Ju Jitsu is an ancient Japanese Martial art also known as Yawara. It is basically a gentle fighting art or the art of subtleness. It is an extension of the sword fighting art of the Japanese Samurai.

Its origin can be taken way back to the sixteenth century. A young Japanese man named Shirobei Akiyama discovered how during a blizzard, branches of most of the tress broke, while the elastic branches of the Willow tree bent and efficiently freed themselves from the snow. Shirobei Akiyama was studying medicine at that time.

He then thought about how important it is to absorb an attack and convert that energy into the opponent’s own detriment. The branches of the Willow tree gently bent to throw the snow away. Similarly, Ju-Jitsu does not aim to neutralize power with power, but tries to gently or subtly combine one's own physical and mental abilities and mould them into a form to benefit oneself. This basic principle became the core of teaching process of the Yoshin Ryu School, founded by the Akiyama, which was renowned as the foremost Ju-jitsu dojo.

The Art developed throughout the Sengoki Era and continued through the Kanei, the Munnji and the Kanbun (1624-1673) periods. The actual ancient art is called Aiki Jujitsu, which involves joint locks, throws, strikes, blocks, and chokes. The first time Ju-Jitsu developed as an open form of martial art was during the years of the civil disorder when the samurai class came to dominate. During this period, Ju-Jitsu modified not into not just a study about moving throws or joints to fight, but it became a study of mental and physical body.

The year 1869, was however called the golden age of Ju-Jitsu, as the emperor returned to Japan and abolished feudalism. The Samurai lost their status, but kept the Ju-Jitsu art alive. Travelers from all over learnt and spread this art in all four corners of the world.

The other forms of Martial arts such as Judo and Aikido have all developed from Ju-jitsu. Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) was established in 1977. JJIF organizes World Championships every two years and Continental Championships every other year. International Camps, Seminars, Congress and General Assembly are called every year. Italy, Germany and Sweden played an important role to develop this art as international sport. These three countries worked as a team and formed European Ju jitsu federation (E.J.J.F). Ten years later, the member nations increased and this name was further modified to International Ju Jitsu Federation (I.J.J.F).

Thus Ju-Jitsu today is taken to a national level, where all the world's best athletes are allowed to participate in the championship trophies.