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Hojojitsu

Hojojitsu means "cord tying art." This art offers quick and efficient methods of tying and restraining an opponent who is often struggling to escape. During the feudal warring period, confrontations between armed opponents did not always end in death, and this art was often used to finish off those who had already been subdued or incapacitated. Grappling techniques ended in hold downs, or other incapacitating positions. At this point, special techniques of tying up an opponent were used. Various binding patterns and methods were used for different classes (warrior, noble, farmer, merchant, artisan, monk, etc.) based on their habits, weapons, skills, and/or anatomical differences. The tying methods were intricate and assumed aesthetically beautiful patterns.
Iaido

The Japanese art of drawing the sword for combat. The object is to draw the sword perfectly, striking as it is drawn, so that the opponent has no chance to defend against the strike. It is usually practiced in solo kata form. It has strong philosophical ties to Kenjitsu . It now practiced as a spiritual discipline, not as a method of self-defense. Iaido is often taught at Kendo schools.

Iaijitsu

The art of drawing the sword and cutting as a single motion. It was traditionally a sub-specialization of Kenjitsu and one of several martial disciplines usually practiced by traditional warriors before the modern era. In the 1930's, it was popularized as a separate discipline Iaido).

Jobajitsu

The Japanese art of military horsemanship.

Jodo

The way of the jo that was derived from Jojitsu. Included are methods of striking, parrying, blocking, and sweeping often practiced in pattern sets.

Judo

Jigero Kano (1860-1938) developed Judo in Japan in the 1800's as a sport, based upon Jujutsu. Mastering several styles of Jujutsu in his youth, Kano began to develop his own system based on modern sports principles. In 1882, he founded the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo where he began teaching Judo; it is still the international authority for Judo. The popularity of Judo increased dramatically after a famous contest hosted by the Tokyo police in 1886 where the Judo team defeated the most well-known Jujutsu school of the time. Judo then became a part of the Japanese physical education system and began its spread around the world as its practitioners routinely defeated students of other martial arts. In the early 1900's, President Teddy Roosevelt studied Judo with a Japanese instructor. Judo is a soft style: "ju" means gentle and "do" means way. It uses throws, grappling, hold downs, elbow locks, and chokes to win matches. Judo has been an Olympic medal sport since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and is practiced worldwide in its original form with few changes to the art itself. In 1992, Judo competition for women was added to the Olympics. Although it is primarily a sport, it is also useful in self-defense since it uses throws, arm locks, and chokes, to control the opponent.

Kano in action

Kano emphasized the educational value of martial art training so that it could be a path or way of life in which all people could participate and benefit. He eliminated some of the traditional Jujutsu techniques and changed training methods so that most of the moves could be done with full force without injury. Judo training emphasizes throwing an opponent to the ground by grasping the body or uniform. Once down, a variety of chokes and joint locks may be used to gain a submission. Two important parts of Judo training, character development and morality, make Judo a preferred martial art for children to practice. Once practitioners obtain an advanced rank, they are taught deadly, non-sportive techniques for use in self-defense.

Judo is practiced on mats and consists primarily of throws (nage-waza), along with katame-waza (grappling), which includes pins (osaekomi-waza), chokes (shime-waza), and arm bars (kansetsu-waza). Additional techniques, including striking and various joint locks are found in the Judo patterns. Judo is generally compared to wrestling but it retains its unique combat roots. As an offspring of Jujutsu, Jujutsu techniques are often taught in Judo classes.

Because the founder was involved in education, Kano was President of Tokyo University, Judo training emphasizes mental, moral, and character development as much as physical training. Most instructors stress the principles of Judo such as the principle of yielding to overcome greater strength or size, as well as the scientific principles of leverage, balance, efficiency, momentum, and control.

Judo training has many forms for different interests. Some students train for competition by sparring (randori) and they enter many tournaments. Other students study the traditional art and patterns of Judo. Other students train for self-defense, and yet other students play Judo for fun. Unlike other martial arts, Judo competition rules, training methods, and rank systems are relatively uniform throughout the world.

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