Jujutsu Prime Minister

Swedish Prime Minister candidate showing jujutsu skills

The most likely candidate to become the next Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven from the Swedish Labor Party, has apparently a few martial arts tricks up his sleeve. Could definitely be nice to have if you need to grapple your opponents :-)

Mr Löfven trained jujutsu (ju-jitsu) many years ago but was sporty enough to show a few moves when he was asked about it on Swedish television recently.

The video clip below (as well as the news article linked to above) is in Swedish obviously...

Best Martial Art for Children

What's the best martial art for kids?

It's a constant debate both within as well as out side of the martial arts community which art is best suitable for teaching kids martial arts.

Most of the times you will be recommended arts like karate, taekwondo, judo, aikido and ju jitsu (or jiu-jitsu). One example is this latest post from scifighting.com. And to be frank, there is absolutely nothing wrong with listing or recommending certain arts like this - we can certainly all agree that these 5 chosen arts (or 6 arts, depending on your point of view) can be absolutely great for children of all ages.

Are you picking an art or a school?

The way I see it, there is something vital missing in the approach of picking an art (or several arts) and stating that "these are the best martial arts for kids!". It is a general statement that may, or may not be true.

The point is that you may have a perfectly suitable art being taught in a way that is not at all beneficial to your child or even children in general. To me, the teacher and the whole environment at the martial arts academy/school/club is absolutely pivotal.

I will argue until my last breath that almost ANY serious martial art can be perfect for a child as long as it is taught the right way - adopted to children in a safe and caring environment.

Agree or disagree? Feel free to comment!

Best Martial Arts for Kids?

Not Ju-Jitsu But Very Impressive!

Looks far more like kung fu than ju-jitsu

This 84-year-old Chinese man, named Zeng Guorong, recently performed some calisthenics that could leave anyone, even most folks in their teens or younger, green with envy. Simply fantastic. Not sure how he got the term "jujitsu master" attached to him though.

The pictures, each and everyone extremely impressive leaves no traces of the art of ju-jitsu as I know it after nearly 40 years of training it. They do however leave me thinking of kung fu or tai chi poses.

I'm pretty sure it all stems from the fact that the term ju jitsu, written with Japanese/Chinese characters basically means something along the line of soft, pliable, gentle, flexible ('ju') and art ('jitsu/jutsu'). It would indicate then that this esteemed gentleman is a master in his fitness art of being flexible - which he obviously is :-)

One extremely fit 84-year-old! - Image from peopledaily.com.cn

Perfect Police Take-Down

As a martial arts practitioner and instructor, in particular one that teach and train this type of technique on a regular basis, it is really great to see a police officer execute a perfectly timed double-leg take-down. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

In case you wonder, we call this morote gari in ju-jitsu, but there are of course other names for it as well. Often used in MMA (mixed martial arts).

Ancient Martial Arts Techniques, Modern Applications

It is nothing new that Ancient Martial Arts Techniques can find very useful and beneficial modern day applications apart from the fighting side of things.

In my own business, I frequently use the methods and principles of ju jitsu, not only to diffuse, control and restraint aggressive behavior in psychiatric wards, jails, nightclubs and other places, but also as methods to gently lift, transport and support patients and other groups in situations of care.

Here's a new take on it: How to apply the ancient methods of kobujutsu to relieve new mothers of potential wear and tear from holding and carrying their babies. Very interesting indeed! :-)

Image from japantimes.co.jp

The Suck-Factor in Traditional Martial Arts

Traditional martial arts sucks? From Flickr.

I'm sure you have heard a number of times how the suck-factor in traditional martial arts (TMA) can be very high?

It goes without saying that such statements in general comes from the people who don't do TMA, or who have done some bullshido/McDojo variety of it before - typically when they were children.

Those of us who find it very meaningful to do the more traditional arts like karate, taekwondo, judo and ju-jitsu, knows that there are lots of benefits associated with this type of training. Also, it should be quite self-explanatory that not everyone aim at being MMA fighters, or train the latest and greatest "street-approved combat style of self-defense.

That's all well and fine, but there still may be some elements of truth about the suck-factor in traditional martial arts. It appears that this is more than anything a problem in the USA, and you can read more about it here.

Former Ju Jitsu Coach Indicted

Jujutsu - From commons.wikimedia.org

A 20-year-old Woburn, Massachusetts man was arrested in February 2012 and presented with child pornography charges.

The suspect - a ju jitsu instructor, Little League coach and a part-time employee at a church in Winchester - was indicted on the child pornography charges by a Middlesex County grand jury in april 2012.

It was later said he was a jiu-jitsu instructor, but that is apparently not correct. You probably shouldn't blame reporters for not knowing the difference between Small Circle ju jitsu and jiu-jitsu?

Below is an excerpt from the article posted in woburn.patch.com - you can read the full article here.

A Woburn man was indicted on child pornography charges by a Middlesex County grand jury today, reported Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone Thursday afternoon.
Raymond McAllister, 20, of Woburn, was indicted on charges of child enticement, dissemination of matter harmful to a minor, possession of child pornography, and posing a child in a state of sexual conduct.
A former Woburn Little League coach, jiu jitsu instructor and volunteer at St. Mary's Bible Camp in Winchester, McAllister was in Woburn District Court on these charges in February. But, due to the "serious" nature of the charges, the district attorney's office chose to move the case to Superior Court.

Feel free to comment below. Also remember to tweet and share the content. Finally, please check out our other news related site, Best Martial Arts News here.

Confuse-Us Speaks #25

Canada -- There are a couple of good points to this 'Buyer Beware' post; like doing your homework and conducting at least some basic background information check-ups before signing up for martial arts training.

But the rest... my, oh my what a dribble! Where do people find all this nonsense which they then present as "the truth" about the various arts. OK, I'll admit it, I'm at least partially inclined to agree about the ninjitsu claims here.

Still, I'm not sure if I want to laugh or cry regarding the so called explanations about ju jitsu, judo and ninjitsu. Dear, of dear what a mess...

"Translated from Japanese ju jitsu is called 'the gentler way' while judo is called 'the gentle way.'" Master Confuse-Us is clapping his hands in amazement and approval! Just brilliant :-)

Jujitsu Master Murdered

Malaysia -- Police speculates whether or not a family feud can be the motive behind the murder of a ju-jitsu master in Seri Kembangan, Selangor. Police have ruled out robbery as a motive, according to mmail.com.my.

The 42-year-old man was found dead by his wife in a room at his second floor martial arts center Thursday night.

The man's was gagged and his hands and legs were bound together. It is believed the victim was attacked and suffocated by at least three men.

Jujitsu Jim

Here's a great, inspirational article about 83-year old Australian gentleman and 9. dan ju-jitsu master Jim Oliver.

The elderly gentleman has been doing the art since 1961. Mr Oliver, who also dabbles in tai chi, said he began studying the Japanese art as a way to keep fit.

"I'm very healthy for my age with lots of movement in my limbs and I think that's because of ju-jitsu," Mr Oliver said.

Criminal Harassment

Update: The man has been given a conditional discharge by a judge and ordered to stay away from his former lover. He will be on probation for two years and is not allowed to contact the woman or the woman's current boyfriend.

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Canada -- In mid August, a Grimsby martial arts teacher pleaded guilty to criminal harassment, according to stcatharinesstandard.ca. The case reportedly  involved a former partner, a young woman the 36-year-old man met through his martial arts school.

After admitting to having threatened  the woman causing her to fear for her safety, the 5th dan black sport ju-jitsu instructor was told he would be sentenced on September 20.

Confuse-Us Speaks #20

A martial arts master in Gambia tried to explain to today.gm the various activities at his academy.

The master said there were presently two active martial arts disciplines in the academy, Taekwondo and Viet Vo Dao. He said that they wanted to introduce ‘Hapkido’ which is a Korean martial arts and ‘Jeudo’ which is a Japanese martial arts. "Karate is yet to start, but our plan is to expand, we want to introduce Hakido, which is a Korean martial arts similar to Taekwondo and we want to as well add up ‘Zeudo’ a Japanese martial arts," the master said.

Jeudo and zeudo...? Are they perhaps referring to judo. And this one is brilliant: "hakido, which is a Korean martial arts similar to taekwondo." Even if they were talking about hapkido, I would say that it is not even close to taekwondo. That would be the same as stating "ju-jitsu, a Japanese martial art similar to karate." Dang :-)

MA Expert Abused Children

UK -- More than twenty years after he was convicted of another sexual crime, a martial arts expert has been told he's facing jail for a series of sex abuse towards children, according to lep.co.uk.

The 43-year-old man -- who taught jitsu (sic.) and iaido in Preston -- was allegedly allowed to work with children, despite his conviction for indecency in 1989.

In court, he admitted to 13 serious sexual offences against three boys aged between 10 and 15. The offences reportedly happened between 1996 and 2007.

Working on Her Green Belt

UK -- A 10-year-old, blind martial arts enthusiast is hoping to be awarded her green belt next week.

Young Jessica Marshall from Bushey has been climbing the ranks of Ju-Jitsu since she was six, despite being completely blind, according to watfordobserver.co.uk.

Martial Arts in School

UK -- At a Derby primary school, young students are set to become some of the first in Britain to take martial arts classes -- such as karate, ju-jitsu and kick-boxing -- as part of their regular lessons, rather than as an out-of-school or after school activity.

"The classes are not just about physical activity but also about self-discipline and respect, which are at the heart of martial arts. In many ways, it will mean PE is an extension of the work we do on anti-bullying and stranger danger in personal, social and health education classes," the school head teacher said according to thisisderbyshire.co.uk.

Martial Arts Threats

UK -- A 34-year-old Airdrie man has pleaded guilty to displaying aggression towards paramedics who were called to treat him after a fall. The drunk man reportedly threatened them with his martial arts skills, claiming to be a black belt in jujitsu.

The medics were called to attend the man's home on Friday, March 13. At one point, the accused became aggressive towards the helpers, a prosecutor said according to acadvertiser.co.uk.

Deadly Bar Fight

Florida -- Opening statements began June 30 in the trial of a trained fighter accused of killing a man during an alcohol-fueled skirmish outside a Pensacola Beach bar. He is charged with second-degree murder, according to pnj.com.

The 29-year-old Pensacola man was accused of punching another man, 32, in the face knocking him unconscious in a fight on December 20, 2008. The victim fell to the ground and struck his head on the parking lot pavement. He never recovered from the trauma.

The defendant is a former wrestler who also is trained in the art of jujitsu (jiu-jitsu?), a form of grappling and submission fighting, and took some training in mixed-martial arts fighting at a local gym.

Saves Girl With Jiu-Jitsu

California -- A 9-year-old boy has been hailed as a hero after saving a girl and her dog from an attacking pit bull, according to bakersfieldnow.com.

Drew Heredia from Bakersfield said he and a 12-year-old friend were walking a small dog when the pit bull jumped their dog.

The 12-year-old girl reportedly intervened trying to save her dog. This prompted the pit bull to turn on her. The boy said he jumped on the pit bull and applied a choke hold he had learned at a
BJJ school.

The brave boy said he had to hold the pit bull for 20 minutes until an animal control officer arrived.

Dangerous Ju-Jitsu

Seems like someone is bound to get seriously -- and perhaps even intentionally -- hurt in Australian rugby. Canberratimes.com.au had a piece about this September 25, 2008.

Melbourne Storm captain Cam Smith was suspended for two matches for his grapple tackle on Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday. A Ju Jitsu instructor condemned Smith's manoeuvre as "very dangerous and rehearsed".

"He's initially holding him in a very dangerous headlock (called 'gyaku waki kubi garami' - or 'reverse armpit neck entanglement')," the instructor explained. The instructor explains how he then swaps arms and throws himself intentionally - doing what is called a 'sacrifice throw' - again a very dangerous technique.

"This appears to be both an intentional and rehearsed manoeuvre in collaboration with his teammates," the instructor said. He suggest their origins appear to be from a Japanese (rather than Brazilian) Jiu Jitsu expert.

Sherlock Holmes And Bartitsu

UK -- An article from thesun.co.uk mentioned how Russel Crowe was set to play Dr Watson in the coming Sherlock Holmes movie to be shot by Guy Richie.

Crowe said: "I've got to spend some time with Guy and I love his take on it. We're both martial arts enthusiasts and in the original stories of Sherlock Holmes, he's kind of a bad-ass and a bare-knuckle boxer and studies the rare fictional martial art of baritsu. If you look baritsu up, they can't even really tell you what it is, so it gives us a lot of leeway."

Fictional? If you stay by the term baritsu, that may be correct. Bartitsu on the other hand is well known - and most likely what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author, was referring to.

In "The Adventure of the Empty House", from 1901, Holmes says: "We tottered together upon the brink of the fall. I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me."

Bartitsu of course is an art made by a British engineer named E. W. Barton-Wright. He supposedly learned the art of Tenshin Shinyo ryu ju jitsu by Yukio Tani. Barton-Wright was instrumental in bringing jujutsu to Europe. He invited said Tani, as well as Sada Kazu Uyenishi to Britain.

Bartitsu may very well have been the first hybrid martial art, blending Japanese jujutsu with Western boxing, French savate and stick fighting (la canne).

Interestingly, Sherlock Holmes was also said to be skilled in boxing and cane fighting. So - is baritsu "fictional" then? I think not.