Introduction to Bushi Kempo JuJitsu

Modern Kempo JuJitsu provides an excellent opportunity for both children and adults to practise self-defence skills and physical exercise for health, fitness and fun.

The disciplined and carefully structured approach to kempo jujitsu rewards self-advancement through technical ability and application. In particular, Kempo JuJitsu helps children to develop co-ordination and self control whilst inspiring confidence and respect not only for themselves, but for their peers and instructors.

In the UK, Kempo Ju Jitsu has evolved to encompass a wide variety of traditional and modern martial art skills and techniques. Rooted in the battlefield warrior traditions of ancient Japan. Ju Jitsu is widely known as the martial art of the Samurai, the formidable and greatly admired warrior class of feudal Japan. Their training, with and without weapons, enabled Samurai to respond spontaneously and with great flexibility to any attack at any time.

Originally Ju-Jitsu was practised only by Samurai, however, the demise of the warrior class through the changing structure of Japanese society served only to propagate their skills. Descendants of Samurai learnt and taught their JuJitsu skills as a much valued family heritage handed down from father to son. The skills of the Samurai were no longer used for war and conquest but became a physical culture and spiritual discipline for their descendants.

In contrast,Kempo jujitsu was developed as the fighting art of the common people. Forbidden to carry arms by law, they learned Chinese based martial arts, popularly known as Kempo, which were suited to combat without battlefield armour and weapons. Most of the Kempo syllabus is unarmed utilising the striking techniques to vulnerable parts of the body.

However, if necessary, Kempo experts used simple farm or fishing implements as weapons. Indeed, although trained to defend themselves and their families wherever possible they avoided conflict and fighting. Their ability to diffuse trouble without resorting to violence was regarded as the highest level of skill of all.

During the past century, Ju-Jitsu and Kempo experts have gradually spread their martial arts across the world and whilst elements of the traditional systems have been preserved, much has changed over time. In the UK, the two styles of Kempo and Ju Jitsu have been merged and their combined skills adapted for techniques suited to today’s society and expectations both as a martial art and leisure pursuit. Two of the leading figures in British Kempo Ju Jitsu are David & Chris Hand, co-founders of the Bushi Kempo Ju Jitsu Association and the style of Chi Ryoku ‘Strength Through Knowledge’.