About Ju-Jutsu

Early history of jujutsu is lost in the mist of legends. It is recorded in the 3rd century B.C. that  the Imperial Court organized and hosted strength tournaments known as Chikara Kurabe. Scholars refer to this recordings as the first trace of Japanese empty-handed martial arts, the very origin of two purely Japanese combat / sport systems, latter known as sumo and jujutsu . Further development of warrior class caused development of such combat skills as yoroi kumiuchi, fighting under the full armor. It is also supposed that this necessity has originated specific techniques and strategies that are  immanent to what we recognize as jujutsu.

    The oldest traceable and officially recorded style of jujutsu was Takenouchi Ryu, founded by Takenouchi Hisamori in the year of 1532. After the Tokugawa Shogun military government was established in Japan, by the beginning of 17th century, long ages of continuos feudal wars in Japan were finished. In this relatively peaceful period between 17th and 19th century, more than 720 new schools (styles) of jujutsu flourished. That was the "golden era" of medieval jujutsu.

    Jujutsu is today generally divided into two major groups: traditional (koryu) and modern (gendai) schools. These classifications are based on the time of development of particular jujutsu school (style, Ryu). There are at least three commonly used definitions of "koryu" and "gendai". The most accepted analysis uses the Meiji Reformation as the time of demarcation between the "old" and "new" styles. After the abolition of feudalism and declaration of laws that ended the wearing of swords and the practice of martial arts, Japanese martial arts took a completely new course. Most jujutsu schools were closed. In the new social environment, samurai had to adapt. All of the jujutsu styles created in modern times (along with other Japanese budo, including Kodokan judo, Aikido, etc.) are considered "modern", or "gendai".

    Some old schools did survive. A handful, like the Kito Ryu, Tenjin Shinyo Ryu and Yoshin Ryu, were inspirations to Jigoro Kano in the development of his own "Kano Ryu Jujutsu", commonly known as Kodokan Judo. After several public displays of judo, it was natural for most of the remaining "koryu" jujutsu headmasters to associate their schools (dojo) with the Kodokan. In this way, judo replaced and unified most of remaining jujutsu styles.
    Another definition of "koryu" and "gendai" refers to the work of Jigoro Kano: all jujutsu styles created before the founding of the Kodokan are traditional, old, sometimes even defined as "genuine", whereas later styles are considered modern.

    The most commonly accepted definition places the division between old and new styles in about the 1950s. Japanese emigration and emissaries to the West included many judo and jujutsu instructors. Many Westerners were exposed to jujutsu during these years. Back in Japan, during the occupation after the World War II, almost all of the old schools were closed. Everything that had "jutsu" in its name was banned. This "final strike" to the old styles drove jujutsu underground. Only a few of the koryu styles were saved, either by hibernating through the hard times, or by moving to other countries.
    Eventually, jujutsu was reborn in Northern America and Europe after the war, mostly restored from the traces scattered in many other martial arts. Modern jujutsu (gendai jujutsu) rests on the remains of old styles.