Introduction

Sports Jujitsu is as old as Jujitsu its self. Contests of martial prowess were always a part of the martial arts arena, different warriors and systems of fighting would come together to test their skills on and off the battleground. Sometimes to prove themselves and other times to decide victory over a battle.

There were two distinct systems of fighting in early Japan, one being Sumo and the other Yawara, later renamed to Jujitsu.

Master Kano the founder of Kodokan Judo used different methods to train safely within his school. Many Jujitsu pupils and other Jujitsu masters joined Kano to make the syllabus of Judo. Under the banner of Judo, these Jujitsu practitioners defeated many other notable Jujitsu schools to be allowed to teach the Japanese Police.

Japan opened its doors to other countries allowing the Japanese people to experience other cultures first hand. With the American navy in Japan, sailors challenged anyone and everyone to prove that boxing is superior to any other fighting art.

With the fall of the Jujitsu, many masters found it hard to make a living, turning their skills to contest against the Americans. Easily defeating their challengers, many masters went abroad to find wealth and a new life.

Traditionalists frowned upon these masters. In their eyes Jujitsu was being used for the wrong reasons. How dare these masters and practitioners of Jujitsu show their skills to others in such a spectacle.

Without these masters Jujitsu would not be what it is today and indirectly saved the art and we are thankful for it.

It is Sports Jujitsu!

Many systems of martial art teach self defence, foolishly only teaching the aggressive sporting component. Jujitsu has many components within its syllabus, self defence is one part. Self defence has many principles such as parity and disparity and use of force that make it so attractive to modern society

Sport Jujitsu is not self defence and is not aggressive. A Jujitsu practitioner that actively becomes a good Sports Jujitsu player, discovers the fineness of the art and does not need aggression.

Aggression is an uncontrolled emotion that contradicts with Jujitsu principles.

Why do I say, "player"?, well if a jujitsu practitioners works towards a safe means to submit his or her opponent in a contest without injury, then they are a "player". If this was not their objective, they would just be thugs.

Self defence and Sport Jujitsu both have rules of enagement. For one it is the law and the other is sportmanship.



See Training Drills Technique Analysis