Bujutsu

Origins and Background

• Minzoku-bujutsu. This type of Bujutsu is thought to be the start of the formation of the art and was first formed before the 14th century. The art at the time was very primitive and techniques were poorly organised, with the main result being the formal art of Sumo. Wars against Ains and battles between bushi, led to a need for an effective grappling art, which is were Bujutsu developed in order to aid hand-to-hand combat between Japanese warriors.
• Ryugi-bujutsu. During the mid-14th century, the first schools teaching martial arts started appearing in Japan. Sociological and economic welfare at the time were the main reasons for these schools forming and at the time, bushi were finally establishing power in Japan. The country broke into many different feudal kingdoms, where owners fought against each other where the different martial arts from each kingdom caused competition, with military superiority being the main factor of surviving. Up until the 18th century, hundreds of different styles of Bujutsu were in existence.
• Shin-bujutsu. During the late 19th century after the bourgeois revolution the period of the samurai's domination ended. As a result of this people practising Bujutsu (Bujutsuka) found themselves in a difficult situation because Bujutsu was effectively made obsolete. In 1882, Jigoro Kano formed a new system of fighting called Judo. Many thought that his school was another form of Jujutsu but his new way of thinking about how one learns the art created a new breed of fighters that were highly practised in the art.