Modern Jujutsu - Some Hot Issues

Dr. Ivica Zdravkovic, Serbia 2010

Jujutsu is generally divided into two major groups: traditional (koryu) and modern (gendai) schools. These classifications are based on the time of development of particular jujutsu school (style, Ryu). There are at least three commonly used definitions of “koryu” and “gendai”. The most accepted analysis uses the Meiji Reformation as the time of demarcation between the “old’ and “new” styles. After the abolition of feudalism and declaration of laws that ended the wearing of swords and the practice of martial arts, Japanese martial arts took a completely new course. Most jujutsu schools were closed. In the new social environment, samurai had to adapt. All of the jujutsu styles created in modern times (along with other Japanese budo, including Kodokan judo, Aikido, etc.) are considered “modern”, or “gendai.”

Some old schools did survive. A handful, like the Kito Ryu, Tenjin Shinyo Ryu and Yoshin Ryu, were inspirations to Jigoro Kano in the development of his own “Kano Ryu Jujutsu,” commonly known as Kodokan Judo. After several public displays of judo, it was natural for most of the remaining “koryu” jujutsu headmasters to associate their schools (dojo) with the Kodokan. In this way, judo replaced and unified most of remaining jujutsu styles. Another definition of “koryu” and “gendai” refers to the work of Jigoro Kano: all jujutsu styles created before the founding of the Kodokan are traditional, old, sometimes even defined as “genuine, “whereas later styles are considered modern.”

The most commonly accepted modern definition places the division between old and new styles in about the 1950s. Japanese emigration and emissaries to the West included many judo and jujutsu instructors. Many Westerners were exposed to jujutsu during these years. Back in Japan, during the occupation after the World War II, almost all of the old schools were closed. Everything that had “jutsu” in its name was banned. This “final strike” to the old styles drove jujutsu underground. Only a few of the koryu styles were saved, either by hibernating through the hard times, or by moving to other countries. Eventually, jujutsu was reborn in Northern America and Europe after the war, mostly restored from the traces scattered in many other martial arts. Modern jujutsu (gendai jujutsu) rests on the remains of old styles.

The fundamental objectives of modern jujutsu practice is:

1. Self defense (including competitions in demonstration of self-defense)
2. Sport (for competition in jujutsu fights
3. Special skills required for law enforcement officers, prison guards etc.
4. Health and recreation
5. Academic knowledge (cultural development through study of Japanese tradition, etiquette etc.)

Structure of classes depends on primary focus of training. However, regardless of "main objective', any jujutsu school should consist following:

• The basic techniques of strikes, throws and controls (chokes, locks), frequently same as in (copied from) judo, aikido, karate and ancient jujutsu. These basic techniques (kihon waza) are classified into "mokuroku", a catalogue of techniques, and are divided into following groups: stances (shizei), falls (ukemi), strikes and kicks (atemi waza), throws (nage waza), locks (kansetsu waza), holds (osae komi waza) and chokes (shime waza).

• In addition, self-defense is frequently taught as Goshin jutsu. Also, there might be arrest and restraining techniques (Taiho Jutsu), sometimes involving use of small weapons (iron truncheon, jutte, or wooden club, tanbo, or a knife, rope, metal fan, etc.)

• Randori, kumite or other forms of sparring

• First aid, massage, etc. - sometimes called shiatsu, reiki, kappo & kuatsu, igaku, seifukujutsu, etc.

Having in mind previous "general common structure" of both modern and traditional (new and ancient) jujutsu styles and schools, it is clear that there is actually a quite small number of distinctively different styles of jujutsu. There are hardly any new things in many "new" styles (and sub-styles) compared with their "root arts". Most of modern jujutsu as taught in Europe and North America is 75-80% judo with some aikido techniques and karate strikes added. It would not be wrong to call most of these jujutsu schools "SHIN JUDO" - for they truly are: a "NEW JUDO" as a result of inclusion of strikes (atemi waza) in judo and expansion of self-defense techniques taught in judo (which is traditionally limited to Goshin Jutsu and Kime no kata).

It would be wrong to not to mention another significant group of new "jujutsu" styles bearing the name of "Aiki Jujutsu". These styles are, as an analogy to previous ones, derivatives of aikido, which is expanded with some judo and karate techniques.

In one of my previous articles, published in 2002, I have tried to define the "entry criteria" for recognition of certain "new" system or a school as a genuine LEGITIMATE new martial art. This article called "Basic rules of eclecticism" is still relevant, especially in time of proliferation of all sorts of questionable "styles", "teachers", "masters" and entire "organizations".

1) Founders of new style, art or a discipline should have sufficient knowledge in related martial arts. This means: if you are going to build a Jujutsu system, you must know jujutsu techniques, traditional, ancient, or modern, or you must know the structure of modern or traditional jujutsu styles and fill-in that structure with appropriate similar or same techniques drawn from related martial arts of Japanese origin - i.e. Judo, aikido, karate.

Founder of an art or style must provide verifiable background in martial arts that had served as a base for his new creation. There are no special "lower rank requirements" involved in this requirement, for in deed, there are some people who train for decades and never take any exams. After all, new system/style/art will be tested anyway once the founder submits training/teaching/testing programs to recognized authorities and once he performs the art in front of them.

Founders should not claim any false koryu lineage, or any non-existing late grandmasters or "sokes". They will openly and without hesitation announce the origins of their art, but with careful explanation of the origin of techniques. Also, founders should not suffer from not having a high ranked master-teacher in their martial arts CV. They will proudly list all of their martial arts studies - for it is the studies that count, not the teacher's name.

Comment: There is HUGE number of people out there who have never reached even shodan in any traditional/legitimate martila art, did not have even remotely sufficient training in jujutsu, judo, aikido etc., have never went through the proper testing procedure and basically have created their "new art" or "style" just to be able to call themselves a "soke", "grandmaster", "shihan', or whatsoever. Indicative fact is that these individuals mostly hang around with other similar "founders" and "big shots", they tap on each other's shoulders and keep their eyes closed on each other's lack of legitimacy, knowledge and skills.

Most of illegitimate "founders" avoid presenting their skills on YouTube, or even when they do it, it is frequently avideo full of ridiculously wrong "moves" and "techniques". In addition - most of the "new styles" (including ones called "jujutsu") have never been evaluated by a legitimate recognized authorities with lineage going back to Japan. Instead, most people simply exchange diplomas, cross-rank each other, share "mutual recognition" and are LYING to their students and profane audience.

This story is a classic one: "I learned from an independent Japanese master who lived in my area for few years and was a soke of a smaller Ryuha which is not listed in the mainstream registers in Japan, nor anywhere else in the world. Anyway, just before leaving on a top-secret mission, my teacher presented me with a full-license certificate - Menkyo Kaiden, Judan Hanshi title, sokeship scroll, etc. - and I sadly lost it during a flood/fire/earthquake/tornado/divorce..." Another example is: "I have trained under top sensei from Japan, China and Korea, including Kawasaki sensei (spent two hours in his seminar as a photographer), sifu Ping Pong (spent one hour on his seminar, warming up for 45 minutes and learning deep breathing for next 15 minutes) and Rhee Kim Park Chung Lee (met him in a local mall, showed me how to tie my taekwondo belt!).

2) New training/teaching/testing programs should be presented in a well structured form, with (optionally) several student levels and several instructional (black belt) levels, and it should all be presented in one official language of the "source arts": meaning, if the new style will be some form of Jujutsu, all techniques should have recognizable and common Japanese names; if someone is making a new kung fu style, all techniques should be presented with Chinese terms.

Ranking structure and ranking requirements of a new art should follow the mainstream standards. Ranking policy should not provoke other people, or be a thorn in the eyes of most of martial art community. This implies respect towards the lower age limits and times in grade used in most other internationally known systems, styles, arts and organizations. It must be visible that new art or style has reasonable and fair requirements, in a system which is not degrading the meaning of black belts or any titles used in other arts.

Comments: Mostly, people with no knowledge at all who want to create their styles use either someone other's syllabus (which they don't even understand), or create a training/teaching program which is ridiculous. They "mix apples and oranges", use inconsistent "classifications", have absolutely no structure of knowledge and skills divided properly into grades. It is indicative that in so many schools ("formal slang": "McDojo") syllabus go only up to Shodan, or whatever they call their first level of black belt. Reasons are simple: "master" who founded the "art" knows nothing else, and so all "higher promotions" are matter of "founder's expert evaluation". Additional necessity is to add some secrecy around "advance requirements" ("Once you're old enough, I'll show you some REALLY GOOD and TOP SECRET techniques, which I learned one night when Grandmasters Ueshiba, Kano and Musashi visited me in my dream!")

Most of fraudulent "founders" are simply too young or have too short martial arts experience for the ranks they claim. Sometimes they say that they had begun with martial arts 25 or 30 years ago... What it means "begun with"? Does one single visit to a local martial arts club also count? I have seen thousands of kids who "begun", trained for a week or so, and then left... Very often these people made huge pauses in their training, had only 1 or 2 classes every month, and then - all the sudden - they have decided to "wrap up all the knowledge they have picked along the way" and they open a club. Soon, after a year or two - they are founding grandmasters! If you meet them on some "multi-style event", your well deserved 3rd or 5th Dan will look "shamefully low" compared to their 10th DANs, sokeship titles and golden belts!

3) New martial art or style should not mix techniques and arts of different historical and geographical background (i.e. Korean arts and Japanese arts, or Kung Fu styles and Ninjutsu...). If for no other reason, then because it will be impossible to give the art a proper name - one will have to chose between several languages. Also, if this unnecessary mixing happens, techniques will be named in different languages, the outcome will be a tragicomic "nomenclature" unworthy of a serious martial science. Finally, it will be very hard for a founder of such "mash" to find any respected and recognized authority who could competently judge on so many different fields.

An appropriate name for new system/art/style (if necessary at all!) should be seriously and carefully selected. In most cases, a "new" style of Jujutsu is yet another form of NIHON JUJUTSU - and it is frankly hard to justify any additional name at all. Still, if a founder really feels necessary to put a special label on his system, this name should be original at the same time and will most precisely depict its content of context.

Comments: There is increasing number of "styles" and "systems" named with unbelievable mixtures of Korean, Chinese and Japanese words (one of the most recent I found on Internet is called "Aiki JiuJitsu Kung Fu"!??). You can see "grandmasters" dressed in Hapkido jacket and kickboxing pants, with ninja straps on their hoses... It is a whole mess out there and such individuals are obviously too ignorant and unaware of their incompetence. For these people, "oriental martial arts" are one thing, whole Asia speaks one same language and Ninjas train kickboxing in a Shaolin temple, probably somewhere in North Korea!

I am seeing more and more incredible names for the styles, which are taken from comic-books (recently I saw a "SINANJU" group, which obviously took the name from Marvel comics book about Remo Williams!), or which are combining English, Japanese and other languages ("Vee-Jitsu Ryu" DOES LOOK FUNNY, ask anyone in Japan!), or which mean absolutely nothing (there is a group in Germany calling their art Judo Do (!??), there is "Hapkikwan" in my country (officially presented as "Serbian martial art"!??), there are Ku Jutsu, Wing Tzun (yes, Tzun!) and so on and on, ad nauseam).

4) Founders will look for the most appropriate, available, competent and respectable authorities who will make a revision of their work. In this task they will have to avoid organization or individuals with fake background, and insist on visible and respected lineage of person who shall serve as their future "source of credentials". In case of jujutsu, this will be a certification line leading to jujutsuteacher or organization in Japan.

Comments: The easiest way for most today is to find one of those "we are all sokes here, we look for no proof of your legitimacy, come and join" groups. Online diploma mills and Internet-based "organizations" with "national representatives" who have never even meet each other have become "motor engines" for increasing hyper production of all sorts of masters, grandmasters, founders, "hall of fame inductees", even "world champions". All of them have their styles, all are "heads" and "heads of families" and all are "open minded friendly people" who "do not understand why is anyone so malicious to criticize them and their "honest" work"... Sometimes, even if these people show some readiness to undergo a proper evaluation process, they insist that they will "show you what they know and what they do", stubbornly refusing to learn a simple fact of life: there is no exam in any normal school where a candidate shows WHAT HE WANTS, an exam is for examiners to test if candidate knows WHAT IS REQUIRED.

5) Once the recognition from competent authority is received in form of certificate or diploma, there will be no changes in promotion rules and syllabus without at least an agreement of that authority. Loyalty should be maintained same as among direct teacher and student.

It is most important to have an objective supervision from above, which will prevent anyone (including the founder) of making too radical changes, which may harm the entire school/style/organization and make members of this organization/style unfitting and undesirable to respectful martial arts community. In order to achieve this, founder shall conduct with honor, loyalty and integrity, and will be a model to a wider martial arts community.

Comment: There are many organizations which have a strange policy (inapplicable in martial arts): the more, the better! So, they recruit people from other organizations by offering them higher ranks. This is mostly caused by money involved in the process, but sometimes it even goes without "promotional" or "recognition" fees. It is just: "get them to our tournament", or "list them on our site". This type of behavior is a bait for many instructors, who feel "unjustly underranked" and switch from one organization to another, from one "authority" to another...

Sadly, there are many people even with the most legitimate origin of their initial grades (including in Japan), who have simply split from their parent organization and declared themselves 10th Dan sokes, grandmasters, etc. Seems that all people are equal in this - no matter if they are coming from Japan, Europe or USA. Wherever you look, you will see people who have started their own martial arts organizations and have immediately jumped a few DAN-grades higher. "Mr. Suzuki was a high ranked master/champion in WTF Karate, and then he started his independent international karate association, in which he is now 10th Dan Hanshi, supreme soke and sometimes is even called "Big Daddy!"

Interesting fact is that these sort self-promoted individuals strongly disapprove similar behavior from their students. Being "role models" for their followers, they should expect exactly the same actions they made in their younger days - namely: reluctance, splitting and betrayal.

Modern (western) jujutsu based on NIHON JUJUTSU exists for over a century, ever since the first independent schools have appeared in United Kingdom, USA, Sweden, Germany... Gendai jujutsu are "MODERN SCHOOL BASED ON TEACHING AND PRINCIPLES OF TRADITIONAL JUJUTSU AND ITS DERIVATIVES". This means respect for Japanese tradition, techniques and principles. Gendai Jujutsu schools are recognizable for many similarities:

1) they cover wide range of nage waza, atemi waza, kansetsu waza, shime waza, etc;

2) they also follow the same reiho like in Kodokan Judo, or Aikikai Aikido.

3) they use the same dressing code like in traditional budo. (no camouflage Gis, or weird combinations of "American flag-designed" top and kickboxing pants...)

4) they use the same or similar ranking system, equal or adequate standards and requirements, grading procedures and promotions.

In the era of eclecticism, where many things are done chaotically and without any respect to old values and common rules, these "new" jujutsu styles and organizations are the role-model for how it should be done in a proper way.

But, time has come to reject the question whether some system is "gendai" or "koryu" jujutsu, or "should any such thing as "Gendai Jujutsu" exist at all?". After over a hundred years of existence, it is enough to say "JUJUTSU". It should mean and imply enough: Jujutsu is BUDO, and BUDO is very distinctively, JAPANESE word for martial arts ("ways"). Jujutsu is one of main budo disciplines, a "branch of budo", a "representative portion" of budo. Using this definition, one can easily make a selection among plethora of "Jujutsu" and "would-be Jujutsu" systems present around the world. Without proper Japanese terminology (nihongo), without proper Japanese ceremonial principles, dressing code and etiquette (reiho), without properly listed and structured techniques and syllabus (waza and mokuroku), without proper union of techniques and principles (riai) - there is no budo, there is no jujutsu.

A good old wisdom says: "If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and if it looks like a duck - well, it's a duck!". Some skeptics like to add: "Hold on, it could be also a chicken, doing a duck impersonation!" In deed, this could also be the case. But, to check if the "duck" is a genuine "duck", see if there is some real REAL duck standing behind, one who shall, as a parent or patron, confirm their kin relationship.

So - behind any "jujutsu" there should be some "REAL JUJUTSU", a Japanese-based or Japanese-rooted jujutsu, or real "budo" which shares the same origins. Otherwise, duck will still be a potential chicken!

With this in mind, it would be easier for all of us to start using a small pleonasm, and thus give the lost meaning to the (abused, devalued, raped and "ridiculed") word of "jujutsu" ("ju-jitsu", even "jiu-jitsu" - sic!). Lets call what we practice NIHON JUJUTSU. Such term, the "Japanese Jujutsu" will be a definitive clear description of delicate art DIFFERENT from "Brazilian Ju-Jutsu", "Russian Sambo", "Israeli Krav Maga", American "Kenpo Karate Jujitsu", Atemi-Jujitsu, Kik-Jitsu, Kyokushin-Jitsu, Taekwon-Jitsu, and who-knows-what-other-sort-of-would-be-jujutsu.