Jujutsu

One name given to the art of Wado Ryu is Wado Ryu Jujutsu Kempo. The jujutsu element should also permeate throughout our training, but in reality it is hard for most of us to do. The softness, pliability and swiftness of jujutsu is general swamped out by the 'karate' element and our human desire to exert and apply our strength as that is our primary feedback system that we work to.

For wado practitioners grasping the movements of jujutsu is difficult as we get caught up in the karate aspects initially. The wearing of headbands and hakama trousers during practice in the photograph above shows the koryu (old schools of Japanese martial arts) heritage of Wado Ryu. We are not saying Wado Ryu is koryu for those out there who know these definitions, we just appreciate connection and view into the past.

The picture above shows Ohtsuka Sensei executing a throw by employing control of the opponent and by moving in and around the opponent's space in order to perform an efficient technique based on elegant mechanics and not brute strength. The throw is initially set up by taking the opponent's upper bodyweight slightly forward and over, next Ohtsuka Sensei will move his own body centre past and below the opponent's. The right hand will then cause the opponent to loop over his raised centre and down in co-ordination with the downward movement of Ohtsuka Sensei.

In karate we execute a throwing technique as a safe way out for the opponent, as we would like to be able to train with them again. The real purpose of the throwing action is to drive their head straight into the ground in many instances. We could control their arms further to remove their ability to protect themselves as they head downwards.

And now for something completely different...

The photograph is quite interesting as when I was on holiday in France I was in Bergerac browsing around the shops and was taking a look into the window of a bookshop. Most were pretty ordinary but what did catch my eye was a newspaper cutting of French exponents of jiujutsu and a Professeur Re-Nie. I could tell that the images related to the first half of last century. It looked special so I went into the shop to enquire. With my lack of French and her similar level of English I didn't find much else apart from the fact it was probably old. I asked the owner how much it was and she said it was only put there as a display item. I pressed her for a price and she said 2 euros. I then had to double check that it was 2 and not 20.

I asked how old it was and she began to say 20 or 30... but I got her to clarify and she said she cut it out from a newspaper around the 1920s or 1930s. This made the 2 euro price tag even more of a bargain!

The article is titled Le Jiu-Jitsu and there is no name of a publication or a date on the page so I am not sure whether her details would be correct. It certainly looks old.