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The true origin of Japanese grappling systems that led to Jujitsu has been lost in antiquity. What we do know is that Jujitsu became a formalized style of unarmed and short armed combat sometime in the 12th century. Practiced and utilized by the Samurai; Jujitsu grew into a battle tested montage of techniques. Techniques that worked survived, those that did not perished with their practitioners on the battle field. Evolution at work. In fact evolution is still at work, refining, tuning this ancient martial art. Because Jujitsu is such an all encompassing martial art we see a number of divergent paths that have broken off to become their own art; Karate and Judo being the two most obvious children spawned by Jujitsu. Modern manifestations of Jujitsu include combat style, Brazilian, Sport Jujitsu and hundreds of other different variations.
Different styles differ in approach; but most operate on similar principles.

Jujitsu means the gentle art - Ju meaning gentle and su meaning art. The name refers to the fact that Jujitsu was generally practiced without causing death or dismemberment unlike the Samurai's more general approach to combat. This has led to a misnomer that Jujitsu is a gentle or soft fighting style compared to striking arts like Tao Kwan Do, Karate or kick boxing. In one sense this is true since Jujitsu masters can generally end a combat with out causing serious harm to their opponents. For example when Royce Gracie won the first two UFCs - he did so without injuring any of his opponents. He drew no blood, broke no bones and yet he was able to subdue his opponents. Compare this to full contact Mui Thai contests that frequently ends with blood shed, broken bones and concussions. With Jujitsu the option to cause severe damage is there - but it is an option, unlike most striking bases martial arts were success under full contact rules generally demands inflicting serious damage.

Jujitsu is also some times considered a "soft" martial art because of it's reactive nature. Meaning Jujitsu artists allow attackers to come to them; and then utilize what an attacker has given. Jujitsu is one of the best martial arts for self defense. While most martial arts are inherently offensive; Jujitsu is more defensive in nature. Plus the dynamics of Jujitsu are closer to the dynamics of a real combat situation. It is rare if ever you will be approached by someone who is going to strike the pose of the Crane and challenge you to battle. Most people who need to defend themselves do not get any warning. They don't even know there going to be in a fight until the fight begins. At this point fancy poses and katas are not very helpful. A trained reactive response however could make the difference of surviving or dying.

Jujitsu consists of throws, joint locks, arm and leg straigheners, strangles, chokes, pain holds, strikes and several other miscellaneous techniques including falling and weapons training. When it was first practiced by the Samurai's Jujitsu was brutal. Those who romanticize the Samurais are more then likely ignorant of the true history and the vicious nature of the Samurai political system. There is nothing in the code of the Samurai (Bushido) that mentions sheltering the weak or obtaining justice for the common man. Bushido rules the way men killed and died. It is not a code of life; it is a code of death. Jujitsu was learned to survive; but also to allowed the Samurai a way to control and intimidate the general populous without littering the ground with severed heads.

When the Samurai's lost their political power in the late 1800s they found them selves with skills but no vocation. A circle of Samurai's took to the road putting on bare knuckle shows, demonstrations and take all comers tournaments. This was probably very similar to the American carny circuit and undoubtedly many of these fighter found their way to America just as many American's - like Frank Gotch found their way to Japan. The circuit was short lived however as the government also shut down this avenue of employment to the once proud warriors. From here we see many Jujitsu schools opening to the general public. However it is far more ritualized then the battle field version. Many style of Jujitsu today are closer to Akido or Karate then a truly pragmatic fighting style.

Today most Jujitsu practitioners have modified the art and adopted a non-violent approach. These days Jujitsu is learned for self defense, sport and fun. While often used by police, military and security forces Jujitsu is also popular among accountants, computer technicians, teachers and people just like you. The sport of Jujitsu is also experiencing renewed popularity. The sport styles of Jujitsu, including the Brazilian style are proving to be highly pragmatic martial art. While devastatingly effective as a self defense, sport Jujitsu is proving to be very safe and enjoyable for people from all walks. While modern Jujitsu may bear a great resemblance to the Jujitsu the Samurai used to keep the local populous inline; it has changed significantly in spirit.

The reason I prefer sport Jujitsu over other styles of Jujitsu (although you may not) is primarily pragmatism. The more combat orientated or so called 'street' forms of Jujitsu actually tend to be less effective then the sport variety. At first this seems counter intuitive. Indeed combat Jujitsu practitioners often scorn playing Jujitsu as a sport touting Jujitsu's deadly nature. Thus instead of competing they practice dangerous techniques in a highly controlled, careful manner. In other words they practice techniques in a manner that is entirely unlike how such techniques would need to be performed to work.

Those who play Sport Jujitsu on the other hand spend most of their practices with full motion randori (sparring). They practice their skills as they would really use them. Sport Jujitsu has no katas, prearranged moves or questionable techniques. Every thing is pragmatic. There is little time wasted on fanciful wish techniques; (those are techniques you wish worked.) Since it is played as a sport however it also allows players a chance to work with other players in a safe environment. The more people you play with, the more variety your exposed to, the more you learn the better you are. If your only practicing with the same people day after day, month after month your skills will quickly stagnant. You tend to think in terms of what you know your opponent will do, as oppose to being reactive to what is happening at the moment. Sport Jujitsu really opens the door to enhancing your Jujitsu and giving you a deeper insight to the nature of the art.

Another aspect of sport Jujitsu that I really enjoy is that it is a sport. So much of martial arts training focuses on the what ifs. What if someone jumped out of the bushes? what if a mugger grabbed you on the street? What if your daughter was kidnapped by drug dealing terrorist commies and you had to go rescue her? We always seem to preparing for some do or die fight that isn't going to happen. And preparing for it through the memorization of set patterns quite probably isn't going to help you much even if it does happen. Jujitsu should not be about fighting. Real fights are ugly, clumsy and generally only willingly engaged in by idiots. Personally I do not fight. This book is neither about how to look good in a fight, how to win a fight or where to find the best fights. Instead of concentrating on fights I'd rather focus on the sport which is far more fun and if need be, more effective then training for combat. One manifestation of sport Jujitsu was the off shoot Judo.

There is some weakness in Jujitsu, both sport and non-sport. I'll start with the non-sport or what I call Kata Jujitsu.
Kate Jujitsu, of which their are many, many forms I feel cheapens Jujitsu as a whole. Practice with out resistance does not improve one's fighting skills. It was the Kata schools that Kano beat. Unfortunately; Jujitsu's popularity has lead to the springing up of thousands of Jujitsu schools run by those who don't know thing one about grappling. It now seems that every Karate, Judo, Jeet Kwon Do and Kung Fu instructor is now also claiming Jujitsu skills. I see it painted in small letters on their school windows. In Minneapolis alone their are some 25 schools that claim to teach Jujitsu. But at least 20 of those schools are entirely clueless about grappling and effective Jujitsu. They have no idea what to do on the mat or how to employ their techniques against a live opponent. I consider what they do to be nothing short of fraudulent. If someone claims they can teach you jujitsu - but they can't get on the mat and walk the walk so to speak - then flee out that door - Immediately.

Sport Jujitsu is ruled by the Brazilians. The last 10 years the Brazilians have had amazing success on the mat in a variety of formats. Unfortunately many have tried to exploit that success claiming that all the credit belongs to the Gracies and Brazilian ingenuity. This is simply not the case. When BJJ is pitted against striker, brawlers and the unskilled; BJJ wins every time. But when faced with another good grappler with submission skills BJJ is no better then any other style. It also bothers me that they cling to a false sense of superiority without giving due credit to the long grappling history that has helped shape their history.

BJJ also has one weakness and it comes from their greatest strength; the Guard. Heralded as the end all and be all of grappling techniques since Royce won the second UFC the Guard is credited with changing the grappling world. In a sense this is true since under the rules of many grappling sports going to your back meant you lost. Also few NHB or street fighters would adopt this posture since your too vulnerable to strikes and knees (especially to the groin). Also in the street it is the last place you want to be if your foe has a friend.

The Guard is a defensive position. You need never get beaten by the guard if you don't want to be. The second Shamrock - Gracie fight proved just that. By doing nothing; Shamrock was able to keep Gracie from doing, or even attempting anything. The fight degraded to a waiting match with Gracie unable and Shamrock unwilling to make a move. If I had a new fighter and we wanted to go into a match and my only concern was to make the fight last or get a draw I'd train him in the Brazilian style. Almost any BJJ player can make you look bad, but I feel it lacks the ability to create mistakes, or to keep the pressure on an opponent. Of course great BJJ players like Jean Machado, Walid Ismial and the Gracies are great players who are an immediate threat. But I feel it is their mat experience, athletic gifts and mental will that make them great. Some claim that it is BJJ and BJJ alone; but that reasoning is simply flawed and is proven wrong time and time again as BJJ falls before fighters from different disciplines. This is not to put BJJ down; but it is silly to believe that it is the end all and be all to grappling.

Years ago when Judo and Jujitsu players hopped on the pro circuit with the shooters, wrestlers and Hookers they faired no better then anyone else. The Brazilians did not invent grappling and do not have a special hold on the grappling world. They have a style, a good style that is cheapened when they claim it to be more then it is.