Self-defence Without a Weapon

Judo (japan., ju - "gentle", do - "way") is philosophy, sport and art of war, givings birth in Japan and becomings popular in the whole world. Ju-jitsu served basis of judo, basic rules and principles of trainings and holding events were formulated Kano Jigoro. The date of birth is consider the day of foundation of the first school of judo in 1882 by Kano.

Short History of Ju-Jitsu in Japan

In medieval Japan the art of fight without a weapon attained the highest level of development, in fact the life of professional warrior-Samurai depends from the degree of domain of it. This art passed the long way of development. It changed the name many times. Known a few fully independent systems of hand-to-hand fight, which were the historical predecessors of Ju-jitsu, is sumo, eroi-kumiuti (a fight is in heavy armour of «eroi») and kogusoku (a fight is in facilitated armour of «gusoku»). Indeed, we can't name these systems the varieties of «fight without a weapon», because in actual fact they include in itself quite a bit receptions with the different improvised facilities — knives, missile «asterisks» and blades, sticks, cordages etc. Tukapa-Kurabe and Sumo

Sources of the Japanese art of hand-to-hand fight without a weapon are lost in fog of time. In ancient Japan — as well as everywhere in the world of that time — a fight was very primitive. Such mention about it is contained in «Nikhongi» («Annals of Japan») in the text related to 230 B.C.: «Courts reported a sovereign, that in the country Taim there is a valorous man on the name Taima-no Kekhaya. He possesses enormous corporal force, can break horns and straighten (ferrous) hooks. He always tells people: «You can search all four sides, but where is that man, who will be compared to me by force? Oh, I want so much to meet with a mighty man, that measure with him by force (in a fight) not on life, but on death».

An emperor, hearing it, appealed to the ministers with words: «We knew that Taima-no Kekhaya is the strongest (fighter) in an empire. Is there anybody, who would be compared to him?» One of ministers went out forward and said: «Your submissive servant heard that in the country Idzumo there is a valorous man on the name Nomi-no Sukune. It's desirable, that you sent for him for a test and (commanded) to battle with Kekhaya». In that day an emperor sent Nagaoti... that to call Nomi-no Sukune. So Nomi-but Sukune arrived from Idzumo, and he and Taima-no Kekhaya immediately were commanded to fight. These men got up opposite each other. Both heaved up feet and kicked each other. And Nomi-no Sukune broke Kekhaya's ribs, and struck once again and broke him small of back, and put to death him».

Similar contests were named «tikara-kurabe» is «measuring of forces». This name reflects their essence fully adequately. Exactly the force, but not a technique and adroitness determined a winner in a fight. In V—VI centuries A.D. the fight of giants - «sumo» - was formsed here on the basis of tikara-kurabe, which is popular until now. Soon it got wide distribution. The first reliable information about holding events on sumo (sumai) is dated 642 year. Then at emperor's court during a holiday in honour arrival of the Korean ambassador a contest between warriors from a palace guard and guards of embassy took place. Since this time similar competitions began to conduct annually.