A history of Jitsu

Contents

 

The philosophy

Ju-jitsu, also known by the names, jiu-jitsu, ju-jutsu, tai-jutsu, yawara and yawara-ge, has no literal translation, but a central concept, that of "Ju yoku go o sei suru" - The soft conquers the hard. This concept or principle has mention in Japanese mythology and is at least 2000 years old.

 

Beginnings...

Japan in its feudal era (8th to 16th Century.) was not a place to vacation in; there was constant civil war. Many fighting systems developed during this time and involved the use of the lance, sword, staff, archery and hand-to-hand combat. Close fighting techniques were developed as part of these systems to be used in conjunction with weapons against armored, armed opponents. Lethal encounters not only improved weapons and ways of employing them, but also established the reputations of the survivors. Since most of this testing took place of the battlefield, with combatants wearing heavy armour, the large leaping and kicking movements found in many other martial arts were not used in these pre-jitsu systems. Jitsu techniques include kicking, striking, kneeing, throwing, choking, joint locking, holding and tying, as well as the use of certain weapons. Most systems emphasised only one or two major techniques. Jitsu was always a secondary method of combat to the warrior; he relied heavily on his sword.

The birth of Jitsu coincides with the origins of the Samurai class in 792 AD. (The word Samurai comes from the Japanese word for service, saburaui.) The Emperor of the time (Kammu) built the Butokuden (Hall of the virtues of war) as a formal school for officers who were recruited from the young sons of high families. They were schooled in archery, swordsmanship and unarmed combat. To be a Samurai you had to be born into a family that has a Samurai history.

 

Japan at war

In the late 1200's, the Mongols invaded Japan, after years of fierce fighting the Samurai eventually won. In the 1400's, master swordsmen established schools to teach their style of ken-jutsu (The art of the sword). The onin war (1467-77) saw the decline of the shogun's power and began the Sengoku Jidai (The age of the country at war.) which lasted 150 years.

 

Masters of the art

The first publicly recognized Jitsu ryu (school) was formed by Takenouchie Hisamori, in 1532. In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu, (originally Tokugawa Takechiyo) formed the Tokugawa military government with a commitment to bring peace and economic and political stability. This marked the beginning of the Edo period of Japanese history (1603-1868), during which warring ceased to be a dominant feature of Japanese life. Under Ieyasu, society was divided into four classes: Samurai, peasants, artisans and merchants. Only the Samurai were allowed to wear two swords, but with no battles to fight, many were left without income. Many Samurai became teachers of the martial arts. It was during this time that Jitsu developed into a systematic art taught by a number of masters, with over 700 different schools at the height of its popularity. Among those mentioned prominently in martial arts chronicles are: Tenjin-Shinyo-ryu, Takenouchi ryu, Sousuishitsu ryu, Sekiguchi-ryu, and the kito ryu (relevant to us.) These weaponless styles were developed from the grappling techniques of the weaponed styles and were collectively known as Ju-Jitsu. They differed in their emphasis on kicking, punching, throwing, locks and takedowns.

Many sections of the population began to feel constrained by the Tokugawa regime, and in 1868 it was toppled in an abortive civil war known as the Meiji Restoration. This was helped in part by lower ranking samurai eager for advancement. This marked the end of the Edo period and moved power from the Shogun back to the Emperor. A large number of the Samurai still supported the Shogun, and so many things related to the Samurai fell into disrepute, including martial arts. Emperor Meiji introduced the "Imperial oath of five articles." This started the process of dismantling the Samurai class. The Samurai lost his privileged position when feudalism was officially abolished in 1871. In 1876, Meiji declared a new law that ended the wearing of swords. Discontented former Samurai rose in rebellion several times during the 1970's, the most famous being led by Saigo Takamori.

 

Oppression

An imperial edict was issued declaring it a criminal offence to practice the old style combative martial arts. Under this edict, Jitsu was almost lost forever. However, some masters continued to practice their art in secret, or moved to other countries, allowing the style to continue. It was during this oppression that the first Japanese exponents of the art arrived in Britain. In 1905, the majority of the old schools merged with Jigaro Kano's famed Kodokan. The schools of aiki-jitsu, however did not join Kano's movement toward synthesis in jitsu arts. Today, as in the past, they remain independent in matters of organisation and public affiliation. During the US occupation in World War 2, the various jitsu styles (Ju-Jitsu, Karate-Jutsu, Ken-Jutsu, aiki-Jitsu…) were banned for practical reasons as it was thought they might contribute to Japanese militarism. At this point the more sporting and competitive "Do" styles started to gain popularity (Judo, Karate-do, aikido..) Following the end of American occupation in 1951, the ban on Jitsu was lifted, allowing the free practice of the art.

 

The birth of TJF

The precise origins of our style are hard to determine, however it can be traced to Riukiu Mura, a policeman and unarmed combat instructor at the Tokyo police academy. Since a child, he had studied in various Ju-Jitsu schools (mainly Kodokan judo), as well as the art of Shorinji Kempo. He later combined his knowledge with his police perspective on modern street fighting situations, to form his own style which he called Shorinji Kempo Jiu Jitsu. Matthew Komp, a highly graded practitioner of Judo, aikido and karate, studied Jiu-Jitsu under Mura's tutelage and Shorinji Kempo. Under these influences, Komp formed his own style of Ju-Jitsu which he took to Australia in the early 1950's, where he founded a school in Footscray, near Melbourne. Ju-Jitsu was not a legal form of self-defense, so Komp insisted his students were also graded in Judo. One of his first students was Brian Graham, a Yorkshireman who later returned to England with a 2nd Dan in Judo as well as a 5th Dan in Ju-Jitsu. (Since graded to Shi'han 6th Dan when Sensei Komp visited Britain in 1997.) He renamed the style Shorinji Kan Jui Jitsu and established the first Samurai Jui Jitsu Club in Keighly, Yorkshire. Under the guidance of Brian Graham and Peter Farrar (One of Brian's first students,) the style spread rapidly in Britain. An association was formed called the National Samurai Jiu Jitsu Association, which was renamed The Jitsu Foundation in 1990. Sadly, Peter Farrar passed away in 1997, but the Foundation has continued to grow and now has over 100 clubs in Britain.

 

 

World domination!

As well, a number of instructors have moved to other countries and opened clubs. The first was in Cyprus in 1989, started by Andy Wallace. Although the club continues to thrive, Andy lost his life in a fire in 1996. In 1993, Andy Dobie moved to Canada and opened clubs at Trent University, Peterborough, and in Ottawa. In 1994, Mike Mallen opened his club in Spartenburg, South Carolina USA. More recently clubs have also been opened in Greece, Holland, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Japan, and even Scotland!

 
 

The History of Bristol University Jitsu Club

Instructors of Bristol University Club

1984-1987 Sensei David Walker
1987-1988 Sensei James Nugent
1989-1991 Sensei Graham Smith and Ian Purnell
1991-1993 Sensei Ian Purnell
1993-1995 Sensei Colin Mortimore and Tony Finding
1995-1999 Sensei Chris Main
1999-2000 Sensei Tim Walsh
2000-2001 Sensei Paul Burden and Paul Conkie
2001-2002 Sensei Paul Conkie
2002-2003 Sensei John Hamer
2003-2004 Sensei John Hamer and Georgina Franks
2004-2005 Sensei Georgina Franks, Scott Mandry and John Hamer

Students reaching Instructor level who started Jitsu at the Bristol University Club

Sandan
Steve Donaghy
Mark Newall

Nidan
Graham Smith
Jules Robson

Shodan
Marcus Valentine
Roger Ball
Rob Thompson
Kieran Parsons
Colin Crump
Tim Walsh
Martin Stanford
Oliver Garrod
Chris "picnic" Gregory

1st kyu
Mark Nickell
Nick Gammon
Adam Gould
Jonathon Crook
Ben Ring
Jim "the medic" Wilson
Cathy Mann
Tim "squid" Robinson
Paul Conkie
Dominic White
Angela Rouse
Scott Mandry
Robert Carter
Chris Washington
Kate Addison
Elly Martin