German Ju-Jutsu (or German Jiu-Jitsu; ) is a martial art related to traditional Japanese Jujutsu, developed in West Germany in the 1960s using techniques from Jujutsu, Judo, Karate and various other traditional and modern martial arts. The system is taught to the German police forces.
Terminology In Germany, Ju-Jutsu and Jiu-Jitsu denote two distinct martial arts. The (DJJV), the sport's national governing body, administers both as separate disciplines: it applies Ju-Jutsu to the modern self-defence system developed in Germany, and Jiu-Jitsu to traditional Japanese jujutsu.
Practitioners of Ju-Jutsu and Jiu-Jitsu in Germany routinely observe the distinction, while outside this context it is often unfamiliar and a frequent source of confusion. In English-language usage, jujutsu, ju-jitsu and jiu-jitsu are largely interchangeable spellings of the same term.
History In 1967, members of the Deutsche Dan-Kollegium (DDK, German Dan Council) started developing a new self-defense system mainly based on Judo, Karate, and Aikido. Judo and Aikido are derived from traditional Japanese Jujutsu. A lot of emphasis was put on techniques which could be used in real-life situations.
Over the years, experience from police work and techniques from other martial arts have influenced the system. In 2000, additional techniques from Arnis, Sambo, Wing Chun, Muay Thai and other martial arts were officially incorporated into German ju-jutsu.
Techniques
German ju-jutsu includes atemi, elbow techniques, kicks, knee strikes, throws, ground techniques (taken from judo), various locks, pressure points, and armed techniques, among others, covering all distances. Training includes defense against multiple opponents. Even in the early days, because of the art's mixed origin, practitioners combined strikes and blocks from karate, judo-style throws and grappling techniques, as well as aikido-style joint locks.
Combat sport Several different competition systems exist. Considering that Jujutsu in certain other European countries has undergone modernization processes that have led to styles similar to German ju-jutsu, international competitions are possible. The German Ju-Jutsu Association was one of the three founding members of the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF, originally called the European Ju-Jitsu Federation, EJJF), which has focused on developing the sport aspect of Western jujutsu styles. The JJIF is now an international sport federation with national associations in over 70 countries.
At the world level, there are two competition systems: The duo (kata) system involves a pair of practitioners (jujutsuka) from the same team demonstrating self-defence techniques against attacks randomly called by the mat referee. The fighting (striking and grappling) system involves one-on-one combat. In the fighting system, three phases are distinguished, each with slightly different rules. The round begins in the distance fighting phase. Once a grab has been made, the second phase is entered and hits are no longer allowed. The third phase is entered when the jujutsuka are down on the mat. Switching back and forth between all phases is possible, that is, if the jujutsuka managed to stand up again, the first or second phase would recommence.
Customs
The customs are akin to those used in other Japanese budō disciplines:
Training is performed in a dojo. Jujutsugi or judogi are worn. A Kyū/dan ranking system is used.
Its governing body in Germany is the DJJV (). Its competitive sport aspects are coordinated internationally by the JJIF (Ju-Jitsu International Federation); Ju-jutsu under JJIF rules is a part of the World Games and World Combat Games.
Grandmasters NameGraduationNote10. DanOne of the founders of German Ju-Jutsu, One of the founders of the DJJV, Honorary president of the DJJVHeinz Lamadé9. DanJosef Art9. DanDieter Call9. DanPeter Schneider9. DanHeinrich Conrads9. DanPeter Nehls8. DanNorbert van Soest8. DanWilly Vollberg8. DanWalter Wehrmann8. DanGeorg Riebartsch8. DanRolf Kühnel8. DanDieter Rast8. DanErich Reinhardt8. DanDieter Meyer8. DanAchim Hanke8. DanRalf Pfeifer8. DanJohn Simon8. DanBernd Thomsen geb. Hillebrand8. DanRoland Köhler8. DanPresident of the DJJV, National coach of the DJJV, Vice-president mass sport of the "Ju-Jutsu Verband Bayern e.V." (Bavarian Ju-Jutsu association)Robert Prümm8. DanWolfgang Kroel8. Dan
References
External links Deutscher Ju-Jutsu Verband (German Ju-Jutsu Association)