ABOUT PRACTICING JU-JITSU

Ju-Jitsu should be practiced in three different ways in order to cover the three basic scenarios that occur in real life.

1. Unexpected Attack. This is where a person attacks you by "surprise". You are choked from behind, someone grabs your coat, someone throws a wild punch or kick, you are tackled. In each of these scenarios, the common thread is that the attacker supplies most of the energy that the Jujitsuka needs to enact a defense.

2. Expected Attack (Face off). This is where aggression escalates, and you know a fight is going to happen and you cannot retreat. Often there is pushing, flurries of punches, or tackles - but you know it is coming because you are standing face to face with the aggressor. No-Hold-Barred competitions are also considered expected attacks.

3. Grappling Competition. This is a voluntary contest necessary to test skills, tactics, strategy. There is little danger of serious injury. You are most often fighting another skilled Jujitsuka, so the "fight" becomes a "chess match". The "fight" ends when one Jujitsuka submits to the other because of pain inflicted by submission techniques (bone breaking or choking techniques done to a lesser degree in order to cause pain and not damage).

Not all Ju-Jitsu techniques work in all of the scenarios. Almost all work in scenario one, however it may be wise to choose not to spend alot of time on the ground with your attacker in a street situation - as there may be other attackers looming, etc. Most techniques work in scenario two, although the attacker is expecting a response, so the ability to flow from one technique to another as the opponent resists your moves is important. Also, quickly taking the opponent to the ground, taking a dominant position and ending the fight is important. In scenario 3, far fewer techniques work, as your opponent is familiar with almost your entire arsenal of technique. As you attempt to execute a technique your opponent often recognizes the move and counters. Therefore strategy plays a major role in "tricking" your opponent into a submission. As no striking is used, positioning is everything.

When in the dojo, a balance of these three scenarios must be achieved in order for the student to handle all real life situations. If only one aspect is concentrated on, a weakness will develop in other areas, leaving the Jujitsuka open for defeat.