Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu-Jitsu is the name of a series of Japanese martial arts that includes techniques for working with and without weapons. Jiu-Jitsu is the art of hand-to-hand combat, which is based on the principle of “soft” and “supple” movement techniques.
Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most ancient forms of Japanese wrestling. The basic rule of jiu-jitsu is “do not go into direct confrontation to win,” it teaches you to give in to the enemy’s onslaught, not to resist and direct his actions in the right direction until he is trapped and turns his own strength into actions against himself. The principle of this rule arose in connection with the legend of the doctor Sirobei Akayama. Once he noticed that the branches of large trees broke in a storm, and the willow branches yielded to force, but then they rose and survived. He was inspired by this observation, and later, the doctor founded the first school of ju-jutsu, calling it “Yoshin-ryu,” which means “willow school.”
Philosophical Foundations
Throughout his life, a person builds 4 main walls – spirituality, knowledge and work, the social aspect, that is, communication with others, health. It is believed that if one of these walls collapses, a person’s life can also collapse like a house of cards. That is why it is important to begin the formation of these four components from childhood, until the moment when the child enters adulthood with reliable support, a fortress with a solid foundation. Engaging in this type of martial arts forms stamina, masculinity in a person and improves all the best human qualities.
Key Features
Jiu-jitsu technique The technique of fighting ju-jitsu developed among the samurai of Japan, as one of the methods of defeating an armored and armed opponent, without using weapons. Since striking a man in armor was not at all effective, the most effective way was to neutralize the attacker with the help of creases and throws. Such a technique was developed using the principles of using the energy of the enemy against himself, which is more preferable than direct confrontation.
The art of ju-jitsu fighting was rarely practiced in those sections of the population who did not have the right to bear arms, since such a technique was quite difficult to learn, and did not go beyond the framework of special schools (ryu).
Jiu-Jitsu Yutsu was often practiced in the army, where the samurai learned the technique of fighting. In addition, this type of wrestling was part of the subjects of those schools where they studied wrestling without weapons in armor, and without them. It practiced fencing, including kenjutsu, and in some closed schools, horseback riding, archery and swimming.
The most widespread popularity of this type of struggle was in the Tokugawa era, when after many wars and unrest, the country finally reached a lasting peace. Then the number of such schools increased and totaled more than 700. The main differences between all of these schools were breathing, the prevalence of special techniques and basic stands.
There were many varieties of jujitsu struggle, which leads to such a variety of approaches to its study. In addition to this distinguishing fighting technique, each school taught weapons. It is also important to note that in different schools the jujitsu technique had different names: “yavara”, “hakuda”, “toride”, “kogusoku”, “taijutsu” and even “judo”.
The Jiu-Jitsu technique combines blows, strangulation, creases, throws, as well as painful techniques and impact on pain points. But the main goal of all varieties of this martial art was and remains – effective defeat of the attacker, with the help of self-defense.
Traditional and modern schools
Despite the fact that there were significant differences in schools, there are more common features in their curriculum. Subsequently, this is what made it possible to create such universal martial arts systems as Aikido and Judo.
Aikido is based on the technique of one of the schools of ju-jitsu, namely, aiki-jujutsu by the master Takeda Sokaku. The program of such a school provides not only the ju-jitsu technique, but also aiki-jitsu. The basis of aikido is precisely the principles of jujitsu fighting technique.
It is important to note that back in the 9th century, Akayama Sirobei, a Japanese court doctor, having visited China and studied considerable experience of Chinese wushu there, was able to systematize all the fighting techniques known at that time and create a unified system with his own principles and methods. After presenting the best basic techniques to the emperor, the first school for the study of jujitsu was realized.
So, traditional schools are those that for many generations of masters have not changed significantly and have been recognized as cultural and historical heritage in Japan. Teaching Jiu-Jitsu technique is based on formal exercises called kata, as well as on various forms of implementing these techniques, also known as randori. Studying wrestling without the use of weapons against an armed opponent, wrestling in armor, as well as fencing with armor and without armor, the students of such a school had the most experience in fighting any opponent.
