What is Jiu Jitsu?
At Sakura Kan Jiu Jitsu we teach a Japanese martial art with a focus on practical self defence application for a modern environment.
Jiu Jitsu is a traditional method of close combat. The origins of Jiu Jitsu are from the battlefield where it was used to defeat armed and armoured opponents.
“Jiū” can be translated to mean “gentle, soft, supple, flexible, pliable, or yielding.” “Jitsu” can be translated to mean “art” or “technique” and represents manipulating the opponent’s force against himself rather than confronting it with one’s own force.
Jiujitsu was developed for the samurai of feudal Japan. It was used for defeating an armed and armoured opponent when one has no weapon or only a short weapon.Because striking against an armoured opponent proved ineffective, practitioners learned that the most efficient methods for neutralising an enemy took the form of pins, joint locks, and throws.
These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker’s energy against him, rather than directly opposing it.
There are many variations of the art, which leads to a diversity of approaches. Jiujitsu schools may utilise all forms of grappling techniques to some degree (i.e. throwing, trapping, joint locks, holds, disengagements, striking, and kicking).
Training in Sakura Kan brings the principles and concepts of a battlefield art into the modern day with a focus on techniques that are able to be applied by a smaller person against a bigger, stronger opponent. As an added bonus, you’ll get fitter, lose weight, and have the enjoyment of training in a small close-knit club.
