THE SOUTH AFRICAN JU-JITSU ASSOCIATION

Ju-Jitsu

Ju-Jitsu is the only original Japanese martial art, as was practiced by the Samurai warriors of feudal Japan. The roots of the art are well over 800 years old. It is the forerunner of of many modern arts such as Judo and Aikido.
Intended for use on the battlefield, often against weapon-wielding foes, Ju-Jitsu has been developed over nearly a thousand years, the techniques being strong, effective and often potentially lethal. By joining the Ju-Jitsu club, you may only be starting on the long hard road to attaining a black belt, but you will certainly be preparing yourself for future attack.

Self Defense

Ju-Jitsu is taught today as a self defense art. Because it relies largely upon the principle of leverage and balance, it de-emphasises strength and physical prowess. Preferring to follow the principle of "ju" (meaning "soft") it emphasises the use of skill and ability honed by practice and experience to overcome strength and force. As a result, it is an art (jitsu) that may be practiced by large and small, strong and weak alike. Furthermore, there is no need for a student to be either exceptionally fit or physically tough.

What is Ju-Jitsu?

Ju-Jitsu is an art of unarmed combat originally designed for use by Samurai who had become disarmed on the battlefield. It embodies a full range of manoeuvres, including joint-locks; strangles, throws, holds, strikes, thrusts, the use of pressure points, evasion, and most of all; common sense tactics as counters to attacks. The emphasis in Ju-Jitsu is in using the assailant's strength and momentum against himself, rather than meeting it head on with kicks and punches. Where strikes are used, they are directed against weak spots and target areas on the assailant. Many aspects of Ju-Jitsu ground work are to be found in modern day grappling clubs and this portion of the art has been made famous by the Gracie Family and Brazilian or Gracie Ju-Jitsu.

the assailant's strength and momentum against himself, rather than meeting it head on with kicks and punches. Where strikes are used, they are directed against weak spots and target areas on the assailant. Many aspects of Ju-Jitsu ground work are to be found in modern day grappling clubs and this portion of the art has been made famous by the Gracie Family and Brazilian or Gracie Ju-Jitsu

The role of Judo

Judo is a sport form devised in the late 1800's from Ju-Jitsu. In the clubs, Judo may be used as a teaching device for Ju-Jitsu. Students practice Judo as a grounding to assist in the safe learning of the more potentially lethal Ju-Jitsu techniques. Judo "randori" (free practice) and competition are used to compliment the Ju-Jitsu which is essentially non-competitive.

Why Ju-Jitsu?

Though called "ju", meaning soft, Ju-Jitsu is not a gentle art. "Ju" means soft in terms of preferring evasion to attack, carefully timed manoeuvres to manoeuvres using strength or body hardness. Intended for use on the battlefield, often against weapon-wielding foes, Ju-Jitsu has been developed over nearly a thousand years, the techniques being strong, effective and often potentially lethal. By joining the Ju-Jitsu club, you may only be starting on the long hard road to attaining a black belt, but you will certainly be preparing yourself for future attack.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

The SAJJA aims to be an association of like-minded practitioners 0f Ju-Jitsu, grappling and related martial arts to foster their growth, development and exposure. To maintain standards and legitimacy so not to denigrate from the great systems of our Headfounders and teachers that went before us.