What is Ju Jitsu?
Who Can Practice Ju Jitsu?
What
Equipment Will I Need?
Why do we bow
When do we
bow
What can i expect in the first week?
Principals of training
Mentally
Spiritually
Discipline
What is
required of me?
Why
do i shout in class?
History
of Ju Jutsu
What is Ju Jitsu?
Ju Jitsu translates from Japanese, meaning the Gentle Art.
The English writing of the words Ju Jitsu vary from Ju-Jitsu, Jujitsu, Jujutsu,
Jiu Jitsu, etc.
They are all the same system phonetically spelt from the Japanese Kanji or
character writing.
The art of Ju Jitsu can be traced back over 2000 years and is deeply embedded in
Japanese History.
Originally developed by the Warrior Class of Japan (The Bushi or Samurai), Ju
Jitsu became the foundation for other combative sports such as Judo, Aikido and
some systems of Karate.
Ju Jitsu may be learnt as a method of self defence, a form of exercise, a sport
or purely as a martial art.
Ju Jitsu teaches the martial values of discipline, tradition, respect and
humility, that can be found in the Samurai code of conduct.
There is also the mental or spiritual side to training,
Ju Jitsu aims to provide its students with a clear and focused mind and a
tranquil and unified spirit.
The ultimate aim is to overcome your most powerful adversary, the one person who
can stop you from reaching your maximum potential, your own self doubt.
Who Can Practice Ju Jitsu?
Ju Jitsu can be practised by anyone, no matter what age or sex.
The principles of Ju Jitsu are based on moving to avoid an attack while breaking
the concentration and balance of an opponent, and the restraining them.
This is achieved using a combination of punches, kicks and strikes for long
range, short strikes, grappling and throws for close range, finishing with joint
locks and submission holds.
Great strength, however useful is not necessary; skill, timing and movement
being of greater importance.
The techniques are universally applicable and effective, regardless of the
gender or build of the person applying them.
What Equipment Will I Need?
To begin with you need loose comfortable clothing. Track suits are ideal as they
tend to cover knees and elbows, however avoid anything with zips or buttons on
the side as these may injure you or your training partner.
Within the first month you will require a licence.
This becomes a log of all your training and includes your insurance. Please ask
to see a copy of the policy for full details.
Without a current licence you will be unable to train after your first month.
Prior to your first grading, (approximately three months) you should obtain a
uniform (Gi), these are hard wearing and provide an element of padding and
protection.
Prior to your second grading, (approximately three to six months) you will need
to invest in some sparring equipment. you will require hand mitts along with
shin and instep guards.
These are essentials to sparring, and although the Club supplies head guards, it
has only a limited supply of communal mitts and shin and instep guards.
Gumshields and groin guards are optional.
In later training you will need classical Japanese weapons
All
equipment, licences and renewals can be
obtained through your Instructor.
Why do we bow
The act of bowing is a gesture of trust, courtesy and respect. It is not a sign
of weakness or cowardice.
Bowing can be a little unsettling at first. However, part of the training of
martial arts is to overcome arrogance.
By following the traditions and courtesies as you are shown, you will be setting
an example of true strengh of character and self control.
The Instructor is referred to as SENSEI meaning teacher, and the
Assistant Instructor as SEMPAI, meaning senior or “Older brother/sister”
When do we bow
The standing bow is performed at the following times:-
1 Bow on entering or leaving the Dojo
2 Bow on stepping on or off the mat
3 Bow when beginning to train with a chosen partner
and then ask :- “O-negai-itashimasu” (May i have the honour of practicing with
you?)
4 Bow when leaving a training partner and say :- “Domo arigato gozaimasu” (Thank
you very much)
The
kneeling bow is performed at the beginning and end of a training session.
What can i expect in the first
week?
The classes start and end with breathing exercises which become meditation once
the students progress.
Very early on you will learn to land safely and avoid being hit, along with
basic concepts.
It is important to become fully comfortable with the early techniques and
concepts as these provide the foundation for the rest of your training.
For the first weeks you will ache in places you did not think possible. This is
normal with any new activity, while the body adjusts to new movements and new
reflexes.
These aches will soon pass and you will have taken the first steps to overcoming
adversity in all its forms.
Principals of training
Physically
Ju Jitsu is the art of striking and grappling.
It combines punches, kicks and strikes for long and short range, grappling and
throws for close range, with joint locks, strangles and nerve holds to restrain
an opponent.
It is a demanding fighting system which will increase aerobic and muscular
fitness, agility, flexibility, balance and co-ordination.
Mentally
No matter what the reason was that prompted you to begin training, be it for
fitness, self defence or other reason, the bottom line is you want to improve
yourself physically.
While this is achieved during your training period, other more subtle changes
also take place.
You will find that your ability to react calmly under stress improves, your
ability to concentrate or focus on a given task becomes greater, in all you find
yourself developing mental and spiritual strength alongside your physical
ability.
Spiritually
The ability to apply the principals of Ju Jitsu to your everyday life will help
you achieve true victory over the circumstances and adversities we all face in
our family lives, jobs and ambitions.
It is toward this we strive to maintain and live up to the principals by which
the Samurai lived.
These are called the “Samurai no kokoroe” or the Precepts of the
Samurai.
Discipline
One of the main flaws which we must guard against as Martial Artists is
arrogance.
This is why the responsibilities of discipline and respect must be adhered to.
It is important that as a Martial Artist you must maintain the strength of
character to uphold the rules and values of the school.
What is required of me?
The location where your training takes place is called a Dojo.
As a basic rule, the Dojo stands somewhere between a place of worship and a
training hall.
Common sense should dictate that horseplay, sloppiness, arrogance, etc. have no
place in the school.
You should maintain a courteous attitude towards all those you train with,
paying attention to advice or instructions given.
It is essential that you are always aware that you are training in an extremely
effective art which is designed to control an opponent through the infliction of
pain.
Injuries in the Dojo most often occur when a student fails to pay attention to
the instructions or get over enthusiastic and do not sufficiently control their
technique.
Control of your thoughts and emotions should be maintained at all times.
Why do i shout in class?
The shout, or KIAI in Japanese, has many different uses.
The word Kiai comes from the words Ki meaning “spirit or internal force”, and ai
comes from a contraction of the verb awasu, meaning “to unite”.
The Kiai acts as a trigger, co-ordinating neutral and muscular responses so that
everything, spirit and power are concentrated in the same split second.
The Kiai produces two additional responses. It has the effect of tightening the
muscles of the torso and the lower abdomen, aiding strength.
Finally it has psychological effect upon your opponent, either to intimidate or
startle them into a reaction that maybe used to advantage.
History of Ju Jitsu
In ancient Japan during mediaeval years there were many exercise patterns & arts
which the Samurai were trained in, one of these was JU JITSU. Pronounced (Joo-Jit’soo).
The term Ju Jitsu translates into (Ju) meaning soft, supple or gentle and
(JITSU) meaning art or way of. Thus Ju Jitsu means the way of gentleness or way
of suppleness.
There are other translations but all return to the similar translation, there
are also several spellings of the name the Ju-Jitsu (Ju-Jitsu, Jujitsu, Jujutsu,
Jiu Jitsu, etc.)
Throughout much of the world Ju Jitsu has again gained on popularity and in this
country alone there are many thousands of students training each week. In feudal
times it was known as Kogusoku, Kempo Tai Jutsu and Hakuda but the term Ju Jitsu
would have seemed to have been the most popular.
Although unlike western forms of combat the Japanese systems were well
documented, but with this vast amount of information from the many schools, much
of it is contradictory.
Many modern teachers have also created their own schools and have invented
material of their own for their self gratification, but there are still many
associations and schools who maintain the original concept and follow the early
systems where teachers hold history and the art and pass this onto their
students.
According to some ancient documents a famous warrior called Fukuno studied the
methods of fighting without the use of weapons, these documents show that his
skill became such that he was able to take on and defeat opponents much bigger
and stronger than himself.
His art did not grow very quickly at first but two of his students created their
own schools, these students were Terada and Miura. The exact date of this part
of our history is not known but it is thought to have been before the middle of
the Century.
There are many stories and accounts of Ju Jitsu schools forming, creating the
origins as we now know them.
It is suggested that Miura Yoshin, who lived in the province around Nagasaki,
believed that many illnesses were contrived through inactivity of the body and
mind in harmony.
He developed a method of Ju Jitsu which was based around 20 ways of seizing an
opponent.
He devised these ways with two of his students and they went on to form a
further 51.
More documents exist from about this time where Hskuda is explained as the
method of, or art of, kicking and striking as opposed to the seizing or
throwing.
According to these well documented histories of Ju Jitsu there are many ways of
defeating an opponent, these cover stopping the initial attack, throwing him or
her to the ground, restraining him or her in such away so as to prevent them
from rising and placing a lock or strangle so as the opponent can’t bear the
pain.
There are also other forms such as Atemi; this is the art of striking a
particular point or part of the opponent’s body which is either physically or
mentally weak so as to cause extreme pain.
The dates of the first schools or ways is not completely clear but some
authorities believe that JuJitsu appeared during the 13th century, during its
growth many famous schools have been chronicled, these include Tenjin-Shingo-Ryu,
Takenouchi-Ryu, Sosuishitsu Ryu and Kito-Ryu.
Together with others these schools formed a modified synthesis in the school of
Judo founded by Jigoro Kano during the 19th century, himself being a Ju Jitsu
master.