History - up to jujutsu in the west Flashcards
Up to Jujutsu in the West (19 cards)
What does the word Jūjutsu mean?
The word 柔術 (jūjutsu) is composed of two kanji characters: 柔 (jū) meaning ‘softness, gentleness’ and 術 (jutsu) meaning ‘art, skill’.
When was jūjutsu first transliterated to roman characters?
Jūjutsu was first transliterated to roman characters around 1875.
What is the common misspelling of jūjutsu?
The romanization of jūjutsu was mistakenly done as jiu-jitsu, which became popular worldwide.
What are the origins of jūjutsu?
The origins of jūjutsu are uncertain, with various narratives and records from Japan, China, Persia, Germany, and Egypt, but no definitive evidence.
What was the purpose of developing jūjutsu?
Jūjutsu was developed as an art or skill for self-preservation and combat.
What historical artifact shows early grappling techniques?
A Babylonian copper stand from the third Millennium BC shows two men in a grappling position common in jūjutsu.
What does the ‘Nihon Shoki’ refer to?
‘Nihon Shoki,’ or ‘The Chronicle of Japan,’ refers to a tournament called ‘Chikara-Kurabe’ held in 230 BC, which some historians link to the beginnings of Sumo.
What influenced the philosophy of jūjutsu?
The jūjutsu concept of soft overcoming hard was influenced by Chinese Classics such as the Tao Te Ching.
What was the focus of jūjutsu training during the civil war period in Japan?
Training focused on overcoming armored and armed opponents, with techniques tested in combat.
What shift occurred in jūjutsu during the Edo period?
The emphasis changed from battlefield art to personal protection in civilian settings.
What were some names used for empty hand combat systems?
Names included Yawara, Taijūtsu, Torite, Kenpo, Hakuda, and Kogusoku.
What significant event occurred in 1868 regarding jūjutsu?
The Meiji Restoration abolished the samurai class and its martial arts traditions.
Who was Jigorō Kanō?
Jigorō Kanō was a practitioner of jūjutsu who developed Kano Jūjutsu and later Kōdōkan Jūdō in the late 1800s.
What change did Jigorō Kanō make to the term jūjutsu?
He replaced ‘jutsu’ with ‘dō’ to give the art a deeper spiritual meaning, resulting in the term jūdō.
What was the focus of Kano’s teaching methodology?
Kano’s method prioritized physical, moral, and cultural education in a safe training environment.
What were the three principal objectives of Kano’s pedagogy?
The objectives were self-defense education (shobuho), physical education (reshinho), and moral education (shushinho).
What concerns did Kano have about competition in jūdō?
Kano worried that competition might lead to a ‘winning at any cost’ mentality, overshadowing the moral aims of jūdō.
How did jūdō spread globally after World War II?
US soldiers exposed to jūdō in Japan brought it back to America, leading to its global popularity.
