Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that focuses on ground fighting, submissions, and grappling techniques. It’s centred around the concept that a smaller or weaker person can defend themselves against a larger opponent by using leverage, technique, and timing. The core techniques of Jiu Jitsu include joint locks, chokeholds, sweeps, and escapes, all of which are designed to control or submit an opponent. What sets Jiu Jitsu apart from other martial arts is its focus on ground combat and submission-based techniques. Unlike arts like boxing or Muay Thai, which focus on striking, or judo, which includes throws and takedowns, Jiu Jitsu excels in situations where a fight goes to the ground. It’s a highly technical martial art, with an emphasis on strategy and fluid movement, allowing practitioners to utilise their skill to overcome strength and size disadvantages.

Jiu Jitsu, the precursor to modern Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, has its origins in ancient Japan, developed by the samurai as a system of close combat. It was designed to help warriors defend themselves against armed opponents, particularly when they were disarmed or in close quarters. The techniques of Jiu Jitsu focused on joint locks, throws, strikes, and grappling, allowing the samurai to neutralise their enemies with minimal force. Over the centuries, the art evolved, with various schools and styles emerging, each with their own approach to these techniques. During the Edo period (17th to 19th century), Jiu Jitsu was taught to warriors and became a significant part of Japan’s martial traditions. As Japan transitioned into the modern era, the practice of Jiu Jitsu declined with the advent of firearms and the decline of the samurai class. However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Jiu Jitsu influenced the development of other martial arts, particularly Judo, which was created by Jigoro Kano.