and enjoyable to learn, its origins go back many hundreds of years and the experience and knowledge learned through those years have made the art what it is today.

Ju-Jitsu is one of the few Japanese Martial Arts, which up to this day has retained the suffix "Jitsu". This suffix means that Ju-Jitsu still retains the traditional battlefield concept of Bugei (Art of war). Ju-Jitsu is not classified as Budo. When traditional Martial Arts such as Kenjitsu were transformed into systems of spiritual and self-development the suffix "Jitsu" was dropped and replaced by the suffix "Do".

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