Are Jiu Jitsu Techniques Effective?
Gross
motor movements.
How effective are some of the techniques employed in Jujitsu?
Most instructors of Judo, Sombo and Jujitsu can appreciate that certain techniques are more high percentage than others.
I fully understand the debate regarding training for sport vs. self defence. However I truly believe that for a technique to be effective, one must be able to apply it against a resisting opponent. The popular term for this at the moment is an ‘alive situation’
The nage waza techniques commonly seen in judo and sombo are well known to be effective in an alive situation. One only needs to see judo randori in action for proof. However a strange phenomenon seems to occur in the Jujitsu world.
I recently observed a local Jujitsu class. People paired off to practice certain techniques. Nage waza (throwing techniques) were practiced in an alive manner (ala uchi komi and randori). However standing locking techniques were only practiced in a kata based situation. I ask the question why? Is it that many locking techniques in a standing situation are far too dangerous to practice against resistance? I am sceptical of this explanation.
While training in Japan I was invited to attend a national tomiki aikido shiai. In this event aikido techniques are practiced in a sporting format against a rubber tanto. I was expecting the techniques used by the competitors to resemble Steven Seagal in ‘Under Siege’. By this I mean a lapel grab leading to a kotegashi (standing wrist lock), sending the opponent flying to the mat in agony along with ‘you can send that to the bank……...the blood bank.’ However what I saw was quite different. The competition resembled judo a great deal more the aikido. The successful techniques were very rarely locking based but throwing. However because of the rules using your feet and/or hip to execute throws and sweeps was disallowed.
The following standing locking techniques were regularly successful. Waki-gatame, and hara gatame. I feel that these techniques worked because they require mainly gross motor skills to be successful not small complex movements. I never witnessed others being successful. This led me to question the way I train in Jujitsu. I now place much less emphasis on locking techniques (when standing) and try to use nage waza in most situations. The techniques I practice resemble self-defence judo much more than the locking techniques commonly seen in classical jujutsu. I personally believe that the best Jujitsuka are also competent in Judo/Sombo or wrestling because they know how to make techniques work against resistance.
I think it would be fantastic to have the competition formats commonly seen in tomiki aikido/Tiaho Jutsu but allow all the techniques of judo as well. It could be called a Goshin Jutsu competition. It would be interesting to see competitors avoid the rubber tanto and use judo techniques (e.g. seionage, tai otoshi, uchi Mata) to send the opponent to the floor. Or does this already happen? (I can offer you the venue if you organise the comp. Martin Clarke)
I have a question. Are there any law enforcement officers/bouncers/military personnel here who believe that standing locking techniques can be successfully used in a physical incident? Any recommendations?
I would be interested in anyone's opinion on this matter.
Yours sincerely
Matthew 1st Dan Sai Shu Teki Na Ju Jitsu