Structural Doctrine of Cunninghame Ju-Jitsu
(Gákw Yoo tutánk)
   
    In history there has never been a more thoroughly systematized martial combat style that addresses all the needs in close combat then does jujitsu. Craig describes its efficiency:
"...ju-jitsu...is among the most effective and potentially destructive martial arts. It is one of the most ancient martial arts, dating back over 2500 years. Ju-jitsu is also the basis for many of the more modern arts, including Judo, Aikido and some Karate styles. A student proficient in the art of Ju-jitsu has studied techniques that can be described to the layman as a combination of Judo (throws and leverage), Aikido (nerve points and attackers momentum), Karate (striking and kicking), and other unique martial art techniques. A student proficient in the art has the choice of causing his opponent to sense severe pain and/or disfunction without any lasting injury taking place."
It is logical to project the thought that in the purification of jujitsu through battle that it would refine itself to a complete useable system for all cultures. I have often wondered why this particular system of martial prowess has been the backbone for the majority of the military combatives and police defensive tactics systems developed throughout the world. In my own experience of being in the fire of preservation necessity, the needed skills to survive are apparent when the moment of battle is joined. Being in the mix of the fire makes you do what it will take. The result of not fulfilling the necessity of truth in conflict has been the result of many fallen officers and soldiers in the line of duty. This is unacceptable. The law enforcement officer and the military soldier are the samurai, elite warriors of today. To accept this mantle or stewardship one should be sober in the realities of the call to duty. You, the officer (and even the citizen warrior) must face the real probability that you will face your death. Will you trust this moment to skills that you have not purified? If your system of defense does not meet your real duties, then you must fill the gaps. Jujitsu has persevered at least 2500 years of battlefield experience. It has been able to blend with all cultures, in all nations. It has drifted to the fields of the warriors of today. It is up to you but to grasp these truths.
So why jujitsu? I have found through my studies that the warrior of all ages gets to the point of truth rather quickly when faced with death choices, “Whatever it takes!” I have heard from police and military warriors I respect and work. My own experiences agree with this statement. It is true that the greatest teacher is one’s own experiences. So now lets answer, why jujitsu? It comes down to history, efficiency, comprehensiveness, and cultural usability. Let’s break jujitsu into pieces so that we can look at the anatomy of its essence.
CLOSE COMBAT MORE ACCURATE THAN UNARMED COMBAT
There are some who narrowly define jujitsu as unarmed, only able to be used against someone else who is unarmed. Never in the history of warfare has it been okay to meet even or equal against one’s enemy. The use of force policies on police departments, the rules of engagement in standing armies, and the laws as it pertains to self-defense have set up scales of measurement for engaging in conflict with bad people. If I am attacked with someone using their hands I can go to one level above the threat. So in this case, I can use an intermediate tool such as a baton. Of course, there are many factors of review, but the bottom line is you don’t have to fight fair. Use justice and be efficient! Jujitsu is rooted in the age of weapons like the katana and warriors wearing armor. It meets the needs of time and place.
Jujitsu’s basic methods of attack include striking, kicking, throwing, immobilizing, strangling, joint-locking, hand-held tools, etc. The samurai were practical warriors and they took every effort to develop effective methods of defense. I have looked at the ancient systems of jujitsu and it would look to me that the arts of the samurai could more accurately be defined as close methods of dealing with an enemy who is armed. In my research, it is clear to me that jujitsu as a term or name could be classified as the samurai’s way of closing the gap with the enemy or what we would call close protection or combat. When the range was not sufficient to use the katana conventionally, then ju-jitsu was practical to get the job done at close range.
The name of jujitsu has been written and given many meanings throughout history. All of them are logical explanations for this science of battle; pliancy, yielding, gentle, or military preparedness to name a few. The one constant in all jujitsu is the closeness to the center of the one-on-one conflict being the key. When the enemy gets inside your tools: enter jujitsu!

HISTORY

No one has been able to establish the origins of ju-jitsu in detail. There are no records verifying the start point, archeologically, except for conjecture. Having ju-jitsu with us today is truth to the existence of it historically. As long as there has been man on the earth it is sufficient, in my estimation, to say that man has had to protect himself from his enemies. The intellect of man began at the earliest of time, to use the body as the tool scientifically, to develop a proper strategic defense system.

Muromachi Period (1333-1573)
As with all warriors on the battlefield, the primary weapon is a manmade tool of some kind. In the case of the samurai the sword was the primary weapon. Their skill with the sword is legendary. Even having exceptional skill with their primary weapon, the samurai also had contingency plans if their primary weapon became inoperable in any way. They would then have to transition to other means without interrupting the follow of battle. It was in this period that they began developing their close combat methods in battle as a supplement to their primary weapon.
The samurai studied striking, kicking, throwing, joint-capturing, and choking as well as improvised weapons to fulfill the transition. It is in this period that ju-jitsu finds its formal beginnings. I have found some evidence to suggest that unarmed practice goes back further than this period; however, this is more drawing inferences from sketchy and unverifiable sources.
Even in this period jujitsu was secret. This is natural given operational security. All warrior classes keep in-house methods that they feel will overcome the enemy. This information (intelligence) must be safeguarded at all costs. This cannot fall into enemy hands. As a result families or daimyo provinces began specializing their combative skills to the mission faced. This process continued until approximately the sixteenth century when jujitsu was more canonized formally. There are still systems today from these honorable beginnings. All kenpo, jujitsu, and kenpo jujitsu systems throughout the world must give homage to this era.

Edo Period (1600-1868)
This is the samurai age of the legends like Musashi Miyamoto, who wrote his famous treatise that we still have today (Book of Five Rings). Jujitsu begins its legend during this period with koryu systems. Daito-ryu (specializing in joint techniques and attacking the vital areas, Aikido finds roots in this system), Takenouchi-ryu (specializing in rope tying) Kito-ryu (develop an order for formal training in jujitsu, modern judo finds roots in this system), Kyushin-ryu (specializing in attacking the vital areas and methods of resuscitation), and other systems of jujitsu like Sosuishitsu-ryu, Tenshin Shinyo-ryu, Youshin-ryu.
It is this feudal period, of which I wrote earlier, that has given jujitsu its spirit today.

Meiji Period (1868-1911)
Moving from feudalism to Imperial rule brought about this period. The samurai class fades and the Imperial soldier replaces them on the battlefield. Weapons are no longer allowed to be carried. The old jujitsu systems, many of which begin to fade away, split off systems of jujitsu begin to develop to meet the needs of the times. Judo is developed and begins to replace jujitsu because of the restrictions on appropriate applications the jujitsu used on the battlefield were not accepted in an age of relative peace. Judo became Japan’s principal martial art.
Jujitsu styles known as Nihon jujitsu develop like Danzan-ryu and Hakko-ryu. It was the Tokyo Police Department that stepped forward to revitalize the need of jiu-jitsu skills for the new warrior class-the Police and Military. This is the first Police jiu-jitsu (Keisatsujutsu) system in the world. They developed their system and named it the jujitsu style of Taihojitsu, to differentiate it from other systems of jujitsu. Taihojitsu became the name that if you practiced this art you were a police officer.


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