Jiu-Jitsu (meaning gentle art) is a martial art originated and developed in medieval Japan. The focus of Jiu Jitsu is on using your opponent’s strength and balance against them. Many of the skills taught in Jiu-Jitsu highlights the importance of maintaining peripheral awareness such that you are able to deal with multiple attackers at once as opposed to just one-on-one confrontations. The style of Jiu Jitsu taught by The Jitsu Foundation is called Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu.
Locks, throws and holds take centre-stage in Jitsu while strikes are used mainly as a pathway for a more efficient way of taking down an opponent. Many of the techniques allow for variations where the assailant has a weapon and we teach how to safely disarm your opponent and in some cases how to use them for self-protection against any further attackers. Jitsu allows for a wide range of responses to threats, so that a minor violation of your personal space does not have to be dealt with using a near-lethal technique.
Why do Jitsu?
There is no doubt that training in a martial art will give you added confidence and self-defence ability. What we aim to do in our art is to practice against attacks you are likely to face in a real situation. From the first lesson you will learn how to deal with a variety of attacks, including grabs, strikes and weapons. The primary emphasis on all this training is safety, so you will not be asked to do anything beyond your level of competence.
Is Jitsu Like Any Other Martial Art?
Jitsu is based on traditional Japanese grappling, so in some respects it will resemble Judo, traditional Jujutsu and Aikido. Our art has also been said to resemble Shorinji Kempo, though we are not sure if that is due to coincidence or influence. We do not much resemble karate, as we do not practice many strikes in our system.
Do I Have To Be Fit To Join?
No. But Jitsu becomes a very good form of exercise when trained enough, and this tends to build up fitness levels. You do not have to be able to do 50 pushups or leap 6 feet into the air from standing to practice our art, all you need is to come along regularly and train well.