what is jujitsu?

Question

I was looking into trying this out for an extracirricular activity. Anyone know about it first hand?

Answer 1

If my research is correct, ju-jitsu, also spelled jiu-jitsu, is a generic term that generally describes most Japanese styles of grappling and throwing. Sub-styles of jiu-jitsu include Judo, aiki-jitsu and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The different substyles focus on different things, but basically *any* style of jiu-jitsu is going to be at least partially Japanese in origin, and is going to *try to* include training in all of the following:

--hand attacks...generally speaking open-hand strikes and "dirty shots" like eye rakes and throat gouges are going to be favored to punching.
--kicks....generally low hard kicks to the legs and lower body, and leg sweeps.
--throws....moves where you grab someone *somewhere*, get leverage from your grip and send them to the ground
--joint locks....moves where you grab someone at or near a joint of their arms, legs or neck, and use leverage to either inflict injury or to force someone to stop fighting from threat of injury,
--chokeholds....moves that either cut off bloodflow to the brain (chokes) or airflow to the lungs (strangles), these moves are meant to render someone unconscious as quickly as possible and are among the few moves *IN* martial arts that *can and will* kill someone if abused....
--And ground tactics, which can range from anything from simple mount, ground and pound methods, to sprawl-and-brawl methods, to more roll-and-control styles that focus on gaining superior position first and then applying a submission hold (a lock or chokehold) second.

The main problem with jiu-jitsu is its success.

Since it has always focused on practical streetwise self defense since the beginning--back in Feudal Japan when armored soldiers were too tough to knock down, and had to be cut with swords or grappled in the worst-case, unarmed scenario--people who teach jiu-jitsu have almost always had a fairly high degree of success, regardless of what they teach, or how they teach it.

It's rather like a pizza thing....even poorly taught jiu-jitsu is still going to be pretty good, compared to most other fighting methods.

But that success has lead to dozens if not hundreds of schools with thousands of techniques and also *many* approaches to training, some more effective and practical than others....so you really need to pay attention to both a) what is being taught, and b) how forcefully the training itself is being conducted, you want the training to be as alive, or fully resistant, as possible without just maiming people.

Having said that though....a good jiu-jitsu teacher is worth his weight in *platinum*, really, they are priceless in a good way.

Let me find a Wiki link for you to back this up....

Answer 2

I am bias because I took up BJJ not long ago. What people say about trying to play to your strong side is true. I used to do Taekwondo when I was young. Now that I'm older and slower I took up BJJ as I think it is the chance I have and strong emphasis on the I part. There are guys that are fast and have great hand and feet that would level me before the clinch I realize that. I just operate that if I should ever get into a confrontation (protect myself or loved ones, not to prove a point or to be a tough guy) that something is better than nothing. I'll also train in the MMA aspects also and keep some of the priciples that I learned in TaeKwondo to try to become as complete as I can be. I think that it is 100% correct though about the practitioner being the key. I mean the Gracies were raised in Jujitsu so they already have an advantage. Oh, I have a question for Katana. I thought that a lot to all of the takedowns in BJJ ARE Judo takedowns. I only thought that because the origins of BJJ are actually JUDO. It is just that some schools concentrate less on the complete game and focus on the sporting or Competition portions of it. Just like Judo concentrates on the throws a lot. Please tell me if I'm wrong because if I am I'll need to consider cross training in a little Judo for the throws. Thanks for bringing it to my attention Katana.

Answer 3

JuJitsu..several different spellings. Is actually a Japanese form of grappling. It has been refined over the last oh 70 years or so by the Gracie family from Brazil..Hence Brazilian JuJitsu. The Brazilian style relyes on leverage, joint manipulation, and momentum rather than power, allowing a much smaller person to take out a stronger larger opponant. The various members of the Gracie family have taken JuJitsu their own ways also. The oldest, is over ninty and stil rolling..Look up Gracie Jujitsu sometime..You cant go wrong. Marakey, check your facts. No striking in sport JuJitsu

Answer 4

Jujitsu encompasses throws, locks, and striking techniques, with a strong emphasis on throws, locks, and defensive techniques. It is also characterized by in-fighting and close work. It is a circular, hard/soft, external style.

Jujitsu is one of the most ancient of the martial arts in the world, over 2500 years old. No one knows exactly where Jujitsu started. Although it has its origins in ancient Japan, it is also thought to be of an antiquated Chinese origin. Jujitsu was influenced by many fighting styles, incorporating parts of all of them. The weaponless styles of Jujitsu were integrated into the training of the Samurai, from the eighth to the sixteenth centuries. In 1603, Tokugawa Leysu united Japan under the control of the Tokugawa government, and so began the era that bears their name. During this time, as Japan was united, there was less and less armed warfare, and so the weaponless style of Jujitsu became more and more prominent. The Tokugawa era came to, which returned the emperor to power. Many of the samurai had supported the Shogun in the wars that began the restoration, and as a result, Emperor Melse published an edict that made it illegal to practice the old combat arts. In the mid 19th century, the Samurai class was formally disbanded, and many schools died out. It was at this time that Jigoro Kano, a master of the Tenshin Shin'Yo ryu Ju-Jitsu developed the Judo, would be be more accepted by the populace. By the mid twenty century, with the Meji restoration, the ban on Jujitsu in Japan had lifted, allowing the free practicing of the art.

Answer 5

Jujitsu has throws as does Judo but also includes kicks, punches and Karate chops. Jujitsu teaches you exactly where to aim to aim those kicks, punches and chops to cause maximum damage to your opponent. It emphasises techniques to defend yourself against punches, kicks and knife-attacks from an opponent and how to escape from holds. Judo techniques were distilled from Jujitsu. Jujitsu was developed by the Samurai in Japan.

Answer 6

Its a Korean martial arts.

Answer 7

Its a martial art, the most dangerous of the martial arts actually.

Answer 8

its a type of martial arts fighting