| HISTORY OF JU-JITSU |
 THE ORIGINS OF JU-JITSU
Ju-Jitsu (or Ju-Jutsu) is the ancient martial art of the Samurai. Traces of its existence appear for the first time more than 2500 years ago in Japan, making it one of the oldest known martial arts. It is mentioned in Japanese mythology: they say that the gods Kajima and Kadori used Ju-Jitsu against the inhabitants of an eastern region as a punishment for their criminal activity. The philosophy of Ju-Jitsu was first influenced by the Asian continent during the eastern Chou era in China (770-256 B.C.), a period during which the techniques of combat were practiced hand-to-hand. When the sportive form of the Chikara Kurabe appeared in Japan in 230 B.C., many of its techniques and combat strategies were included in military training. From 230 B.C. on, many combat schools were formed that trained able warriors. In 525 A.D., Boddhidharma, a Buddhist monk, traveled from India to China, visiting the Shaolin monastery. Soon, he integrated Chinese Kempo with his experience in Yoga, forming the Shaolin Chuan Fa.
 Ju-Jitsu (or Ju-Jutsu) is the ancient martial art of the Samurai. Traces of its existence appear for the first time more than 2500 years ago in Japan, making it one of the oldest known martial arts. It is mentioned in Japanese mythology: they say that the gods Kajima and Kadori used Ju-Jitsu against the inhabitants of an eastern region as a punishment for their criminal activity. The philosophy of Ju-Jitsu was first influenced by the Asian continent during the eastern Chou era in China (770-256 B.C.), a period during which the techniques of combat were practiced hand-to-hand. When the sportive form of the Chikara Kurabe appeared in Japan in 230 B.C., many of its techniques and combat strategies were included in military training. From 230 B.C. on, many combat schools were formed that trained able warriors. In 525 A.D., Boddhidharma, a Buddhist monk, traveled from India to China, visiting the Shaolin monastery. Soon, he integrated Chinese Kempo with his experience in Yoga, forming the Shaolin Chuan Fa.
 During the Heian period (794-1185 A.D.) there is evidence that, together with traditional weapons, hand-to-hand combat techniques were practiced as a part of the training of Samurai warriors. This process of centralization of power proved impossible in this period because of the rise of several powerful military families. In fact, the continuous transfer of land and property rights to the Buddhist monasteries and to the aristocratic families had facilitated the formation of large estates which, in turn, had caused the birth of semi-autonomous armed groups. Some families of distant imperial descent took advantage of the presence of such militias to form true and proper armies. The Fujiwara in decline, it was the Minamoto who took the reins of power beating their Taira rivals after a series of epic battles culminating in the famous naval battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185. This date marked the beginning of the Kamakura era (1185-1333). The victor established a military government and took the title of Shogun.
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