Defining Jujutsu
by Robert M. Carver

Jujutsu is a unique martial art, in that is allows for a person of smaller stature to overcome an opponent who is larger, by use of the opponents own strength and force. While many think that strength is an advantage, and it undoubtedly is given all things are equal. However, the Jujutsu practitioner will use the principles of Jujutsu, strategy, and the careful and targeted application of force to make up for a lack of physical strength.

In Jujutsu, it is not the techniques that make the art what it is, but those principles. Most instructors will teach this, and give a few "one liners" to students to illustrate these principles. However, we generally use the techniques to teach the principles. Strategy and context under which we use our techniques are also components which make jujutsu unique.

Many styles of Jujutsu have techniques that are remarkably similar, but sometimes they are quite different. What makes these styles Jujutsu and not another martial art is they all employ the same principles. So here are a few things that make jujutsu, jujutsu.

 Ju No Ri, the principle of flexibility or pliability

Ju no ri, is often thought of in terms of non-resistance and jujutsu styles will rarely oppose force directly. Rather it will flow and blend with the force of an attack, redirect it, or oppose it directly only when the attack is in a weakened state. For instance, when a person is pushed, a jujutsu practitioner will pull rather than push back.

This principle of flexibility also is used in reference to flexibility of response to an attack. Unlike other martial arts, the nature of jujutsu allows the practitioner to gauge their response in accordance with the severity of an attack and use only the force necessary to prevail.

Kuzushi (Off-balancing)

In jujutsu, a practitioner will break their opponents balance using a variety of means (from joint locks, strikes, pushing/pulling, body movement, etc) immediately at the onset of an attack. Once the opponents balance is taken, it is then controlled to the completion of the technique. In the Japanese martial arts, this is considered the "Golden Rule of Combat". When you off-balance your opponent, you then apply your most powerful weapon to your opponent's greatest weakness at his time of maximum imbalance.

An opponent may be off-balanced in eight different directions. We call this, Happo no Kuzushi, the Eight Directions of Off-Balancing. Below is a diagram illustrating Happo no Kuzushi.

Circular movement

In jujutsu, many of our movements and techniques are circular in nature. These circles can vary in size and are used in everything from throwing, off-balancing, joint manipulation, strikes, and much more. Circles are often intertwined with other circles to increase the effectiveness of a technique. Other times an opponent will be off-balanced into a circular motion, and the jujutsuka will then strike in a linear fashion into the center of the circle. So we do use straight lines, and it is often used to cut a circle in half that we have just created and exploit a moment of weakness.

In the illustration above, we have a good example of the use of circular movements and the other principles mentioned above in response to an overhead knife attack.

Upon the initiation of the attack (#1), the jujutsu practitioner would move to the outside of the attackers strike using a circular step (#2) and redirecting the knife wielding arm by "capturing" it in the direction of the strike (rather than blocking the strike directly, the defender would “go with the force”) and grabbing it at the wrist (#3). The jujutsu practitioner would then draw the attackers arm back into a position where he can then grab the hand with both his hands. He would then step in a circular fashion (first with the right foot and then the left foot) to the attackers left front corner (#4). Our defender then brings the hand/knife down toward his center locking the wrist (#4, using kote gaeshi) and continuing to pivot behind with the left foot, twisting the attackers wrist to the outside (#5, another circle), throwing the attacker to the ground and possibly breaking the wrist (#6). By reversing the circular movement of the wrist, you can then turn the attacker on to his face.

So in the above illustration, we see each of these principles being used. First, we see a circular movement to avoid the attack. Next, redirecting the energy of the strike, and allowing it to continue forward in order to off-balance (blending with the force) the opponent. Next are the circular steps in front of the attacker.  Finally, the small circle of turning the wrist to the outside of the attackers forearm and applying a "push-pull" motion, pulling with the lower fingers at the base of the palm and pushing with the thumbs behind the knuckles, to produce another even smaller circle.

The “Yin and Yang” of Jujutsu

Most people have heard of the concept of Yin and Yang (known as In and Yo in the Japanese culture). It represents the power of “opposites” in nature. For instance: good/bad, male/female, light/dark, strong/weak, etc. The concept of Yin and Yang is also found in Jujutsu in how we deal with an attack.

Previously, we explained that Jujutsu rarely opposes force directly. Every attack has a Yin and a Yang force. The application of force, how it is applied and when, depends upon whether an attack is Yin or Yang. We then apply the opposite force to overcome the attack.

In the illustration above, we see an overhead strike. As the strike is initiated, prior to passing the “mid-point”, the strike is “Yin”. It is basically weak, in that the opponents balance has not yet shifted to the forward foot, muscles of the arm and shoulder are not engaged at it strongest point and the strike is going against gravity. At this point of the attack, the best defense would be to utilize a “Yang” defense, by rushing in and capturing the arm, and continuing to break the opponents balance to the rear.

Once the strike has passed the “mid-point”, then it is now in a “Yang” state. The attacker’s weight has shifted to the front leg, the muscles of the arm, shoulder and “lats” are now fully engaged and at their strongest and the attacker has the force of gravity going for him as the strike continues downward. In Jujutsu, we would not block the attack, which is at it’s strongest, with direct force. Instead, we would use a “Yin” defense and “yield” to the force of the blow to redirect it. Parrying in the direction of the blow, we would capture the arm and use the redirection of force to off-balance the opponent.

While many martial art use similar techniques to those found in Jujutsu, Jujutsu emphasizes these principles over the rote learning of techniques. This is the thing that makes Jujutsu a unique art. By making the principles instinctive, it allows the Jujutsu practitioner to adapt to the ever changing circumstances of the battlefield, or the street.

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