The Origins of Ju Jutsu

Japanese mythology tells us that Ju Jutsuwas first practised some two thousand years ago having been created by the gods, Kashima and Kadori with the purpose of developing an art by which they could chastise the lawless inhabitants of the eastern provinces of Japan. Others believe that the art was brought to the Japanese mainland from China by Chuen Yuan-pin during the Ming dynasty. This theory cannot be accepted as records show that fighting arts using techniques similar to those still used in modern systems existed as far back as 22 B.C. Many names have been associated with this system of civilian defence kempo, yawara, kugusoki, kumiuchi and taiho Jutsu to name a few, but it was not until the foundation of Daitoryu Aiki Ju Jutsu by the samurai Shinra Suburo Yoshimitsu in around 1100 A.D that the term Ju Jutsu first appears.

During the Hojo and Muromachi periods (1100 to 1600) many different types or styles of Ju Jutsudeveloped, each with it's own emphasis on individual techniques. Kito Ryu - known for it's throwing techniques, Takenouchi Ryu for immobilisation, Tenjin (Tenshin) - Shin'yo Ryu for Atemi ( Striking to Vital points ) and grappling, Yoshin Ryu for body shift and yielding , to name but a small selection.

Towards the end of the seventeenth century as a new modernism appeared in Japan, Ju Jutsubegan to develop into a more complex art. By the Meiji period, with the end of the Samurai rule, a number of private schools ( Dojos ) had become well established and Ju Jutsubegan to be taught and practiced in a more systematic fashion.

By the latter half of the 1800 a climate of change had taken over Japan. Dr. Erwin Von Baelz (1849-1913) a German physician, who had travelled to Japan to teach western medicine at Todai (Tokyo) University, wrote -

"In the 1870s at the outset of the modern era, Japan went through a strange period in which she felt a contempt for all native achievements. Their own history, their own religion, their own art, did not seem to Japanese worth talking about, and or even regarded as matters to be ashamed of".

"The native methods of bodily exercise, Japanese fencing, and jujitsu, and alike were placed under the ban. The older generation would not teach and the younger generation would not learn anything but European science."

Baelz took a great interest in traditional Japanese martial arts and studied Totsuka-ha Yoshin-ryu Ju Jutsu under Totsuka Eimi whom he had met whilst on a visit to Tshiba province to give a speech on modern education. Believing that the vigorous exercise of Ju Jutsu training would be beneficial to the students, Baelz attempted to introduce classes at the University. But his attempts were rejected by the medical school manager and it would appear that the students themselves believed the need for self protection was no longer required in the modern era!

Baelz enrolled the aid of a university student and young Ju Jutsuexponent by the name of Jigoro Kano (1860-1938)

Having started Tenshin-Shin'yo Ryu at the age of seventeen under Hachinosuke Fukuda (1829-1880) and Masamoto Iso (1818-1881) the son of the founder, Kano dedicated himself to the art of Ju Jutsu. When Iso died in 1881 Kano continued his studies under Tsunetoshi Iikubo (1835-1889) learning Kito Ryu as well as studying Takenouchi Ryu and Sosuishitsu Ryu. In 1882 Kano opened his own Dojo, the Kodokan, at the Eisho-ji Temple.

With Kano's aid a Ju Jutsucompetition was arranged to be held in the great hall of the University. Given the timing of this match, Kano was still a student which puts it pre 1881; I assume Kano represented the Tenshin-Shin'yo Ryu. It appears that at this meeting Kano and his other students lacked the skill to overcome their opponents, as Baelz wrote-

"(The results of the match) made it clear how much training is needed to learn this art, for all the young men who had been working at it in Tokyo, not one, not even Kano, could cope with the police officers who had been trained by Totsuka."

It is possible this defeat spurred Kano to re-assess his Ju Jutsutraining and study in depth the principles behind the techniques. In 1886 a re-match was held between the students of Kano's Kodokan and the Students of Totsuka, in this instance the Kodokan came out victorious winning thirteen matches and drawing two!

From this early start evolved modern Judo.

Ju Jutsu comes to England

Edward William Barton-Wright (1860 - 1951) an Indian born Scot spent three years in Japan working as an engineer for a mining company. Whilst there he became fascinated with the art of Ju Jutsuand took lessons, probably Tenshin Shin'yo Ryu, the most popular of the older systems of the time. Upon his return to England in 1898 Barton-Wright opened his own martial arts school, 'The School of Arms' in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, where he taught boxing, fencing, wrestling and la savate. Barton-Wright named the style that he taught Bartitsu, although it was basically Ju Jutsu. Maintaining his links with Japan, Barton-Wright requested that Japanese experts be sent over to England to teach at his club and to help him promote the art of Ju Jutsu. In the September of 1900 the Tani brothers arrived in England followed shortly afterwards by Yamamoto.

Barton-Wright wanted the Japanese to perform in the music halls. Tani's elder brother and Yamamoto disagreed with this and returned to Japan. Shortly after, Barton-Wright brought in Sada kazu (Raku) Uyenishi who, along with Yukio, had no such objections. For the next few years Barton-Wright, Yukio Tani (1881 - 1950) and Uyenishi toured the music halls and fair grounds of England demonstrating the art of Ju Jutsu. During these demonstrations they entered into challenge matches offering twenty guineas to anyone whom Tani failed to defeat within fifteen minutes and £100 to anyone that could defeat him.

In the years to follow further instructors arrived from Japan to either teach at the above clubs or to run independent clubs of their own. These included Gunji Koizumi, who arrived in 1906 and stayed for nine months before travelling on to America, Miyake, Ono and Maeda who famously went on to travel to Brazil and found what is now known as Gracie Brazilian Ju Jutsu.

In 1910 Gunji Koizumi returned to London and on the 26th of January 1918 opened the now famous Dojo in 15 Lower Governor Place, Victoria, London. The Budokwai (The Military Ways Society ) which is still running and teaching Ju Jutsu today. The fortunes of the Budokwai flourished, having such famous members as E.J Harrison who had previously trained in the Kodokan in Japan and holds the honour of being the first Englishman to be awarded Shodan in 1904 by the Kodokan, and later became affiliated to the Kodokan.

Jigoro Kano himself visited the Budokwai in July of 1920 whilst on route to the Olympic Games in Antwerp and awarded Tani, by then Budokwai chief instructor, and Koizumi Kodokan Nidan certification. Travelling with Kano was Hikoichi Aida who remained in Europe for the following 10 years teaching Ju Jutsu throughout England, France and Germany. During this visit a Budokwai member by the name of Tanabe was awarded his Shodan making him the first person to receive a Dan grading in England. In July 1948 Koizumi became the first president of the newly founded British Judo Association.

From these early beginnings Ju Jutsu became firmly established and spread throughout the UK.