Jujitsu is Japanese for gentle art

The history of jujitsu goes back over a thousand years. There are references in early literature to empty handed fighting called chikara kurabe, that occured several hundred years b.c..

The Japanese Samurai were most famous for the skill that they developed with the sword. In addition to the sword the samurai developed skill with empty hands, staff, knife, bow and arrow, spear, halberd, chain and weight, and other weapons.

From what historians can tell, jujitsu didn't become a distinct school of martial arts until about 1600. Primarily, jujitsu employs empty handed techniques for subduing an opponent. The empty handed techniques consist of kicking and punching, called atemi; throwing techniques, called nage waza, holding or restraining techniques, called osae waza; joint locks, called kansetsu waza and strangles and chokes, called shime waza. In addition some schools also include weapons training. The primary weapons of the jujitsuka, or practioner of jujitsu, are the sword, called ken; 4' staff, called jo; the knife, called tanto; and methods of binding with rope, called hojo jutsu. In addition the old jujitsu schools trained their students in methods of herbs and massage for healing. Little surprise that the early jujitsu masters were also the doctors of the community and were know for their ability to set broken bones and reduce dislocated joints.

To those that may not be aware, Jujitsu is the nucleus science of all Japanese martial arts. From Jujitsu came Karate, Judo and aikido. Many people today are familiar with the popular term of Brazilian jujitsu or Gracie jujitsu from its recent popularity of Royce Gracie in the Ultimate fighting competitions. It is still the same jujitsu that was practiced 100s of years ago by the Samurai. But the science has now been refined and developed to its current effective form and most of that development has been lead by the Brazilians and the Gracie family.

What is Brazilian jiu Jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a grappling art. It is new to New Zealand, but one that is fast growing in popularity for its non-striking and defensive aspects.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu emphasizes ground fighting -- in fact, most Brazilian Jiu Jitsu stylists want to take the fight to the ground, as opposed to the stand-up fighting of other fighting arts. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners believe that most fights end up on the ground, so you'd might as well learn the most effective ground fighting techniques available.

It is also a sport that gives you skill, fitness, strength and endurance, and has many other benefits such as increasing co-ordination, assertiveness, balance, mental focus, flexibility and confidence.

What is the history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
The introduction of Jiu Jitsu to Brazil is largely credited to one Mitsuyo Maeda, who immigrated to Brazil in the 1920's and taught Jiu Jitsu to Carlos Gracie of Rio de Janeiro (more on the Gracies later). Brazilian Jiu Jitsu evolved into its own distinct style, incorporating techniques honed in the rough favelas (shantytowns) of the big cities.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu really caught on with the advent of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993. The UFC, promoted by the Helio Gracie clan, was billed as the first tournament to pit practitioners of various martial arts against each other in an almost-no-holds-barred setting. The fact that Helio's son Royce won three of the first four tournaments using his family's brand of jiu-jitsu certainly cemented Brazilian jiu-jitsu as an art demanding serious consideration.

No description of Brazilian jiu-jitsu is complete without mentioning the Gracie family. Carlos Gracie, after learning jiu-jitsu from Maeda, taught the art to his brothers Osvaldo, Gast? Jorge, and Helio. The Gracie family, through challenge matches, televised tournaments, and sheer numbers, have spread their namesake style throughout the world.

It is very common for the smaller trained person to easily beat the larger stronger untrained attacker in a jujitsu fight. Even a well trained black belt in karate alone,, is no match for even a novice Jujitsuist in a ground fight.

What do we teach?
The techniques of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu were developed for small to medium sized people in order to defeat opponents of much greater size and strength. The Art has been continually revised and tested for decades in Brazil, USA and Australia, which has made the techniques extremely simple, easy to learn, and efficient. Practitioners of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu need not be especially big, fast or strong. At Strikeforce we teach all shapes and sizes, from beginner to advanced.

A weaker force uses technique to overcome aggression
Strength is used intelligently
The weaker fighter yields at first before using strategy to prevail

women and young ladies

The guiding principle behind the art is the idea of a gentler force overcoming a stronger force using efficient technique rather than brute strength or force. . There is a japanese phrase that describes this theory - "Ju Yoku Sei Go", which translates as "softness controls hardness". The idea behind the phrase is of a smaller force initially yielding to a larger force before eventually overcoming it.

Jujitsu is currently taught and practiced at US special forces and law enforcement camps as well as airline personnel and private citizens of all walks of life.

We strongly recommend Jujitsu to all women and young ladies as a life saving response to an attack from a larger stronger offender in a rape attempt

How do you begin?
Strikeforce BJJ classes are held Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7.30 pm. The only equipment required to start is a mouth guard, shorts and tee shirt. However it is recommended that you purchase a "GI" or BJJ training suit - Very similar to a Judo suit - as quickly as possible.

Come on down and have a look.

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10 Drury St.  New Lynn.  Auckland.  Ph: (09) 827 1222 

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