Ju Jitsu originated in Japan in the 16th century and has found its way to other countries in Asia as well as the rest of the world.

Japanese folklore describes how a native physician Shirobei Akiyama noticed that most tree branches broke during a blizzard, but some bent and freed themselves from the snow.

It was this observation that shaped Akiyama’s theory that Ju Jitsu does not respond to power with more power, with the aim being to absorb attacks and convert an opponent’s power into a move of one’s own benefit.

In the 17th century, over 2,000 schools were built in Japan to train students in Ju Jitsu and spread the sport.

Ju Jitsu, which translated to ‘gentle science’ or ‘techniques’, encourages the use of an opponent’s strength and weight against them through anatomical knowledge and the principle of leverage.

Unlike many other martial arts, Ju Jitsu doesn’t have a well-documented past. For hundreds of years, the knowledge was transmitted orally and covertly from teacher to pupil, mentor to follower, and father to son.

Since Ju Jitsu has such a long history, other arts or ‘ways’ were bound to develop from it. An ancestry stemming from Ju Jitsu can be found in both judo (the gentle way) and aikido (the way of the mind and spirit). Some of the techniques are also used in many forms of Karate, particularly Kenpo.

Hence, Ju Jitsu is a collection of methods that have been divided into different branches of martial arts.

The Ju Jitsu Asian Union (JJAU) focuses on spreading and expanding the Ju Jitsu community throughout Asia as well as educating people on the importance and benefits of the sport in their lives by providing them with numerous opportunities to participate.

Under the patronage of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the JJAU was re-established during the Constitutive General Assembly held in Abu Dhabi on 12 January 2014 Ju Jitsu