stopsleySPORTS

an introduction to jujitsu

Jujitsu, also spelt several ways including ju-jitsu and jui-jitsu is a Japanese martial art that owes it's history and development to an ancient combat system collectively known as Yawara.

Although weapons training can form part of the jujitsu training syllabus, Jujitsu is primarily an unarmed self-defence system, employing kicks, strikes, throws, locks, strangles, chokes and grappling. It was one of the first martial arts practiced in Britain, where it was first exhibited in the 19th century music halls as a 'survive and win' stage contest. William Barton-Wright, the man responsible for this music-hall jujitsu and a practitioner himself, went on to create his own self-defence system based on jujitsu and cane stick fighting called Bartitsu.

In it's purest form jujitsu shares similar historic ties to Judo and Aikido, both Jigoro Kano and Morihei Ueshiba the creators of Judo and Aikido were both accomplished ju-jitsu practitioners, while many modern self defence and combat forms include many of the techniques found in jujitsu.

what we teach...

There are many styles of jujitsu. Some look similar to Aikido while others are heavily influenced by judo or karate. The jujitsu taught by us at our ACS Martial Arts Stopsley club, owes it fundamental basics to the traditional style but without being tethered by its historic roots.

We employ simple Atemi techniques and strikes, aimed at vulnerable points of the body as well as including techniques from other martial arts, not just jujitsu. We do not teach Brazilian or Gracie Jujitsu although we do sometimes have Brazilian Jui-jitsu students visiting us so, on occasion, our classes are supplemented by techniques taught by these Brazilian Jujitsu 'students', but if you're really interested in learning competition or MMA (mixed martial arts) grade Brazilian jui-jitsu then you'll need to learn at a school specialising in these disciplines.

We also teach ground or back to back competition wrestling, mainly for juniors as well as having sparring only sessions which utilise punching, kicking and take down skill. Bob Cowan international atemi jujitsu's chief instructor is both a AMA GB Sport Jujitsu squad competitor and referee. In fact several of Bob's students have represented Great Britain at national and international level.

On occasion we will also train exclusively in self-defence based skills, using techniques not included in our formal syllabus. These include awareness and avoidance techniques , fear management and the use of the fence and preemptive striking.  These sessions are in addition to our standard syllabus sessions designed to preserve the art and provide grade advancement.

ACS Martial Arts pride themselves on quality martial arts instruction instruction and rather than teach skills that the many misinformed people interpret as 'fighting' we actively encourage and teach how not to fight .