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Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu-Jitsu is one of many "Martial Arts", a term which refers now to a wide variety of Asian styles of hand-to-hand combat. Although there is much dispute concerning the exact beginnings and history of the martial arts as we know them, and although we also know that Japan may have been one of the last of the Asian countries to acquire the martial arts, it is the Japanese forms and styles which are most widely practiced in the Western World.

Jiu-Jitsu, or literally translated "Flexible Art", developed from many individual martial art systems that either originated in japan, or were taken to Japan from neighboring countries. The practice of Jiu-Jitsu has been traced back in history as far as 2000+ years. Evidence shows us that Jiu-Jitsu techniques, although not necessarily under that name at the time, were included with warrior training circa 1100AD.

With the passing of the Tokugawa era (ca. 1800), Japan became somewhat united and there were many changes in Japanese society. One of the results of these changes was the reduction of the Samurai warrior to the status of the common citizen. In his new position, the Samurai could no longer carry a sword. He was forced to rely solely on empty-handed techniques as a means of defending himself.

In the 1880s, Jigro Kano developed Judo, or "the Gentle Way", from the harsher techniques of Jiu-Jitsu in an effort to popularize the martial arts and to provide a safe sport. Kano is credited with the first development of the modern Belt-System. Judo was based on selected techniques taken from Jiu-Jitsu. With modern emphasis on sport Judo, self-defense and other intrinsic elements embodied in the original Judo have been all but overlooked.

In the 1920s, Morihei Ueshiba developed the art of Aiki-Jitsu, once again drawing on the techniques of Jiu-Jitsu and refining them into a more specialized and esoteric art. In 1942, he began to teach a fully-developed form called Aikido.

Jiu-Jitsu, as an art unto itself, made its way into the west in the early 20th century as well. While there is no single style of Jiu-Jitsu that predominates in North America today, most practitioners seem to cover the same material in their studies, although there are a number of variations in the emphasis, be that towards the impact, throwing, or locking sides.

Jiu-Jitsu is a devastatingly effective self-defense system. While the actual number of techniques may be relatively small (50), the variations and flexibility within the system is limited only by the practitioner's ability to understand and apply the techniques. Jiu-Jitsu is now undergoing somewhat of a rebirth, as people re-discover the numerous benefits, both practical and personal, of this dynamic and effective Combat Art.