Jujitsu History Lesson

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Jujitsu History Lesson. The core base of goshinjutsu ihas always been ju-jutsu, pronounced 'joo-joots' and in it's romaji form may also be seen spelt as it is heard colloquially - jujitsu or jiu-jitsu. Is not an easy martial art to trace the history of, compared with other well known and perhaps more modern martial arts or ways. Continuous wars through the centuries have caused much destruction of informative documentation and sworn secrecy within the schools kept information from the general populace. 
 
Much of the following information is to give a flavour of the martial background and is a general jujitsu history lesson drawn from many books and is briefly repeated here - a bibliography is available elsewhere. Naturally, there will always be differences of opinion on certain historical facts and dates.
 
Jujitsu History Lesson.
 
 Whilst the various forms of combat were proliferating and becoming systematised, chu'an fa (kempo) in China, te in Okinawa, the situation in Japan was altogether different. In the early periods of Japanese history, towards the end of the Han period in China (c.AD220), we find evidence of a fighting method that included kicking techniques. Known as chikara kurabe, this was a relatively unsophisticated art, relying to a large degree on brute strength. 
 
 There were originally no restraints using techniques or tactics and fights often ended in death. Chikara kurabe was practised for employment on the battlefield and naturally the development of armour served to render many of the techniques useless.
 
 From all the archaeological findings, it is undeniable that wrestling was probably one of the oldest forms of unarmed combat the human species ever adopted. The steady progress of this fighting art has not been forgotten and in China, like all other Chinese martial arts, it was gradually becoming more popular among common people rather than with the military. 
 
 The names and rules had been varied during the period of its evolution. As it was believed to have evolved through the charging actions of two deer with their horns, the name was first recorded as JIADO-DI "the horned confrontation". It was because the methods of enduring at that time were purely physical, it was also known as JIA-LI " horned muscular game". 
 
 At the time of the Zhou dynasty (1122 BC), it had become a major training program inside the army. The game had developed into a more skilful fighting art. Recent Chinese historians argued that at the beginning, competitors wore traditional costumes to take part. The old book of 'FuYan' mentioned how wrestlers gripped and held each other's clothing. 
 
 Therefore they stated that the game of JIAO-DI was later developed to another version of wrestling called XIANG-BO. This sport did not allow competitors to wear any ornamental pieces so foul play could be prevented. Since there were no collars or sleeves to be gripped, participants could only rely on tripping and throwing techniques. The main factor of winning relied heavily on the weight and size of the individual.
 
 In Japan, there is mention of Sumo being active as far back as 23 BC in one of the old chronicles of Japan, the Nihon Sho-ki. On the other hand, the fully clothed JIAO-DI version is attributed to a Shaolin martial artist Cheng Yuan Yun bringing it over to Japan around 1629 AD. It was then claimed to contribute to the content of one or more of the old style Japanese martial arts of jujutsu.
 
 With the wearing of armour in Japan, the employment of simple grappling methods became more effective than atemi-type attacks (punches, kicks, etc.) The grappling methods that evolved were termed yoroi kumi-uchi (wrestling in armour) and although they did employ the use of striking techniques, these tended to be made with minor weapons rather than with bare hands and feet. 
 
 The utilisation of yoroi kumi-uchi itself was only a tactic, a means to an end. The main aim was to place the opponent in a disadvantageous position so that a short bladed weapon such as a yoroi-doshi could be thrust through a weak place in his armour. 
 
 These original concepts can be found in the execution of koshiki-no-kata, derived from the Kito school of Jujutsu. In the correct application of this kata the exponents should wear armour! When it is performed in hakama or gi, the movements are kept fairly rigid to reflect the image of feudal combat.
 
 Another factor that weighed heavily against the popularity of unarmed combat was the strict code of ethics, which had evolved by the middle ages. This code normally determined the staging and procedure of combat between opposing factions. The implication being that fighting without weapons was simply common brawling and was therefore beneath the dignity and station of the Samurai warrior. The classical warrior was required to be well armed and trained in the use of weapons, and the wearing of armour made hand or foot attacks fairly ineffective and more likely to result in injury to the attacker rather than to the intended foe. 
 
 The idea that many styles, such as Karate, have a long ancestry or have direct connections with the Samurai is therefore possibly erroneous. Actual "empty hand" methods of combat were only formally introduced into the martial ryu in the mid-16th century as the wearing of armour became more infrequent.

Jujitsu History Lesson
 
 There is evidence, however, that empty hand techniques were in use during the Heian period (794 - 1185) in conjunction with weapons training. In 880 AD it is believed Prince Teijun (also known as Sadagami) formed the basics of what was to become the Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu school. The school was based on the secret teachings of shugendo, where 'shu' means search, 'ken' means power, and 'do' means way. This used circular hand motions to assist in defending with weapons. Other records show that Aikijujutsu was originally developed by Minamoto no Yoshimitsu and his brother Yoshiie from their own clan fighting techniques in the same historical period. 
 
 These skills involved the spear, swordsmanship, archery, and Taijutsu - later called Jujutsu.
 
 The eldest son of Yoshimitsu moved to a new area and took a new family name, Takeda. Wars took their toll, and by the end of the Sengoku era the Takeda Kai clan had been virtually wiped out. In the state of Aizu, where Takeda Kuniisu had become the master of swordsmanship with a fief and mansion, Daito (Takeda) Ryu Aikijujutsu continued to flourish along with many other schools of martial arts. Styles of Jujutsu included Mizu no Shinto Ryu and Shinmyo Ryu.. It was at this stage in the development of unarmed combat that certain Chinese "chu'an fa" (or kempo) techniques were incorporated into some schools. In practise these techniques tended to originate from the styles prevalent in southern China. 
 
 In 1559 the monk Ch'en Yuan Pin, or Chin Gen Pin in Japanese, migrated from China to Japan, bringing Kempo with him, parts of which were integrated into the existing teachings of some schools of Jujutsu. In Tokyo there is a stone monument honouring the monk as a Chinese boxer and his contribution to Jujutsu. Credit for founding a more formal art of jujutsu appears to go to Hisamori Takenouchi who formed his Takenouchi Ryu (school) of Jujutsu in Japan in 1532.
 
 Yoroi kumi-uchi became kacchu kumiuchi, unarmed grappling in armour and kumi-uchi, un-armoured forms of grappling. From the kumi-uchi systems forms of combat, still generally known as Jujutsu, gradually developed. These newer Jujutsu styles more accurately reflected the ethos and martial requirements of the Edo-period decline in the status of Bu-jutsu, the classical forms of combat. During the Tokugawa era, Jujutsu continued to flourish as a part of Samurai training. The name "Ju-jutsu" described a number of systems of fighting unarmed or lightly armed which had begun in the relative peace of the Tokugawa (Edo) period. 
 
 At the beginning of the 19th century, the Tenjin Shinyo Ryu, founded by Yanagi Sekizai Minamoto no Masatari, placed great importance on atemi-waza (striking techniques). Masatari was born in Seishin and from an early age studied many empty-hand styles including Shin no Shinto Ryu and Yoshin Ryu. The Tenjin Shinyo Ryu system contained 124 techniques as well as kappo (resuscitation skills), but there was little sign of the extensive weapon skills of earlier jujutsu ryu. Masatari eventually went to Tokyo where he established his school and changed it's name to Iso Mataemon. Amongst the pupils of this style were the founders of both Judo and Aikido.
 
 Another style from the nineteenth century was Yoshin Ryu, which was founded by Akiyama Shirobei Yoshitoki, who had travelled for some time in China and while there, had learned various techniques in both medicine and fighting. 
 
 On his return he set about formulating a comprehensive system and went to Temmangu temple to train and meditate. Noticing the way a willow tree yielded to the weight of snow and dropped it to the floor, Yoshitoki realised that the yielding and flexible principle was the way, and that strength and resistance meant crushing defeat.

Yoshitoki called his style Yoshin Ryu (willow spirit style) and formed the precepts of ju (suppleness and yielding).
 
 Techniques continued to evolve and by the middle of the 19th century, defined methods of striking had been re-incorporated. These atemi were blows aimed at specific points (kyusho) which now being unprotected by armour, were particularly vulnerable to attack. 
 
 The major emphasis was (is) upon speed and accuracy of the blow to stun and distract. The nature of the points attacked, such as the testicles or eyes, ensured the blows effectiveness. 
 
 Atemi-waza were considered useful as part of a method of fighting which also included grappling, throwing, and joint manipulation. Often a strike would be made as an introductory gambit or a distracting ploy to the main attack; or it would form part of the follow through from a throw or joint hold. 
 
 It would, for example, constitute an effective first move in a sequence of techniques used to escape from a hold or an attempted throw. Seldom were atemi techniques considered to be sufficient in their own right, although in many instances they would suffice if focused correctly on the target points.

continued...
 

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