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The history of Jitsu

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SamuraiJiu Jitsu, meaning gentle art, was devised by Japan's samurai as a development of their fighting system for unarmed combat. Never having only one founder, more than 700 Jiu Jitsu styles appeared at one time.

Riukiu Myura, chief unarmed combat instructor at the Tokyo police academy, founded Shorinji Kempo Jiu Jitsu by combining various styles of jiu jitsu with Shorinji Kempo, a martial art based on the teachings of China's Shaolin monks.

The style was taken to Australia and from there to England by the late Brian Graham, where he renamed the style Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu.

It spread rapidly and there are now over 90 clubs in the UK with more in other countries. These are run under the guidance of The Jitsu Foundation. For a more complete history, please read the Wikipedia article on the Foundation.

1 Comments

Moinur wrote:
February 9, 2009 | Reply

Looks good.

I am interested in joining.

Please email me with more info on how I can.

Moina Rahman

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Where we train

City Jitsu Club trains twice a week near Angel and the Barbican, London, EC1, at City University, Northampton Square, Islington.

Training times
Monday: 7.30pm–9pm
Friday: 7pm–9pm

Directions

The Club in Action

  • Club member Liam demonstrates techniques in a gauntlet
  • Instructor Gesa Brinkmann demonstrates a throw
  • Training at our 10th anniversary session
  • Instructor Gesa Brinkmann demonstrates a technique
  • Grades demonstrate techniques they've learnt
  • Grades and novices practise techniques while instructors observe
  • Grades and instructors at the 10th anniversary session
  • A scene from our 10th anniversary session
  • An orange belt demonstrating an armlock in a circle
  • Novices being taught a wristlock
  • Novices can train in light clothing until they own their own gi.
  • Members often have to demonstrate what they have learned that session in front of other Jitsuka

Videos of techniques

  • Sensei Mat Phillips demonstrates an ashi-guruma throw followed by a rare immobilisation technique
  • Techniques being demonstrated and taught at the City Jitsu 10th anniversary session
  • Kata-juji-jime, the half-cross strangle
  • An o-goshi (major hip) throw into yoko-shiho-gatame, the side four quarters hold
  • Kata-gatame, the shoulder hold
  • Ude-garami, the forearm entanglement, used in groundwork
  • Ko-tsuri-komi-goshi, the minor lifting drawing hip throw
  • O-tsuri-komi-goshi, the major lifting, drawing hip throw
  • Ko-tomoe-seoi-nage, the small circle shoulder throw
  • Irimi-nage, the entering body throw
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