I am a devoted student of Jiu Jitsu, a Japanese martial arts style that literally translates to the “way of yielding.” With roots in feudal Japan, a time in which thick armor protected against strikes, Jiu Jitsu focuses on throws and immobilization. Training is divided into five main areas: the Art of Blocking, the Art of the Fulcrum Throw, the Art of the Non-Fulcrum Throw, the Art of Escaping, and the Art of Striking. Students are taught how to use balance, leverage, and momentum to conquer opponents instead of relying on raw strength and speed. Because of this, Jiu Jitsu is a “soft” art, which is what is implied by the Japanese word “Jiu.” Practitioners of Jiu Jitsu yield to an opponent’s attack rather than opposing it. By manipulating the attacker’s force and direction, he or she can throw the attacker off balance and therefore reduce the ability to block a counterattack. The essential elements of modern Jiu Jitsu instructions include grappling techniques, which have been adapted from the ancient system to create a safe sporting environment. Simple grappling techniques have been used during combat throughout the evolution of Jiu Jitsu. In serious sporting contests, more dangerous grappling techniques were developed to inflict severe injuries, but these have been left out of the modern derivations of Jiu Jitsu, including Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In these systems, emphasis was laid on making them accessible to people of all ages and conditions for sport and self-defense. Only a few Jiu Jitsu schools continue to teach the dangerous old Samurai grapples and instead embrace the safer and more “sport oriented” versions. Practitioners use these grapples as one of the primary ways to throw an opponent off balance. A well-executed grapple technique uses an opponent’s strength to the advantage of the Jiu Jitsu practitioner.
Tags: Jiu Jitsu, Marzo, Pat, Pat Marzo, Patrick, Patrick Marzo
