History of Jiu Jitsu

1)Pre-history of Japanese martial arts:

Following the trend of martial arts development worldwide, it all began with grappling. However, what can be discerned before the 8th century BCE is dubious, as no written records were kept by the Japanese until then. What is known however, is that Sumo, the earliest organized form of grappling in Japan, has its origins attributed to ancient mythology, tradition, and evidence of its existence is even recorded on prehistoric wall painting.

Earliest evidence suggests Sumo originated from a ritual dance performed in a prayer for good harvest, and the first written record mentioning it suggests that the first official match took place in the year 23 BCE, between a man claiming to be the strongest under the heavens and one sent to humble him at request of Emperor Suinin. That is possibly only mythology as well, however it shines light on traditions and regulations of ancient Sumo which are in line with later historical accounts, drawing a picture of a brutal unregulated sport not only of grappling, but also striking and dirty moves. It also sets the precedent for these matches to be held by imperial courts from then on.

The entirely mythological story for Sumo’s creation states that it originated from a fight between two gods     somewhere in the 6th century BCE.

Much of what is recorded is dubious. But one thing stands as always-wrestling is a near instinctual phenomena, remaining constant between cultures, places, and times. No doubt if there were earlier sources more ancient history of the art could be found.

This proto-stage of the rich and long history of grappling in Japan was unregulated, brutal, but unrefined in technique as well, owing to the unconducive circumstances for knowledge to be exchanged and organized between these prehistoric practitioners.

That changes swiftly and to an extreme degree as soon as extensive grounds for recorded history are solidified in Japan.

Notably, unlike its neighboring regions of China and Okinawa, Japan would go on to prefer grappling in its martial history rather than striking, since those times and largely until modernity.

2)Wider history of Japanese Jiu Jitsu:

The written chronology of what today we’d recognize as Jiu Jitsu starts during the Nara period of Japan (710-794 AD), but its manifestation into a more cohesive form can be traced to events of the Asuka period (538-710), particularly governmental feudal reforms of the late 7TH century, which sowed the seeds for the creation of the samurai class with its bureaucratic and military reforms for creation of an organized national army (modeled after the Tang dynasty of China).

This military consolidation coincides with martial arts of Japan being written down and even Chinese martial arts and culture being brought in as a part of Taika Reforms (645 AD). Most notably, self-development arts of Buddhist monks, and other Chinese refugees. This likely lead to a revitalization of martial culture, synthesis and prolific status leading to new step in development of fighting styles.

It is widely believed that Jiu Jitsu arose from reconciliation of imported knowledge, combination of various minor Japanese martial arts and ancient Sumo. This early form of Jiu Jitsu was widely varied in styles, and was intended as means for unarmed or lightly armed fighters, to beat opponents with various weapons. It often incorporated small weapons such as daggers to assist in wrestling, much like Medieval European (especially Italian) dagger and longsword fencing.

One carryover from this era is a weapon called the yawara, which was possibly prolific as an additional tool in early Jiu Jitsu to strike and afterwards initiate throws, joint locks and bone breaks by levering and using it to increase amount of grips as well as strangling. The kanji for ”yawara” and “ju” in jujutsu is the same (柔).

Styles that survive to this day appear starting from the 12th century, beginning with Shinden Fudo-ryū (1130 CE), notable for its lack of set stances and no weapons used, showing some of Jiu Jitsu’s settlement into civilian self-defence. Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū (1447 CE), which covers an extremely wide range of martial disciplines, from swordsmanship to spike throwing and advanced spiritual elements as well as wartime tactics. Takenouchi-ryū (1532 CE) similar to the previous example, but also including restraining with rope, war fan combat and resuscitation. The latter two styles would be classified as Nihon koryū jujutsu (Japanese old-style jiu jitsu).

The next notable change in Jiu Jitsu would appear during the Edo Period (1603-1868 CE), in which the Tokugawa Shogunate made efforts to secure peace and diminish belligerent military sentiment. This caused unarmed Jiu Jitsu to flourish and develop and elaborate in combat against unarmed attackers. In the first half of the period, this led to striking becoming far more prominent in Jiu Jitsu, but unfortunately this trend died off in the second half.

The term Jiu Jitsu itself appeared in the 17th century as a blanket term for grappling-related disciplines, some of which were even called Judo before the modern style we know today was created in early 20th century.

Japanese Jiu Jitsu styles and traditions Considered modern (Shinbudō) were established in the latter half of the 19th century and onward. More than 2000 different schools of Jiu Jitsu existed by the end of the Tokugawa period (1868 CE). Everything before that is categorized as old martial arts (Kobudō).

Around 1890 CE, Jiu Jitsu lost its practical use among samurai, and its brutality was toned down, with many of the more brutal aspects considered unacceptable. This paved the way for some forms of Jiu Jitsu to transition into sport.

Many aspects of Kobudō Jiu Jitsu were inherited by Japanese law enforcement, in Keisatsujutsu (police art) Taiho jutsu (arresting art).

Although Jiu Jitsu styles were seen as Shinbudō in Japan since 1800’s, popularly the modern era of Jiu Jitsu is recognized as starting in the 20th century, when its influence and inspiration would spread internationally. Which leads to our next segment.

3) Judo:

After the Meiji Restoration (1868 CE), Japan saw much western influence and decrease in popularity of its national martial arts. Even many Jiu Jitsu practitioners and instructors themselves saw little practical use and future in their art.

In this environment, Jigoro Kano, a meek young man with an academic upbringing was looking for a way to strengthen his mind, body and achieve self-defence. After being rejected by many an instructor, Kano was referred to Fukuda Hachinosuke (1828-1880 CE) of the Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū style of Jiu Jitsu. He was one of only six students being taught in the small dōjō.

Kano became the most diligent student, both in training forms and freestyle practice, latter of which his instructor emphasized. After Fukuda’s death, Kano was given the educational and instructional scrolls of the dōjō, however he chose to continue his studies at another school of the same style, however unlike the previous, it emphasised training forms and instruction of free practice was delegated to assistants such as Kano. This school’s instructor, Iso Masamoto, died in 1881, causing Kano to change dōjōs once again. His last instructor, Iikubo Tsunetoshi (1835–1889 CE) of Kitō-ryū style, placed great emphasis on throws, which imprinted in Kano’s mind.

In 1882, Kano founded his own school, assisted by Iikubo Tsunetoshi. The Buddhist temple at which it stood would later receive the name Kōdōkan (for which his style would be called Kōdōkan Jiu Jitsu), and Kano would become a master of Kitō-ryū, and at first train only 12 students.

The ambitions for his own style were more than simply teaching fighting, he wasn’t only a fighter, but also a thinker, polymath and pedagogue deeply concerned with culture at large and familiar with his own history of facing bullying as a youth. He intended a much wider discipline with a focus of self-development. At this time Shinbudō arts were receiving a new interest from the public while Kobudō had the opposite. To encompass his intentions and provide a new image for his broader art, he gave it a name not as Jiu Jitsu (gentle *martial* art), but as Judo (gentle way). Just like many other arts replaced “Jitsu” in their name with “Do”.

His art had a much stronger focus on throwing, having descended from Jiu Jitsu it possessed the full array of grappling techniques, even some striking, but the latter was only present in kata and not free practice.

Later, in 1899 CE, Kano was asked by Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society to write down contest rules for Jiu Jitsu as well as Kōdōkan Judo. This was not even the greatest movement of Judo into sport in a span of 40 years, as followed by the first demonstration of Judo at 1932 Olympic games, giving way to its prominence and other development under Kano’s set of rules.

In the period between that, as it branched out and specialized, just like Judo arose from Japanese Jiu Jitsu and became a completely different beast, a different beast entirely would arise from Judo and grace the international scene.

4) Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:

Mitsuyo Maeda, a son of a Sumo wrestler and a celebrated instructor of Kōdōkan Judo was travelling the world since 1914, visiting the U.S.A, England, Belgium, Spain, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina. Issuing challenges to prove the effectiveness of his style.

Eventually, he’d settle in Brazil, even hosting the first Jiu Jitsu tournament to promote the art in 1915.

In 1917, a 15-year-old boy named Carlos Gracie would see this man capable of defeating opponents that towered over him. The boy’s father, Gastão Gracie was Maeda’s friend and gladly pushed the excited teenager to train. Carlos’ love and energy for the sport quickly rubbed off on his seven siblings.

In 1925, the Gracie family opened its first Jiu Jitsu academy and advertised it as such: “If you want to have your arm broken, look for the Gracie academy.”

Carlos would go on to have 21 kids, 13 of whom became black belts, filling in the gaps of the style and reinforcing it. One of them, Helio Gracie, continued Maeda’s tradition of challenging bigger opponents despite his skinny physique, making them look helpless in the process.

The clan became famous, almost legendary even, attracting famous pupils and making the family a staple in Jiu Jitsu’s history. They hosted Jiu Jitsu championships and no holds barred fights-valetudos (which nonetheless later became consolidated into a sport). In 1967 the Guanabara Jiu-Jitsu Federation, in Rio, was created under the authorization of the country’s National Sports Confederation.

The distinction of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is its focus on taking the enemy to the ground, negating their natural advantage by putting them into a territory they wouldn’t know how to fight in and outplaying them. Helio Gracie’s contribution to Gracie style of Jiu jitsu was that focus, as he was rarely able to overpower his opponents standing, so it was required to hinder them and manipulate their own weight distribution to exert force.

Since the start of the last century however many new variations arose, and there exists competition between various schools causing evolution and branching of styles, an example being the lineage of Luiz França, another pupil of Mitsuyo Maeda. Luiz’s successor, Oswaldo Fadda’s school would go on to win both of the two issued public challenges through mastery of leg locks.

In the 90’s, an event would come about that without controversy can be said to begin a revolution that changed not only Jiu Jitsu or grappling but all of martial arts in a way no one could previously imagine.

5) Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts:

In 1993, something never seen before was brought to the public attention. Co-created by Rorion Gracie and promoter Art Davie, an event pitting fighter of radically different styles between each other in a tournament structure, broadcasted on pay-per-view basis.

Savate, Sumo, Taekwondo, Shootfighting, Boxing, kickboxing, American Kenpo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (as represented by Royce Gracie). One of the executives even wanted to have the flare of a bloodsport or Mortal Kombat, even with a proposition to top the cage walls of the arena with razor wires.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship, aka. UFC 1: The Beginning. And what a beginning it was. It’s something that should be watched by everyone at least once.

However sloppy, rushed, unrefined, even careless it was, and however little the audiences understood parts of the fights at times, it uncompromisingly showed radically different styles fighting, broke barriers between them, and shown what came out on top. Even the commentators’ expectations did not quite align with what happened in the end.

The limitations of varying styles were shown firsthand, with Sumo being overly focused on winning by knocking the enemy out of the fighting space for disqualification instead of by defeating them, boxing having an extremely limited range of attacks, various striking arts taking a long beating and bruising without quickly being able to finish an equally skilled opponent.

As devious as it originally was, the one art which was supposed to be promoted by the event came out on top. Gracie Jiu Jitsu, groundfighting and grappling in general came out of the event looking favorably.

In the end it would come to bring much attention to every style involved, rouse aspiring fighters to action and a new vision of how to develop, push into the public spotlight the idea of Mixed Martial Arts, fighting without borders. And the rest is history.

It would be impossible to fully sum up the history of MMA, with the current number of fresh sources and significant events still within people’s memory. The evolution and exposure martial arts worldwide saw through MMA in the past 30 years is as massive a step as going from zero to one. Not only have Martial Arts become internationally and stylistically competitive, they’ve even become popular.

Over the years, many of the top competitors in MMA came from grappling backgrounds, and especially Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which remains almost as prominent in MMA’s continuing flow as it did during its creation. Through MMA, BJJ became not only competitive with other styles, but also competitive with itself, as fighters would learn its elements or the entirety to build a grappling backbone and compete with each other. As such, much like most styles involved in the greater whole, it’s undergoing a continuous rapid optimization.

Although not all new variations within the art are yet given a name or recognition, they’re nevertheless quite tangible, manifesting in varying degrees of focus and new discoveries.

And it of course continues to this day, and with anyone willing to devote a part of their life to it.