The Evolution of Judo:

From Jujitsu to a Global Martial Art

Judo, a martial art built on the principles of balance, leverage, and efficiency, traces its origins to Japan’s ancient Jujitsu. Developed in the late 19th century by Jigoro Kano, Judo refined and modernised Jujitsu techniques, transforming them into a structured system of throws, pins, and submissions. While Judo became a global martial art, it also influenced other grappling systems and more famously was adopted by the Gracie family for the creation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Judo’s Foundations in Jujitsu

Jujitsu was practiced by samurai for centuries as a system of unarmed combat, emphasising grappling, joint locks, and throws to neutralize opponents in battle. However, as Japan moved away from feudal warfare, Jujitsu’s role in combat declined, and various schools of the art began to disappear.

In 1882, Jigoro Kano sought to preserve the best aspects of Jujitsu while refining its techniques into a safer, more effective system. He removed dangerous strikes and deadly maneuvers, emphasising skill, control, and maximum efficiency with minimal effort. This new discipline, which he called "Judo" (meaning "gentle way"), maintained the essence of Jujitsu but placed greater importance on throws and positional control rather than brute-force submissions.

Judo’s Spread and Its Lasting Influence on Jujitsu

Kano’s Judo quickly gained recognition in Japan and abroad, with the Kodokan Institute becoming the center of Judo training. As Judo spread worldwide, it not only became an internationally practiced martial art but also influenced other grappling-based disciplines, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Timeline: Judo’s Influence on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

1882 – Jigoro Kano establishes Judo, modernising Jujitsu techniques into a structured system.
1890s-1900s – Judo gains international recognition as Kano’s students travel abroad to teach.
1914 – Mitsuyo Maeda, a Kodokan-trained Judoka, arrives in Brazil and demonstrates Judo’s techniques.
1917 – Maeda teaches Judo-based techniques to Carlos Gracie, incorporating groundwork (ne-waza) that had roots in both Judo and classical Jujitsu.
1925 – The Gracie family adapts these techniques, placing greater emphasis on ground fighting, which leads to the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Kanō Jigorō (R) studied Jujitsu and after formalising his system he became the founder of Kodkan Judo. Pictured with him is Kyuzo Mifune (L) affectionately known as the God of Judo.

Mitsuyo Maeda -

Spread Judo around the world, and established it in Brazil to lay the foundations for BJJ.

Masahiko Kimura -

His defeat of Helio Gracie using gyaku-ude-garami showed the effectiveness of Judo and led to the lock being referred to as the Kimura Lock or simply Kimura in his honour. He was also a prominent Karateka.

Samurai grappling

Judo’s Role in Preserving Tradition While Encouraging Evolution

While Judo became a global sport with Olympic recognition, it never lost its deep ties to Jujitsu. Many Jujitsu styles today still incorporate Judo’s refined throwing techniques, breakfalls, and positional strategies. Likewise, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, while developed as a distinct system, remains deeply connected to Judo’s principles—particularly in the way it approaches balance, efficiency, and adaptability in combat.

Rather than replacing Jujitsu, Judo helped preserve and modernize many of its core elements, allowing them to evolve into different forms while staying true to their origins. Today, Judo and Jujitsu continue to coexist, each carrying forward the spirit of Japan’s rich martial arts tradition.

Judo’s Role in Combat Jujitsu Ryu

We maintain a strong connection to Judo, incorporating a variety of Judo throws, locks, pins, and groundwork while preserving traditional striking and submission techniques for self-defence. The use of rolls, breakfalls, and positional control on the ground reflects Judo’s influence, ensuring both safe practice and effective application.

Following Judo’s core principle of maximum efficiency with minimal effort, Goshin Kempo Jujitsu blends leverage-based throwing techniques with defensive responses to attacks, grabs, and chokes. While the primary focus remains on standing defence and throwing, groundwork is utilised when necessary, adapting seamlessly to different scenarios.

We Judo’s terminology and maintains strong links to its techniques and philosophy while staying true to its Jujitsu roots.

Unlike modern sport Judo, Goshin Kempo Jujitsu retains striking techniques, even during groundwork, allowing for a more self-defence-oriented approach. However, strikes can be omitted during randori and training exercises to focus on Judo-based throwing and grappling methods. This flexibility provides practitioners with a well-rounded skill set, integrating Judo’s dynamic throwing system with the striking and application-based aspects of Jujitsu. Judo also plays an essential role in the grading structure of Goshin Kempo Jujitsu. Students progress from fundamental throws, locks, and groundwork at lower ranks to more advanced techniques, culminating in the Kime-No-Kata at higher levels. This structured integration ensures that the legacy of Judo remains a core component of the art while preserving the broader scope of Jujitsu.

A special thanks goes to our friends over at Riverside Judo Club for their continued work on training with us and helping us further our Judo skills and knowledge. They are a fantastic local club and proponent of martial arts worth visiting.

®

COMBAT JUJITSU RYU