What is Jiu jitsu?

Jiu-Jitsu (Ju– gentle or soft; Jitsu - art)

A Japanese system of Martial Arts in which the strength and weight of an opponent are used against him by means of anatomical knowledge and principle of leverage. Included in this “soft or gentle” art are Strikes, (fists, fingers, elbows, feet etc.), Throws, Joint Locks, Chokes and Grappling (standing and groundwork), so much variation in fact that it has led to the development of many styles and schools. Jiu-Jitsu can be used to describe a range of unarmed conflicts ranging from street fighting to ground grappling. Even in Japan, the term Jiu-Jitsu no longer has a clear meaning for the general population.

Today, the unique techniques of Jiu-Jitsu have been randomly incorporated into most military and police training throughout the world. Fragments from Jiu-Jitsu close-in-fighting, throwing and grappling have been added to many modern martial art and martial sport systems that feature unarmed defence and attack, and especially those incorporating grappling and ground fighting.

Judo, the Olympic sport, was developed from jujutsu and many modern wrestling techniques have been greatly influenced by the use of jujutsu in wrestling bouts throughout Asia in the first half of the twentieth century.

One of the most well known developments of Jiu-Jitsu, which had gone into decline with the closing of the Tokugawa era, was in 1882, when Jigoro Kano developed the sport of Judo in order to increase the popularity of the martial arts and to provide a safe sport using selected techniques taken from the art of Jiu-Jitsu.

How can I get involved?

We have a club based both in Taunton, and Burnham-on-Sea which train on two seperate days.

Monday 8pm – 10pm
YMCA
Liseiux Way
Taunton
Somerset
Instructor: Gary Davies
Tel: 0774 9749945
Email: gary@somersetjjalliance.co.uk

Thursday 7pm – 9pm
King Alfred's Sports Centre
Burnham-on-Sea
Somerset
Instructor: Ian Rossiter
Tel: 0796 7366817
Email: ian@somersetjjalliance.co.uk