What Is Jiu Jitsu?

Jiu jitsu is a martial art that originated in Japan. It was invented as a method for close combat, but now it is purely practiced as a sport. The sport has become very popular all over the world. Now there are even different streams in this martial art such as Brazilian jiu jitsu.

Before jiu jitsu became what we all see today, it underwent some major changes. More recently developed combat systems are now used compared to the original ones invented in 17^th century Japan. The sport may be so popular, but it is not an Olympic sport.  This article will introduce the reader to some very important facts about this special sport.

Jiu jitsu is considered to be based on judo, another popular Eastern marshal art. The purposes for which both are used include self defense, combat and sport. Of course, today, this martial art is practiced primarily in sports facilities, despite what we see in popular action movies. Still, someone properly trained in any of these sports can defend him or herself against any opponent. It does not matter if the opponent is bigger.

The same man that developed the sport in Japan in recent times was responsible for bringing it to Brazil. His name is Mitsuyo Meade. Other individuals took up the challenge to build the sport to what we all know it to be today.

Judo or jiu jitsu

In 1914 when Meade brought judo to Brazil, it was not called judo. Instead, it was widely referred to as jiu jitsu. The press was at the fore front of this. This misunderstanding continued till 1925 when the Japanese government was forced to make a statement on the issue. The government announced that the sport is not jiu jitsu but judo. It also made a mandatory statement that it should be referred to as judo. The form of the sport practiced in Japan is called judo, while the form practiced in Brazil is referred to jiu jitsu.

Different styles and different names

The development of the sport was not the work of just one person. It was developed by several people. Each developer accepted the common rules and techniques and only added one form of modification or another. The interesting thing is that each modification comes with the name of the developer. Because of this, it has become a very common thing to have different forms of the martial art with each form bearing the name of the modifier.  There are presently four different version of the sport available.

The jiu jitsu sport gives you the means to defend yourself. It is a sport that involves ground maneuvering. It involves several techniques and each technique differs. Depending on the stage the fight has reached, the opponents can adopt techniques of different complexity and with different purposes. In the past, this martial art was seen as just any other type of fighting technique like boxing and wresting. But it is now a highly regarded sport, which is based on traditions that were established hundreds of years ago. Learn more about traditional kimonos, which are worn for this sport. You can also compare Jiu Jitsu to other fighting styles.