Akshay Kumar in Jujutsu

JUJUTSU

Jujutsu, often spoken and referred to as jujitsu, is a collective name for Japanese martial art styles including unarmed and armed techniques.

Meaning the "art of softness" or "way of yielding," it is a fighting system employing techniques including strikes, kicks, throws, joint locks, and choking. In addition, jujutsu also teaches weapons techniques. Influences from jujutsu can be found in many of the martial arts. It is considered a soft art due to its concept of using balance, leverage, and momentum to overcome opponents.

Around 1600, the term "jujutsu" emerged yet Japanese old-style jujutsu dates back to the samurai of feudal Japan near 1300. It emerged as a method for defeating an armed and armored opponent without weapons. Due to the ineffectiveness of striking against an armored opponent, the most efficient methods for neutralizing an enemy took the form of pins, joint locks, and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it.

Jujutsu developed in many independent schools in Japan over the centuries. As the art has evolved along with a large syllabus of techniques, individual schools today have begun teaching variations and/or a subset of the vast range of existing jujutsu techniques.

Various forms of sports jujutsu have evolved over the years including judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The Olympic sport and martial art of judo was developed from several traditional styles of jujutsu. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu developed from earlier versions (pre-World War II) of Kodokan judo and Japanese jujutsu.

As jujutsu also provides many practical arm lock and submission techniques, its techniques have been popular with police forces all over the world.

Some examples of martial arts that have developed from or have been influenced by jujutsu include Aikido, Hapkido, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sambo, and Kenpo to name a few. Also, some styles of Japanese Karate additionally utilize these techniques.

Jujutsu systems, especially in Japan, and variations of the art have seen a growth in interest due to its influence on mixed martial arts systems.