Ju-Jitsu (Tuite Jitsu and Kyusho Jitsu)

Jujutsu, literally meaning the "art of softness", or "way of yielding" is a collective name for Japanese martial art styles including unarmed and armed techniques. Jujutsu evolved among the samurai of feudal Japan 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. There are many variations of the art, which leads to a diversity of approaches. Jujutsu schools ryū) may utilize all forms of grappling techniques to some degree (i.e. throwing, trapping, joint locking, holds, striking, and kicking).

Taika Seiyu Oyata, the founder of Ryū-te, was exposed to the Okinawan form of sumo through his father, Kana Oyata and during World War II he received instruction in iaido, kendo, and judo. After the war he began training with Uhugushiku no Tanmei. Uhugushiku was known as a kakurei bushi (hidden warrior) and taught neither outside of family lines nor those without a direct connection to the warrior class of Okinawa. Uhugushiku introduced Taika Oyata to Wakinaguri, a descendant of Chinese emissaries sent to Okinawa. These two gentlemen began to teach Taika Oyata the ancient ways of Okinawan and Chinese martial arts. During this time karate was taught openly as a public art. However, what Uhugushiku and Wakinaguri taught were family arts handed down through generations. Neither Uhugushiku nor Wakinaguri had descendants to whom they could pass down their art, and therefore Taika Oyata became the inheritor of this knowledge. After Uhugushiku and Wakinaguri died, Taika Oyata sought other karate masters to continue his training. He joined several research groups (kenkyūkai) and trained directly with Shigeru Nakamura, founder of Okinawan Kenpo. Under Nakamura-sensei, Taika Oyata learned the 12 basic empty-hand kata that are practiced in Ryū-te today and helped establish Bogu Kumite as the sporting aspect of Okinawan Kenpo.

For more information about Japanese Ju-Jitsu, please visit United States Ju-Jitsu Federation

Judo

Judo, meaning "gentle way", is a modern Japanese martial art and combat sport, that originated in Japan in the late nineteenth century. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling manoeuvre, or force an opponent to submit by joint locking the elbow or by executing a choke. Strikes and thrusts (by hands and feet)are a part of judo, but only in pre-arranged forms (kata) and are not allowed in judo competition or free practice (randori).

Kano Jigoro (October 28, 1860 – May 4, 1938) was the founder of judo. Judo was the first Japanese martial art to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic sport. Pedagogical innovations attributed to Kano include the use of black and white belts, and the introduction of dan ranking to show the relative ranking between members of a martial art style. Well-known mottoes attributed to Kano include "Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort" and "Mutual Welfare and Benefit."

For more information about Kodokan Judo, please visit USA Traditional Kodokan Judo

Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu

The Bujinkan organization incorporates the teachings of nine martial arts lineages (ryūha):

• Togakure-ryū Ninpō Taijutsu
• Gyokko-ryū Kosshijutsu
• Kuki Shinden Happō Bikenjutsu
• Kotō-ryū Koppōjutsu
• Shinden Fudō-ryū Dakentaijutsu
• Takagi Yōshin-ryū Jūtaijutsu
• Gikan-ryū Koppōjutsu
• Gyokushin-ryū Ninpō
• Kumogakure-ryū Ninpō

According to the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten, the head of the Bujinkan organisation, Masaaki Hatsumi is the lineage holder of several ryūha taught in the Bujinkan transferred to him in the middle of the 20th Century by his teacher Takamatsu Toshitsugu. Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu practice does not normally include participation in competitions or contests, however, many Bujinkan Dojo's incorporate sparing drills, these include ground fighting as well as slow sparing with designated attacker and defender. Specifically however, the Bujinkan is mostly known for teaching koshijutsu (pressure point, muscle attacks/tears and joint dislocations), koppojutsu (bone breaking), jutaijutsu (throwing, grappling, ground fighting), dakentaijutsu (strikes), happo bikenjutsu (various modern and traditional weapons), and ninpo tactics and strategies (Ninjutsu)

For more information about Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu, please visit Bujinkan Dojo Website

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. It is a derivative of early 20th century Kodokan Judo, which was itself then a recently-developed system (founded in 1882), based on multiple schools (or Ryu) of Japanese Jujutsu. It promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person using leverage and proper technique can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant using joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat an opponent. BJJ can be trained for self defense, sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. Sparring (commonly referred to as 'rolling') and live drilling play a major role in training, and a premium is placed on performance, especially in competition.

Mitsuyo Maeda (November 18, 1878 – November 28, 1941) was a Japanese judōka and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions. Also known as Count Combat, a nickname he picked up in Spain during 1908. Along with Antônio Soishiro Satake, he pioneered judo in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and other countries. Maeda was fundamental to the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through his teaching of the Gracie family. Maeda won more than 2,000 professional fights in his career. His accomplishments led to him being called "The toughest man who ever lived" and is referred to as the father of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and pro-MMA.

For more information about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, please visit World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association

Kajukenbo

Kajukenbo is a hybrid martial art that combines karate, tang soo do, judo, jujutsu, kenpo and kung fu. It was founded in 1947 in Oahu, Hawaii, at the Palama Settlements. The founders were Sijo ("founder") Adriano Emperado, Peter Young Yil Choo, Joe Holck, Frank Ordonez, and Clarence Chang, who called themselves the Black Belt Society. Kajukenbo uses hard, fast strikes to vital points throughout the body, takedowns involving high impact throws and many joint and limb destruction techniques--usually as follow-ups to takedowns. There are also many blocks from attacks such as punches and defenses and disarmament of offensive weapons. The name works in two ways: "ka" ("long life"), "ju" ("happiness"), "ken" ("fist"), "bo" ("style") or "ka" ("karate"), "ju" ("judo"/"jujutsu"), "ken" ("kenpo"), "bo" (Chinese Boxing Kung Fu), leading to the art's philosophical meaning: "Through this fist style, one gains long life and happiness."

The original purpose of the art was to deal with local crime, and to help the people defend themselves. The training there was notoriously brutal. Their goal was to be invincible on the street, so the training had to be realistic, and the students sparred with full contact. The number of students soon dwindled to only a few. Those who remained developed into tough fighters with a reputation for employing their art in street fights with only a little provocation. Several students who came out of the school would become very prominent martial artists themselves, such as James Roberts, Sid Asuncion, Aleju Reyes, Joe Halbuna, Charles Gaylord, and Tony Ramos. Sijo Emperado continued to add more Kung Fu into Kajukenbo, shifting the art to a more fluid combination of hard and soft techniques. Since then, Kajukenbo has shown to be a very improvement base, continuously evolving-open style, willing to accept whatever works.

Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques, from a mixture of martial arts traditions and non-traditions, to be used in competitions. The rules allow the use of striking and grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground. Such competitions allow martial artists of different backgrounds to compete. The term may also be used, less correctly, to describe hybrid martial arts styles.

Modern mixed martial arts competition emerged in American popular culture in 1993 with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Initially based on finding the most effective martial arts for real unarmed combat situations, competitors of various arts were pitted against one another with minimal rules for safety. In the following decade, MMA promoters adopted many additional rules aimed at increasing safety for competitors and to promote mainstream acceptance of the sport.