JUDO

4 points

Judo is a Japanese combative sport that focuses on grap-
ples and throws. It was one of the first martial arts taught
on a large scale in the West. It became popular in Europe in
the 1920s and ’30s, and in America after World War II.
Today, Judo is an Olympic sport that attracts competitors
from around the world.
While Judo evolved from Jujutsu (see below), it’s
definitely a sport. It concentrates on throws, not on locks or
chokes, and has many modifications aimed at reducing the
likelihood and severity of injuries. Judo doesn’t teach coun-
ters to punches and kicks, either, and many moves that work
well against another judoka (Judo player) on a mat would be
dangerous at best in a real fight. Some schools use kata to
walk through various throws and holds, and competitions
often feature artistic displays of kata. Judo training isn’t gen-
tle, though; competitive players use randori – a form of
freestyle sparring – to prepare for matches.
Judo was partly responsible for the Western myth that a
small-but-skilled martial artist could defeat any foe, no mat-
ter how large. In reality, many techniques legal in Judo
matches depend as much on strength as on skill. Judo tour-
naments have weight classes for a reason!
If Judo has a body of larger-than-life lore, it’s the exotic
techniques, strange abilities, and unlikely victories of weak
over strong depicted in Western television and movies –
notably in the 1960s – with no explanation other than “I
know Judo!” Wildly inaccurate depictions sometimes even
included “Judo strikes,” especially chops with the edge of
the hand. The cinematic skills and techniques below assume
that legends about the style’s founder and the movies’
wildest claims are all true. Cinematic judoka should always
buy Judo in addition to Judo Sport.
Early Judo included a full repertoire of punches, kicks,
and throws, and both standing and ground-fighting tech-
niques. For this kind of Judo, use Jujutsu.
Skills: Games (Judo); Judo Sport; Savoir-Faire (Dojo).
Techniques: Arm Lock; Breakfall; Ground Fighting (Judo
Sport).
Cinematic Skills: Blind Fighting; Immovable Stance;
Mental Strength; Power Blow; Pressure Points.
Cinematic Techniques: Roll with Blow.
Perks: Power Grappling; Technique Mastery (Judo
Throw); Technique Mastery (Sacrifice Throw).
Optional Traits
Secondary Characteristics: Improved FP.
Advantages: Fit or Very Fit; Hard to Subdue.
Disadvantages: Delusions.
Skills: Judo; Judo Art.
Techniques: Choke Hold; Feint (Judo Sport).
JUJUTSU
Jujutsu originally referred to the unarmed fighting arts of
Japan – and certain armed ones, too. Today, the term is com-
monly associated with locks, holds, and throws. Like
“karate” and “kung fu,” “jujutsu” is a broad label. It describes
a variety of styles: ground-fighting schools that finish foes
with chokes, stand-up throwing-and-locking styles, and strik-
ing arts indistinguishable from Karate (pp. 169-172).
“Jujutsu” no longer describes strictly Japanese styles,
either. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (pp. 167-168), for instance, origi-
nated in South America after an expatriate Japanese instruc-
tor introduced Judo (see left) and Jujutsu (see below) there.
Several variants have been developed in the U.S., too.
Below are two representative styles. See Aikijutsu (p. 149)
and Aikido (p. 149) for some noteworthy forms of “jujutsu”
that differ enough to merit separate treatment.
The J-Word
Jujutsu is the name of a traditional Japanese mar-
tial art. It has seen several different transliterations
over the centuries, but we favor “jujutsu” in Martial
Arts. Many fighting styles – some only loosely con-
nected Jujutsu (see below) – use variant spellings:
jujitsu, jiu-jutsu, jiu-jitsu, and others. Whichever
spelling one prefers in the Roman alphabet, all of
these terms originate from the same kanji, or Chinese
characters, in Japanese. Some specific usages:
Jiu-jitsu: Used by the Gracie and Machado fami-
lies for their Brazilian Jiu-jitsu styles, as well as by
many American schools.
Jiu-jutsu: A transliteration found in older sources
but uncommon today.
Jujutsu: The most common modern translitera-
tion, used for the traditional art.