Judo or Ju Jitsu

What is thereat technical difference between traditional Judo and Ju Jitsu? The answer really is nothing it's just in the name. Judo is just one form of Ju Jitsu, a throwing form mostly. To understand the connection between the two you must first know the history of Judo.

Professor Kano first studied Kito Ryu Ju Jitsu, the throwing system, before moving onto the Tenshin Shin Yo Ryu school, the striking style. Professor Kano wanted to preserve all the old Ju Jitsu schools teaching under one roof before they all died out. A majority of the schools were family based, meaning that if there was no male line to carry on the teachings it would die out, and this was happening.

One such school which did die but its teachings are w forever preserved within Judo is the Fusen Ryu School.

This preservation philosophy started to change when the major personalities within the Kodokan started to call the Kodokan's training techniques a new system, they may have added one or two techniques but it was not a new system. This all happened after the Great Master had died. You do not have to look far to see how the preservation idea has helped to save one system of fighting from disappearing.

Brazilian Ju Jitsu's correct name should be Fusen Ryu Ju Jitsu as that is where it came from. But it took Professor Kano's idea of preservation to enable Brazilian Ju Jitsu to be alive today.

Esai Maeda, a traditional judoka taught the Gracie clan Judo with a lot of ne-waza, and after a while they concentrated on ne-waza and changed the name. Fusen RyuJu Jitsu existed before modern Judo, so Judo took from Ju Jitsu then gave it back as Brazilian Jujitsu.

Throughout the world in the different schools of Judo and Ju Jitsu, you will see many of the same technique idea and Judo as a term or name existed before Professor Kano did.

So Judo isn't a different art, it's a different name of a Ju Jitsu school with its own particular style.

Article written by Terry Riches

Terry commenced Judo in 1968, former member of the London, Army and Combined Services Judo Squads. Former Army Physical Training and Unarmed Combat Instructor. He has competed in Judo, Wrestling, Ju Jutsu, Professional Boxing, Brazillian Ju Jutsu, Shooto and Vale Tudo competitions, and the President of the NSW Kodokan Judo Association. Also a Pangration and Oz submission Factory coach.