Jujitsu – History

One can be sure to say that Jujitsu has Chinese roots. It is often not known that the Asian martial arts all have the same roots. This might have historical and political reasons. Here some examples for the relations between martial arts:

Ø  KEMPO (Japanese) written with identical signs but pronounced Chinese is CHÚAN FA.

Ø KARATE (Japanese actually Okinawa) really meant „China hand“ (origin in the Tang dynasty). It was only by Gichin Funakoshi (student of Anko Asado, Yasutsune Itosu, Tanme Sakihara Kiyuna, Niígaki, Kanryo Higashionna, Sokon Matsumura and Chojun Miyagi) and after the official demonstration in the Butokukai in 1921 that the meaning was changed into „Karate“ the unarmed hand. Since then people think that karate is an unarmed Japanese martial art. Karate in its nowaday meaning was brought to the Japanese islands in 1951. Older Jujitsu styles that developed to karate are GOSHIN RYU (combination of throwing, levering, hitting and kicking techniques), NAHA TE (also called Shorei Ryu), SHURI TE and TOMARI TE (1900) and SHITO RYU. Modern karate styles are Shotokan (1949), Nippon den Seito Shorinji Kempo (1947), Kyokushinkai (1953), Goju Ryu (1933), Gojukai (1930s), Yoseikan (1958), Shorin Ryu (1920), Isshin Ryu (1959), Shito Ryu (1934), Shotokai (1945) and Seidokan.

In Korea there exists an equivalent to the Japanese karate that shows the relation to China. TANG SOO DO = „The principle of self defence following the Tang method“. In China it is called TANG SHOU DAO or KUO SHU (Chinese boxing). The Korean TAEKWON DO was introduced by General Choi Hong Hi in 1956 after long debates and the consecutive break up with Hwang Kee the founder of Tang Soo Do. Most of the nowadays usual Hyongs can be traced back to Karate Kata and have only been slightly modified.

Ø The Chinese SHAOLIN CHÚAN FA (Cui Ba Xian Quan, Lo Han Chuán, Tong Bei Chúan, Ta Hsing Chúan, Tsung Hi Pai, Ti Kung Cúan) also has a Japanese equivalent called SHORINJI KEMPO. Here only a few more Chinese martial arts: Tái Chi Chúan (which has lots of variations), Wing Chun (Ving Tsun, Wing Tsun, Wing Tschun etc.), Pa Kua Pai, Hung Gar, Choy Lee Fut, Tang Lang Pai, Tung Hai Chúan. The Chinese physician Hua-To (265-190 B.C.) described many fighting methods which are based on animals’ movements in his book Shu-Po. Chinese boxing was forgotten about after the boxer rebellion was broken up by the colonial powers in 1900. Laws against boxing did not improve the situation. So it was only practised in secret. It was not till Bruce Lee became famous that it was revealed again.

SUMO too influenced Jujitsu a great deal ( sumo comes from Chikara Kurabe, and has been known as Juran Zumo or Sumo Zumai since the third century). In China this martial art is known as SUBOKU (Chiao Ti known since the seventh century B.C.) and in Korea as SHUBAKU, here too one can see the common roots.

Ø Southeast Asia is also an area in which new but similar martial arts come from. Since Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines too where covered  with Chinese and Japanese trading towns, there a lot of influence being taken. ARNIS (also called Kali or Escrima ) is very popular on the Philippines. In Malaysia and Indonesia it is BER SILAT  and PENCAK SILAT  – including styles like Kuntao, Mande Muda, Bahkti Negara, Harimau, Panca Indra Suci, Perisai Diri . There are supposed to be more than 150 styles, others reported over one thousand.

In Thailand MUAY THAI is the martial art that has become the most popular, although  the system here is nearly completely adapted to competitions. The original forms of Siamese boxing were absorbed into it. Chai Yut is the term that is used when talking about all the different Thai martial arts. There still exist a few schools that teach MUAY BORAN, CHAIYA and the armed art of KRABI KRABONG (also called Fan Dab), But they are the exception. In Burma/Cambodsha we find the Burmese boxing BANDO (Thiang – 1300) a martial art very similar to Muay Thai. Bando is divided into 15 methods, like the Chinese animal styles in Chúan Fa. Burma’s traditional martial arts are collected in the term Myanmar Thaiing. The origin of the Siamese and the Burmese techniques lies in China. They were brought by Chinese immigrants. BANSHEI and LAI KA is the Burmese relative of Krabi Krabong. Traditional Burmese wrestling is called Naban.

Ø Chinese roots can also not be denied in the Vietnamese VIET VO DAO. This system was united in 1938 (before there were styles like Vo Thuat).

In the Tokugawa Epoch (1611 – 1868) more than 700 Jujitsu Ryu were founded. The similarities of the schools were overweighed by the differences and this has changed till today. The word Jujitsu did not come up till the 18th century. The two different ways of writing (Ju-Jutsu and Jiu-Jitsu) come from the transliteration of the signs. Ju-Jutsu is the Japanese way and Jiu-Jitsu the Chinese. Most of the time one sees mixtures like Jujitsu or Jiujutsu. The translation of Jujitsu as „soft art“ is not the original meaning either. Jujitsu according to the dictionary is „perfection“. But perfection of what? Jujitsu certainly does not mean „winning by giving in“. This is quite obvious when you look at the methods of the different styles of levering, throwing, punching and kicking. Each school prefers other techniques. Some styles like throwing more others prefer punching or levering. At this point I would like to mention a few of the old schools  – Take Uchi Ryu, Araki Ryu, Shinkage Ryu, Yanagi Ryu, Jikishin Ryu, Kito Ryu, Yagyu Shinkage Ryu. Talking about the meaning of Jujitsu with a Japanese Jujitsu master will let you get a better understanding of it. It is often translated as the art of war; perfection of the art being the aim whilst the training is supposed to lead to this aim. This makes more sense.

Jujitsu was and is known as e.g. Yawara Ge, Aikijitsu, Aikibujutsu, Hakuda, Kempo, Kogusoku, Koshi No Mawari, Yoroi Kumi Uchi, Tai Jutsu, Torite and Shubaku. It was part of the training in the different Bujutsu schools (Ryu) of the Japanese knights (Bushi) which taught the unarmed techniques as well as armed ones (sword, spear, knife etc.). Jujitsu was a combined fighting system with and without arms. Battle without arms was actually quite rare in those days. Similar combined systems were also being taught in medieval Europe.  

The Meiji-Period (1868) lead to the decline of the Japanese knights. Because the victorious dictate history it is often forgotten that the USA used battle ships to open Japan which had been isolated from the West till then. This was connected with neglecting the old traditions and so the old martial arts were forgotten. Martial arts became less and less important due to the modernisation of warfare, introduction of guns, etc. Like in Europe this lead to the permanent extinction of many styles. In 1871 a law was passed forbidding Japanese knights to carry swords. In 1903 only 4.5 % of the Japanese belonged to the knights’ caste. Most of them made their living by teaching martial arts. It was not till the end of the 19^th century that martial arts became part of the Japanese culture again, although their battle related aspect was often replaced by the sports and/or spirit related aspect.

Driven forward by a German

The German Dr. Erwin Otto Eduard von Baelz (1849 – 1913) who was a lecturer for medicine at Tokyo university, was given the task to find a type of sports for the Japanese students. Dr. Baelz was a scholar of Sakakibara Kenkichi in the Jiki Shinkage Ryu (1580 – a Bujutsu school which developed from the Kashima Shinto Ryu ) at this time and thought the techniques he was learning were suitable for sports. (Other schools which developed from the Kashima Shinto Ryu were Shindo Muso Ryu and Tendo Ryu). Dr. Baelz told his students to look out for similar martial arts styles and to go to their masters’ classes. One of Dr. Baelz’s students was a young man called Jigoro Kano (born in 1860, student of anthropology). Dr. Baelz was able to get Jigoro Kano so interested in the project, that the student opened a small training hall (dojo) himself. In 1884 Jigoro Kano and nine of his scholars set the path for the world wide triumph of Japanese martial arts.

A further scholar of Sakakibara was Morihei Ueshiba who later founded Aikido. One of the most popular masters of Kahima Shinto Ryu in our days is Toshihiro Obata who became famous with his live shows and by starring in films like Ninja Hero Turtles.

Jujitsu in Europe

Jujitsu became popular in Europe around 1900. The most important master most of still know of was Katsukuma Higashi who was one of Jigoro Kano’s scholars. Katsukuma Higashi wrote two Jujitsu books with Irving Hancock which were published in English, French and German in 1905 and still are available today. He taught Jujitsu in Germany and later in England.

German pioneering

Erich Rahn, who was fascinated by fighting, saw the Japanese fighter Katsukuma Higashi in a circus in Berlin when it took him only a few seconds to force down a bigger and stronger man using Jujitsu techniques. Erich Rahn persuaded Higashi to teach him Jujitsu. In 1906 he became the first German to open a Jiu-Jitsu school. Later Erich Rahn was called the Master of 1000 Jiu-Jitsu Techniques. He was supposed to be Europe’s best fighter.

Another German pioneer was Alfred Rhode. He made Jujitsu and later Judo popular in Germany. In 1924 he founded an international summer academy for Judo with Japanese masters teaching.

Because of the world wars Jujitsu had lots of ups and downs in Germany, too. The allies prohibited the practice of Jujitsu in a law passed in 1945. It was not until the 50ies that this law was annulated after long negotiations. Jujitsu in Germany then established itself well and a lot of organisations were founded. Of course each of these organisations says of itself that they practice the one and only correct style of Jujitsu.

Jujitsu – the origin

Jujitsu is the origin of lots of “new – old” martial arts. Here are some examples:

Ø JIGORO KANO (descendant of a samurai family) developed JUDO at the end of the 19th century. It is now an Olympic discipline. Originally he called his system Kodokan Jiu-Jitsu. It was constructed with parts from the following Jiu-Jitsu schools: Yanagi Ryu, Jikishinkage Ryu, Tenkami Ryu, Tenshin Shinyo Ryu, Kito Ryu (these were mostly attacking techniques - Ate Waza) which can nowadays still be seen in the Koshiki No Kata and Sumo (throwing techniques - Nage Waza). In 1882 there were lots of fights between the Jiu-Jitsu schools. Judo, which was supposed to be academic, was also often involved. In 1886 a fight was organised to stop the gang wars. Kodokan Jiu-Jitsu was by far the winner. Kodokan Jiu-Jitsu did not only make use of levering and throwing techniques, which is what Judokas like saying today, but also punching, kicking, head, elbow and knee techniques. Combat Judo is the judo style which nowadays still contains special self-defence techniques. In Jigoro Kanos times Combat Judo was his GOSHIN JITSU which made use of punches towards the extremities (Atemi Waza). What lots of people do not know ist hat Jigoro Kano was a great supporter – he helped Gichin Funakoshi, Chojun Miyagi and Morihei Ueshiba fulfil their own dreams. Traditional aspects are not important in Judo today and are hardly respected. It is hard to say whether Jigoro Kano would have been pleased with the development of his self-defence system to a tournament sport. It is only in Katas like the Goshin Jitsu No Kata that some techniques are still preserved and even they are only being interpreted and not practiced.

Ø MORIHEI UESHIBA created his AIKIDO after studying Kodokan Jiu-Jitsu, Yanagi Ryu, Yagyu Ryu, Jiki Shinkage Ryu and Daito Ryu Aiki Ju-Jutsu (1888). Aikido today mainly consists of painful grabs and levering techniques followed by a throw and sometimes a finishing lever. You can still find throttling techniques in Aiki Jutsu today and in some Aiki Jitsu styles you can even still see boxing and kicking. As he got older Morihei Ueshiba moved further and further away from the original use of Jujitsu Kempo which is self-defence towards philosophy (the unification of Taoism, Shintoism and Zen Buddhism). It is often kept secret but it is celebrated in the ceremonies that Ueshiba was the leader of the Omoto sect. His Aikido is characterised by his own ideas of spiritual and physical harmony. There are no competitions in Aikido and self-defence often only comes in second or even last place. In the mean time Aikido has also split up into different styles – Tenshin Aikido (best known master is Steven Seagal), Shinshin Toitsu, Takemusu Aiki (also known as Iwama style) and Tendo Ryu.

Ø Most of the KARATE styles originate from Jujitsu, too; especially Wado Ryu and Karate Jutsu. The founder of Wado Ryu Hironori Otsuka was a master of Yoshin Ryu Jiu-Jitsu Kempo and the founder of Karate Jutsu Gichin Funakoshi was a Shorin Ryu scholar.

Ø In 1968 the now well known Ju-Jutsu was developed in Germany. It uses only the „best“ (one can discuss that) Karate, Judo and Aikido techniques. It too is becoming more and more a tournament sport like Judo which is a pity. Because you fight with rules a limitation of the system is inevitable. The best example for this is Judo, where self-defence plays such a minor role that it can only be found in two katas.

Ø SAMBO (abbreviation for SAMosaschtschita Bes Orushia; which means self-defence without weapons) is a fascinating Russian fighting system. In 1923 a group of russian soldiers took to studying the traditional russian fighting styles and to developing a new fighting method. Grabbing and levering techniques from Jujitsu were added to the popular wrestling techniques (which also came from the Asian parts of this big country). There were special close combat techniques for the military close combat with which enemies could e.g. be killed silently. Three main styles were developed: wrestling for sports (borba sambo) which had a big influence on tournament Judo, military close combat (bojewoje sambo, later called speznaz) and self-defence sambo.

Ø JUJITSU is nowadays still used as a close combat system in police and military units here and abroad or taught as a civil self-defence method. It is supposed to be one of the most efficient close combat systems in the world. It is still practiced in the US Army and is simply called CLOSE COMBAT. Lots of specialised forces like the US Marines, US Special Forces, US Rangers, GSG9, SWAT, SAS, Mosat, etc. have learned and modified Jujitsu techniques to match their purposes. By doing this we are moving back to the original idea of Jujitsu because it always was a martial art which taught how to fight( armed or unarmed) against an armed enemy.

All Asian martial arts are often summarized as BUDO. But the word Budo is a creation of the 20^th century like Karate Do, Aikido and Judo. In feudal Japan the word Bujutsu (Chinese: Wu Shu, Vietnamese: Vo Dao, etc.) meant all skills used in warfare which of course also included riding, swimming, logistics, organisation, etc. When the DO found its way to the martials arts a more religious, philosophical path was taken. The main goal was to reach an ethic ideal and to emphasize the „higher“ eastern norms compared to the „lower“ western ones. This is why non-Asians have problems defining the meaning of Do. It simply is not our kind of mentality. By the way, the people who created the “Do” hardly ever met, let alone obeyed, the Bushido moral codex, like most Christians do not follow the Bible, most Jews do not follow the Thora and most Muslims do not follow the Koran.

Historical and political reasons make Europeans (especially Germans) very cautious not to use the words: martial arts (maybe that is also the reason why countries have defence secretaries and no war secretaries), they prefer saying self-defence. The Anglo-Saxons on the other hand prefer saying martial arts (referring to the Roman god of war: Mars) which is by far the more correct term. One has to distinguish between the terms martial arts, combat/tournament sports and self-defence very clearly. The first concentrates on the art (i.e the important elements are the beauty of the motions, shapes, looks and often acrobatics). The second is trained so as to make fair and rule controlled fights possible. Self-defence is supposed to be as close as possible to a potentially threatening situation which could happen in the streets or actually everywhere.