Definition

Noun: 1. A Japanese martial art and method of unarmed combat: A system of self-defense that primarily uses throws, joint locks, holds, and pins to subdue an opponent. Its core principle is to use an attacker's own force, momentum, and weight against them, rather than relying on the defender's brute strength.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She has been studying jujutsu for five years to learn effective self-defense techniques.
  • Traditional jujutsu was developed for samurai to fight armored opponents on the battlefield.
  • The jujutsu practitioner used the attacker's charge to execute a perfect throw.

Advanced Usage

• "The principles of jujutsu": Refers to the core philosophies of the art, such as yielding to overcome, using leverage, and controlling an opponent's balance.
  • Understanding the principles of jujutsu is more important than just memorizing techniques.
• "Classical/Koryū jujutsu": Refers to the older, traditional schools of jujutsu that were practiced before the modern era, often encompassing a wider range of combat techniques.
  • He focuses on studying classical jujutsu to preserve its historical forms.

Variants and Related Words

• Jujitsu: An alternative, common romanization of the same word.
• Jiu-jitsu: Another common variant spelling, often associated with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ): A modern martial art and combat sport derived from Japanese jujutsu (specifically Judo), which emphasizes ground fighting and submission holds.
• Judo: A modern Japanese martial art, sport, and Olympic discipline that was derived from and is a refinement of several jujutsu schools, focusing on throwing techniques.

Synonyms

• Unarmed combat: A general term for fighting without weapons.
• Grappling art/martial art: A broader category that includes jujutsu, judo, wrestling, etc.

Related Phrases

• "The gentle art": A common translation and description of "ju-jutsu," where "ju" (柔) means "gentle, soft, or yielding," and "jutsu" (術) means "art" or "technique." This refers to its principle of using an opponent's energy against them.
  • Jujutsu is often called "the gentle art" because it emphasizes technique over strength.

Noun

1. a method of self-defense without weapons that was developed in China and Japan; holds and blows are supplemented by clever use of the attacker's own weight and strength