| Unarmed fighting forms have be a part of | | | | an attacker. While these techniques are |
| Japanese culture for many centuries. | | | | not as relevant with today's weapons, |
| Unarmed combat is mentioned in the | | | | Tokyo police still carry a hojo cord and |
| earliest Japanese historical records. | | | | train with it regularly. Truly modern |
| The Japanese fighting systems we know | | | | Jujutsu was founded towards the end of |
| today have their origins found in | | | | the Tokegawa period around the year |
| ancient Japanese battlefield combat | | | | 1850. Around this time many Jujutsu |
| systems. The fighting styles that fall | | | | schools sprung up which stressed Jujitsu |
| under the general name Sengoku Jujutsu | | | | training based on the Edo Jujustsu |
| were originally not for unarmed combat | | | | system rather than the Sengoku Jujutsu |
| as much as they were to help a lightly | | | | system as battlefield confrontation was |
| armored warrior defeat a heavily armed | | | | no longer very relevant. Modern Jujutsu |
| warrior. The heavily armed attacker | | | | is employed by law enforcement and |
| would generally not be prepared to | | | | military all around the world. It is a |
| defend against unarmed techniques. | | | | very effective way to restrain an |
| Jujitsu training includes learning | | | | attacker without using lethal force. If |
| striking, body throws, sweeps, | | | | an opponent is not trained in Jujutsu, |
| joint-locks, off-balance throws, | | | | it is very hard for them to defend |
| pinning, grappling, wrestling, | | | | against Jujutsu's attacks and control |
| strangulating holds, submission holds, | | | | maneuvers. Modern Jujutsu is also very |
| and even weapon skills such as with the | | | | popular in the mixed martial arts sport |
| tanto. Jujitsu training also includes | | | | of today, and there are also many |
| defensive strategies such as evasion, | | | | Jujutsu specific competitions. One of |
| blocking, blending, escaping, and | | | | the reasons Jujutsu is so effective is |
| maintaining balance. During the Edo | | | | that it specializes in reacting to any |
| period is when the Jujitsu that we | | | | given situation. You do not just run |
| recognize today started to come into | | | | striking drills and hope an opponent |
| being. The Nihon Jujutsu of today is a | | | | cannot defend against your combinations. |
| child of Edo Jujutsu, which was less | | | | Jujutsu allows the student to stay |
| battlefield oriented and focused on | | | | effective no matter where the fight |
| dealing with unarmored opponents. One of | | | | goes. If the fight goes to the ground, |
| the primary differences is the addition | | | | the Jujutsu student is prepared. Jujutsu |
| use of striking vital targets. This | | | | allows the student to keep control over |
| would not be of much use against an | | | | the fight and impose his strategy upon |
| armored opponent, but it is very | | | | the opponent no matter what they try to |
| powerful when used against an enemy in | | | | do. |
| civilian or street clothes. One aspect | | | | Yoshi I Kundagawa is a freelance |
| of the original forms of Jujitsu | | | | journalist. He covers the mixed martial |
| training that is no longer seen much is | | | | arts industry. For a free report on |
| the use of a cord to restrain or choke | | | | jujitsu training visit his blog. |