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The Japanese martial art of Jiu Jitsu mainly employs unarmed techniques to disable an opponent, though weapons are sometimes used. Its primary aim is to teach practitioners unarmed strategies for stopping an armed foe. Just like other martial art forms, jiu-jitsu has evolved throughout the centuries to include a variety of forms and techniques.
What Sets Jiu Jitsu Apart from Other Martial Arts?
Jiu Jitsu developed among the samurai of feudal Japan for use in combat against other samurai. As samurai were usually fully armored, punches and kicks were not very effective. Consequently, jiu-jitsu stressed immobilizing an enemy quickly and permanently using holds, pins, and throws. The idea was to use an enemy samurai's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it.
Jiu Jitsu, literally translated as "the art of softness" or "way of yielding", is a "soft" martial art style. "Soft" styles, like jiu-jitsu, prefer yielding to an opponent's force, using balance and leverage to turn an attacker's momentum against themselves, rather than opposing force with force. "Hard" martial styles (such as Karate and Kung Fu), in contrast, favor forceful, direct attacks requiring power, speed, and strength.
Different martial arts emphasize various forms of combat. As an example, Tae Kwon Do focuses on kicking, whereas Judo emphasizes wrestling. In contrast to these martial art forms, jiu-jitsu focuses on grappling.
"Grappling", though similar to wrestling, is subtly different. Grappling techniques include joint-locks (see below), holds, trapping, pinning, throwing, gouging, biting, choking, and strangling. Jiu Jitsu also includes defensive techniques such as disengaging from an opponent's grasp and breaking your falls.
Joint-locks, as the name implies, are a technique that pressures a joint in the opposite direction of the way it is meant to bend. Not only does this immobilize the opponent's limb to keep it from being used against you, but it also causes more pain the more the enemy struggles. This encourages your opponent to give up. American police officers are taught to use this technique to subdue dangerously aggressive criminals.
Why Should I Consider Learning Jiu Jitsu?
Jiu Jitsu is great as a tool for self-defense. It teaches you how to get away from an attacker, and you learn how to immobilize an assailant without necessarily causing permanent harm. It also teaches the important principle of escalation of force.
First, in terms of self-defense from a mugger or rapist, the longer you stay to fight, the greater the chance that the attacker will overwhelm you (especially since criminal tends to travel in packs, or at least pairs). Therefore, the smartest thing to do is to escape and get to a well-lit public area. Muggers know this, so the first thing they'll to do is grab and immobilize you. In jiu-jitsu, you are taught how to escape from such grips and get away.
Second, if you are only trained in a technique that involves seriously injuring someone, you could face legal trouble. Whether you are fighting in a barroom brawl, or dealing with a mugger on the street, you could face a civil suit or even criminal charges if you injure or kill the person. By using techniques to break away from your attacker, or simply immobilizing or subduing the person without inflicting serious harm, you can avoid these potential problems.
Escalation of force essentially means only using the minimum necessary force to overcome an opponent. There is a huge combat difference, for example, between a New York City mugger with a knife, and drunken Cousin Eddie who's getting a bit rowdy at a family reunion.
Of course, both of these scenarios need to be dealt with. But it should be apparent that you will use much less force against Cousin Eddie when compared to the mugger. Jiu Jitsu teaches you how to deal with either of these incidents with techniques like pins, holds, and joint-locks. In the case of Cousin Eddie, you can pin him until he comes to his senses, without causing him any real harm. But, you can also throw your mugger to the ground to disorient and disarm him and allow yourself time to get away.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is taken from secondary sources and is given in good faith. It should not be regarded as scientific or expert advice in its own right. We recommend you conduct your own research with expert sources prior to engaging or applying any Jiu Jitsu technique mentioned here; we will not be held responsible.
What Sets Jiu Jitsu Apart from Other Martial Arts?
Jiu Jitsu developed among the samurai of feudal Japan for use in combat against other samurai. As samurai were usually fully armored, punches and kicks were not very effective. Consequently, jiu-jitsu stressed immobilizing an enemy quickly and permanently using holds, pins, and throws. The idea was to use an enemy samurai's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it.
Jiu Jitsu, literally translated as "the art of softness" or "way of yielding", is a "soft" martial art style. "Soft" styles, like jiu-jitsu, prefer yielding to an opponent's force, using balance and leverage to turn an attacker's momentum against themselves, rather than opposing force with force. "Hard" martial styles (such as Karate and Kung Fu), in contrast, favor forceful, direct attacks requiring power, speed, and strength.
Different martial arts emphasize various forms of combat. As an example, Tae Kwon Do focuses on kicking, whereas Judo emphasizes wrestling. In contrast to these martial art forms, jiu-jitsu focuses on grappling.
"Grappling", though similar to wrestling, is subtly different. Grappling techniques include joint-locks (see below), holds, trapping, pinning, throwing, gouging, biting, choking, and strangling. Jiu Jitsu also includes defensive techniques such as disengaging from an opponent's grasp and breaking your falls.
Joint-locks, as the name implies, are a technique that pressures a joint in the opposite direction of the way it is meant to bend. Not only does this immobilize the opponent's limb to keep it from being used against you, but it also causes more pain the more the enemy struggles. This encourages your opponent to give up. American police officers are taught to use this technique to subdue dangerously aggressive criminals.
Why Should I Consider Learning Jiu Jitsu?
Jiu Jitsu is great as a tool for self-defense. It teaches you how to get away from an attacker, and you learn how to immobilize an assailant without necessarily causing permanent harm. It also teaches the important principle of escalation of force.
First, in terms of self-defense from a mugger or rapist, the longer you stay to fight, the greater the chance that the attacker will overwhelm you (especially since criminal tends to travel in packs, or at least pairs). Therefore, the smartest thing to do is to escape and get to a well-lit public area. Muggers know this, so the first thing they'll to do is grab and immobilize you. In jiu-jitsu, you are taught how to escape from such grips and get away.
Second, if you are only trained in a technique that involves seriously injuring someone, you could face legal trouble. Whether you are fighting in a barroom brawl, or dealing with a mugger on the street, you could face a civil suit or even criminal charges if you injure or kill the person. By using techniques to break away from your attacker, or simply immobilizing or subduing the person without inflicting serious harm, you can avoid these potential problems.
Escalation of force essentially means only using the minimum necessary force to overcome an opponent. There is a huge combat difference, for example, between a New York City mugger with a knife, and drunken Cousin Eddie who's getting a bit rowdy at a family reunion.
Of course, both of these scenarios need to be dealt with. But it should be apparent that you will use much less force against Cousin Eddie when compared to the mugger. Jiu Jitsu teaches you how to deal with either of these incidents with techniques like pins, holds, and joint-locks. In the case of Cousin Eddie, you can pin him until he comes to his senses, without causing him any real harm. But, you can also throw your mugger to the ground to disorient and disarm him and allow yourself time to get away.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is taken from secondary sources and is given in good faith. It should not be regarded as scientific or expert advice in its own right. We recommend you conduct your own research with expert sources prior to engaging or applying any Jiu Jitsu technique mentioned here; we will not be held responsible.
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