Japanese JuJutsu, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), and it’s Evolution As A 
Combat Sport. Texarkana Martial Arts
Jujutsu is a traditional martial arts style which originated in Japan.
We often think of Japanese Jujitsu visualizing a little guy dancing around throwing attackers effortlessly as they come at him with choreographed attacks (similar to karate kata).
This was partially a function of the practices. The reality is though that in the old days of Japanese JuJitsu, it was not taught in a safe manner. Often severe injuries and even deaths occurred in training.
This is in contrast to the way many Japanese JuJitsu practices are run today. Most emphasize the kata-like movements and others integrate resistance sparring in an intelligent way. It really varies widely from school to school.
Pre-Organized Katas and Forms
These were often practiced relentlessly without resistance in Feudal Japan.
In the olden days these choreographed katas and ‘forms’ allowed masters to pass the movements down to their students in a time when so many couldn’t read and they weren’t filming everything to put up on their Facebook page.
Many styles of Japanese Ju Jitsu were modified and consolidated into the style of Judo by Jigoro Kano.
Kano organized techniques from various Ju Jitsu styles into a logical system and developed a way of training that allowed practitioners to practice safely so that they could continue training over longer periods of time in order to develop higher levels of skill.
Several other styles continued on as individual styles of Japanese Ju Jitsu and Aikido (which also grew out of the style).
Ju Jitsu was the martial arts style originally developed as a foundational martial art of samurai combat fighting techniques.
The samurais used the style as a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent. This was used against armored opponents that had no weapon or a short weapon.
Judo and JuJitsu / Jiu Jitsu Spreads Throughout the World
Many styles of Ju Jitsu were taught in Japan. Some of these styles made their way out and to the rest of the world as Japanese practitioners migrated to other countries.
Brazil was on of the locations that attracted many Japanese settlers. It still has a fairly large Japanese population today.
Old school Judo was a fighting style that spread to the world including Brazil where it ultimately gave rise to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
It happened when one of Jigoro Kano’s students migrated to Brazil and spread Judo/Jiu Jitsu to the local Brazilians, including a young man with the now well known last name of Gracie.
The most well known Jiu Jitsu style today is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because of it’s rapid spread throughout the world since giving birth to the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) in 1993, where the style proved it’s effectiveness in combat.
All styles of Ju Jitsu and Judo focuses on using the opponent’s aggressiveness, energy, and momentum against him.
This concept is essential in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
This type of re-direction and use of opponent’s energy allows a smaller person to defeat a much larger one in combat or self defense.
JuJutsu focused it’s techniques primarily on throws, chokes, and joint locks. This was because of several factors. The samurais were often wearing armor, making most striking less effective.
The samurai also discovered that grappling allowed smaller fighters to defeat larger ones by placing the opponent in a position where they would no longer be a threat and could easily be defeated.
Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu have kept much of these emphasis as the styles evolved into both systems of martial arts and very popular sports.
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