We are the Irish Ju-Jutsu Kai Association.

We are the Advisory Body for Ju-Jutsu, within the Irish Martial Arts Commission. We do not teach grappling, specifically, but only as part of the overall skills. We do not teach Sport Ju-Jitsu, but we have an affiliate who does, if you wish to do sport ju-jitsu.

We teach Classical Martial Arts.

The two Styles we teach are Kyushoshinjitsu Ju-Jutsu, which was researched and developed into its present format by Joe Carslake, with the supervision and great assistance of Yoshii Tanaka Sensei, 25th Master of the House of Seibutsu Yanagi Aiki-Ju-Jutsu, who passed away on April 14th 2003, and is much missed by his many students. And Bjarni Hjarralffsson Sensei, who trained for 28 years in the Eishojii Temple, in Nara, in the Muso Jikiden Ryu. The second Style, which is only open to Dan Grade or above, is Seibutsu Yanagi Aiki-Ju-Jutsu, a House Style of close quarter combat over 900 years old. Of which Tanaka Sensei, R.I.P. was the 25th Grand Master of the House.

To answer the two big questions, what is the difference between Classical Ju-Jutsu, Traditional Ju-Jutsu [Ju-Jitsu et al] and modern Ju-Jitsu [jiu-jitsu, jiujitsu etc]. And the answer is really quite simple, and hardly rocket science.

Modern Ju-Jit su etc. is not, in the real sense, anything to do with Ju-Jutsu, either Traditional or Classical. It is a mix of Judo, Karate and Aikido techniques, blended into a nice glitzy package.A very limited number of techniques, and plenty of ‘variations’ on the basic technique.
The emphasis varies from school to school, some being very fashion conscious, giving the student what they want, or what is most likely to pull in the new members, so it could be Brazilian Jiu-jitsu this week, or full contact next week, or even gymnastics, if that is what pulls people in.

Modern Ju-Jitsu, jiu-jitsu etc. owes more to Judo, and boxing, Karate and sport grappling, than to any real interpretation of the Art of Ju-Jutsu, in the actual or practical sense. Among those who teach modern Ju-Jitsu, there are those, as always, whop are dedicated to the ideal, and demonstrate excellence, and personify their Art. Unfortunately, they are far too few. For the main part, the emphasis is on competition, either grappling, standing combat, or a gymnastic display.

This does NOT make it bad; it is just a slight case of misrepresentation. For the likes of the modern sport grappling forms, including jiu-jitsu, the words practical and Martial Art, should not be used in the same breath. It is a very enjoyable way to train, and has a huge following, the only thing wrong, is the term Ju-Jitsu, because it simply isn’t.

Traditional Ju-Jitsu [Ju-Jutsu] uses Karate style punches, sometimes even Karate style Kata, and incorporates throws, locks, holds, chokes/strangles, and Kata, some even preserve the old traditions, such as the nerve locks, and the weapon skills. But the emphasis on developing a sporting aspect, for Ju-Jitsu, is threatening the very existence of not only the Traditional Ju-Jitsu Ryu, but also the Classical Ryu as well. In the Traditional Styles, there is a set syllabus, and the traditions are adhered to, the discipline is strong in the Dojo, and the Sensei is extremely knowledgeable.

There is respect shown for the other Bugei Arts, and in doing this; they show themselves also, as worthy of respect. It is fun to do, and suitable for practical use, in a life threatening situation.

The Classical format of Ju-Jutsu is very much the subject of conversation by the ignorant.
A recent visitor, doing a bit of “sussing out” came along to a session, one session, and from this, was able to judge that we taught only wrist locks, [which never work] and that we taught a few pressure points. A truth, for those who like to talk Martial Arts, instead of doing Martial Arts, there is no such thing as a lock; a lock is a break, end of story. Only, we can’t do that, now, can we? It would not be politically correct, and you can lose so many students that way. When you break their wrists, they don't come back, strange.

But, he should have come along for the next session, because no two sessions in Classical Ju-Jutsu are the same, we do NOT teach ‘a few wristlocks’, or ‘a few pressure points’. In fact what is taught in the Style of Kyushoshinjitsu, Ju-Jutsu, is 9 weapons skills, taught to the basic proficiency level.

• Ken [Sword]
• Bo [6ft staff]
• Hanbo [4ft staff]
• Tanto [knife]
• Yubi-Bo [finger staff]
• Nawa [rope]
• Tanbo [small staff, 10 ins]
• Jo [baton]
• Tanjo [twin batons]

We teach all the Classical virtues;

• Te Waza [hand techniques]
• Nage-Waza [throwing techniques]
• Keri-Waza [kicking techniques]
• Jintai- Kyusho [vital points]
• Ne-Waza] ground techniques] armed and unarmed defense, and also the Classical Kata, both Sho-nin [solo] and Ni-Nin [two person].

We are Ju-Jutsu, not “that stuff on the ground”.

We have every respect for those who participate in the tough and demanding sport grappling styles, but they are not martial arts, they are sports.
Once you say, ‘you cannot do this’ or ‘that is illegal’ then it not full contact, then the safeties are off, and you are being stupid and irresponsible. Putting your own life, and the lives of others, at great risk. We do combat in Kyushoshinjitsu, but we stay in the real world, no medals, no trophies, and rules to make it safe. It is good for development, it will not turn you into the greatest fighter in the world, and it is simply a tool we use.

Another question that seems to confuse people is the one “what is the difference between the Do and the Jutsu?”

The Do is the Way, of study, of the development of the body and the mind. The quest to develop the perfect technique, one of the tools used by those who train in the Jutsu, or Science. The Do is a Way, of training, of practice, developing a single technique, or series of techniques to perfection. The Jutsu is the practical application of technique, inclusive of the specific training necessary to develop those skills to accomplish this. The Jutsu or science is the strategy, and the tactics, combined with the abilities and will, to execute these techniques, adapting and refining, as they are in actual use. And the first lesson the Jutsu practitioner learns is that there is no ‘perfect’ technique. The perfect technique is the one that works every time, and it may be a different one every time.

Don't get bogged down in terminology, or semantics, there are plenty of armchair Martial Artists, in love with the IDEA of Martial Arts, it is the Doing, that is the problem to those people. Realize this; if you are training in the Do, and you train hard, under a knowledgeable Sensei, then it is certain, that at a specific point in your development, the line between the Do and the Jutsu, become very blurred indeed. The Do becomes the Jutsu. The Do is the Path, the Way, and the Jutsu is the destination, the purpose of the quest. The difference is time, in one, the Do takes a lifetime, the Jutsu is your life.