The art of the Samurai

Ju-jitsu is a family of martial arts which has rich origins in ancient Japan. 

According to legend, Shirobei Akiyama noticed how most tree branches broke during a blizzard, but that some also bent and freed themselves from the snow.

This is how the "gentle art", or the "art of suppleness", as ju-jitsu is known in Japan, came into being.

Ju-jitsu does not respond to power with more power. The aim is to absorb attacks and convert an opponent's power into a move of your own benefit.

It encourages flexible actions and responses to violence, just like the elastic tree branches, and allows the soft to beat the hard.

In 1532, the first "Ryu" - or school - for ju-jitsu was founded by Takenouchi Hisamori. This was also the first recorded instance of the name ju-jitsu. 

The martial art later developed alongside the samurai of Japan, and was seen as a way of defeating armed opponents without using a weapon.

Samurai often rode horses and carried weapons, but ju-jitsu allowed for effective combat even if they were on foot and disarmed.

Throws, locks, strangleholds and striking quickly became part of ju-jitsu, in part due to the problems faced when fighting in armour, such as reduced mobility.

For non-Samurai, swords and weapons were banned so unarmed combat techniques such as ju-jitsu grew in popularity.

More than 2,000 schools were up and running in Japan in the 17th century.

Chin Genpin, a monk from China who left for Japan, introduced kung-fu styles to the sport, including kicking and striking, when he was at the Kokushij Temple in Tokyo.

However, it can be hard to trace the history of the sport during this time as teachers often kept everything secret to install a feeling of importance.

A "golden age" of ju-jitsu lasted until 1869, when the Samurai lost their privileged status amid the abolishment of feudalism in Japan.

Many aspects of Samurai culture were banned as emperors returned to Japan, including martial arts.

Some Samurai kept their traditions such as ju-jitsu alive, however, with some moving away and others practicing and teaching in secret.

As ju-jitsu was no longer needed in open warfare, adjustments were made to make it more suitable to practice. 

When the United States occupied Japan at the end of the Second World War, many martial arts were again banned because of a perceived link with the military.

This lasted until 1951, when ju-jitsu was able to emerge again.

The sport began to spread around the world and the original Japanese ju-jitsu has spawned into many other styles, as well as inspiring other sports.

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The birth of judo

Other martial arts have been born after taking inspiration from ju-jitsu.

Jigoro Kano, an accomplished ju-jitsu fighter, created his own ryu in the 1880s.

This would later evolve into judo which has become one of the world's best known martial arts.

Judo incorporated many of the less dangerous ju-jitsu moves, with Kano viewing it as a defensive artform.

Greater emphasis was also placed on the sport side of the discipline.

Akido and sambo can also trace back their inspiration to ju-jitsu.

Morehei Uyeshiba developed akido, which has particular focus on wrist and arm locks.

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The spread to Brazil

Brazilian ju-jitsu, a modification of the martial art, has grown into one of the most popular and recognised styles.

The style places more focus on ground fighting and submissions, and has the belief that a smaller person can successfully defend themselves against a much larger opponent.

Mitsuo Maeda, a student of Kano, brought the sport to Brazil after emigrating to the South American country in 1914.

A local politician, George Gracie, helped him with his move and Maeda agreed to teach ju-jitsu to his son Carlos as a way of saying thanks.

In 1925, Carlos opened the first ju-jitsu academy in Brazil with his brothers.

The Gracie family continued to grow the sport and developed their focus on ground fighting and submissions.

The Brazilian style further developed in the 1970s when Rolls Gracie introduced wrestling techniques, while also devising the first rules for competition specific to ju-jitsu. 

In the early 1990s, Rorion Gracie hoped to introduce Brazilian ju-jitsu to the United States.

He went on to become one of the founders of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), now the world's premier mixed martial arts promotion which allows fighters skilled in different combat disciplines to fight each other.

Royce Gracie was one of the stars in the UFC's early days, as he defeated much heavier opponents using Brazilian ju-jitsu.

He defeated three opponents in a single evening at the UFC's first event in November 1993, to win the opening night's tournament. 

Brazilian ju-jitsu has spread dramatically since then, and is now an important weapon for any MMA fighter to have in their arsenal.