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