Japanese Jiu Jitsu comes from the Samurai sub-culture of Japan. Although Samurai usually used their swords in combat, there would of course be times in which they'd lose their weapons and be forced to fight unarmed. This is where Jiu Jitsu has its roots, in dealing with attacks with only your empty hands and a body to help you. Depending on where you are training, a Japanese Jiu Jitsu class may place its emphasis on any number of things. Check this brief list of techniques for some examples. That said, there are a few main themes that you're likely to encounter when you show up to your first class.
Break-Falling
In Japanese Jiu Jitsu (or JuJitsu) you can expect to be hitting the ground a lot. With locking and throwing techniques designed to incapacitate or kill, Jiu Jitsu encounters often end with the attacker face down in the dirt! Because your instructor will want you to return to the class, they will likely teach techniques to make landing far more comfortable. You can expect:
- Some light forwards, sideways and backwards rolls.
- To be taught how to "slap the mat" in order to reduce impact.
- To have to develop trust in your training partners.
Joint Locks
A joint lock is a technique that bends body parts in the directions they're not meant to go. This causes pain and be used to manipulate attackers in different directions. At more advanced levels, locking techniques can be infused with other techniques, blending pain and balance in defensive maneuvers that are both effective and amazing to see. At the beginning level, you can expect:
- Wrist twists and arm braces, which result in light pain.
- To be light on your feet as other apply locks.
- To have to "tap out" which is a way of telling your partner that you'd like them to stop.
Throwing Techniques
Once you have a grasp of break-falling and hitting the mat, you can move on to throwing techniques. These moves take an attacker's balance and redirct it towards the ground. Ideally, these take almost no effort to perform and make the most efficient use of time and balance. However, at the beginning level, these techniques can be quite challenging:
- You will be expected to attack others and fall as they throw you. This helps them to learn. (And you too!)
- You'll have to get up close to those attacking you and take a good hold of them.
- Be ready to exert some effort as you learn how to do the technique properly.
If you're looking for advice on how to do Ippon-Seoi-Nage (a Jiu Jitsu throw) then be sure to look at the following article: How to do Ippon Seoi Nage.
Ground Grappling, Ne-Waze or Groundfighting
Some types of Jiu Jitsu (such as Brazillian Jiu Jitsu) place a huge emphasis on ground fighting. Japanese Jiu Jitsu practioners will also make use of techniques on the ground. For this portion of the class, you can expect:
- To grapple with opponents in a competitive environment.
- To be pushed around on the ground and held down.
- To (perhaps) play with chokes and locking techniques while ground fighting, though this is more advanced.
If you are interested in the differences between Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and Japanese Jiu Jitsu, then read over the following article: Brazillian Vs Japanese Jiu Jitsu.
With these things in mind, you should be ready for your first class! Intensity levels and emphasis will vary widely depending on what Martial Arts school you decide to join. The important thing is to find a place that works for you and fits in with your expectations of what training should be like. Good luck at your first session!
