History
Japanese grappling and striking arts evolved out of pre-history, initially they were used to aid the weapons used on the battlefield but over time these arts developed into specialised unarmed methods and were eventually known by different names, Ju-jutsu (sometimes spelt Jiu-jitsu or Ju-jitsu) being the most commonly known.
The name Ju-jutsu implies the use of grappling methods which turns the opponents strength against them. Other names for the art which simply refer to "unarmed" combat include Tai Jutsu (literally Body Art), Yawara Jutsu (Compliant Art), Wa Jutsu (Harmony Art) and Aiki Jutsu (Harmony Energy Art) among others, each Samurai clan had it's own favoured methods which were known as a "Ryu" or "School" for example Takenuchi Ryu, Daito Ryu, Kito Ryu, Yoshin Ryu etc.
Chinese Martial Arts have existed for as long as, if not longer than, Japanese Martial Arts. For centuries if not millennia Chinese martial arts have been developed through military and monastic origins. The most famous of which is the Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Martial Arts have evolved into Northern and Southern versions as well as Internal and external energy methods and have spread all over the world due to the migration of the Chinese people. The earliest Shaolin styles like Fist of the Lohan, Grand Ancestor Fist, Heart and Mind Intention Fist, Through the Back Boxing, Fist of the Seven Stars etc etc continued to develop and be mixed with other styles into some of the more famous fighting arts that we see today like Tai Chi Chuan, Wing Chun, Hung Gar, Preying Mantis, White Crane etc. Chinese Martial Arts have influenced Japanese martial arts from as far back as the Tang Dynasty although the biggest influence of Chinese Martial Arts on Japanese Martial arts came in the 16th century when Shaolin Temple Boxing methods were introduced and blended with the native grappling and striking methods, this brought into existence styles such as Kenpo (Fist Methods), Hakuda (Bare Handed), Goho (Hard Method), Koppo (Bone Breaking Method) etc, which tend to be labelled as striking and kicking arts but they contain as much grappling as other Ju-jutsu styles.
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Both Japanese and Chinese martial arts found their way to the island of Okinawa where they were developed into a highly effective unarmed combat method know as Uchinadi Kenpo. These methods were developed into what eventually became known in the 1930's as "Karate" or "Empty Hand". Karate then found it's way to mainland Japan in the early 1900's where it gained popularity among university students. Karate continued to develop in Japan where it became a method of physical and mental conditioning where the main aim was to be able to overcome adversity through extreme physical training. In the 1950's and 60's Karate spread to other parts of the world and eventually became the fighting sport that we see today that bears little resemblance to the Uchinadi Kenpo of old.
At the end of the Shogunate period in the late 1800's and during the Meiji Restoration that followed, the practice of Ju-jutsu began to go into decline and became over shadowed by the new more popular modern style of Judo. Over time Judo became more and more sport based which eventually, through it's contest rules, lost most of the ancient methods that it originally practiced. Ju-jutsu continues to be practiced in Japan where it is collectively known as Ko-Ryu Ju-jutsu or Classical Ju-jutsu. Authentic Ju-jutsu unfortunately does not get the recognition or exposure to the public in the west that it deserves.
In mainland China martial arts practice suffered greatly during the cultural revolution and a "people's martial art" known as Wushu was developed by combining over exaggerated performance based martial arts with gymnastics, so real Chinese martial arts had to go underground once more and be practiced in secret. Only recently have Shaolin martial arts been repopularised in China where martial arts tourism is driving a resurgence in the traditional Chinese martial arts but the authenticity of what is being taught is questionable as can be seen In the west where over commercialisation has resulted in a very poor standard of both practice and instruction to the point where traditional self-protection based martial arts are seen as so poor by those that don't fully understand what they are really about, it has resulted in many people having little faith in their capabilities. When watered down combat sports are seen as being far more effective for self-defence than the life or death arts of old then it is only a matter of time before those old traditions will die out completely.
North Manchester Goshin Kenpo Jutsu teaches a fusion of the old school Japanese, Okinawan and Chinese fighting techniques, most of which are seldom taught these days. Goshin Kenpo Jutsu meaning "Practical Self-Defence Fighting Methods" it is the product of over 35 years worth of training, research and development by Alan Wolfenden. From his extensive training in British Ju-jitsu, Japanese and Okinawan Karate and Chinese Tai Chi Chuan. Goshin Kenpo Jutsu teaches the lost methods of the old arts that tie the striking and grappling methods together into one effective system making traditional based martial arts relevant for modern day self-defence once again.