Japanese Jujutsu began centuries ago as a battlefield martial art used by samurai to defend themselves when disarmed. Designed to subdue armoured opponents using joint locks, throws and strikes, it was developed and refined over hundreds of years in feudal Japan.
In the late 19th century, Jigoro Kano (a Jujutsu master) adapted Jujutsu into what we now know as Judo. By removing dangerous techniques and focusing on throws and groundwork, Kano created a system that could be practised safely and taught widely.
From there, Judo and Jujutsu made its way to Brazil in the early 20th century via Mitsuyo Maeda. The Gracie family, inspired by Kano’s methods, took the art back to it's practical self-defence aspects, naming their style Gracie Jiu-jitsu (commonly referred to as BJJ), focusing on taking attackers to the ground, ground control, submissions and leverage-based techniques. Over time Gracie schools of Jiu-jitsu became renowned for their heavy focus on sparring and resistance training peaking in the 1990s with the early UFCs. Over the past 30 years BJJ has evolved again into a highly finessed sport art with a heavy focus on pure sport submission grappling.
At Tewkesbury Jujutsu Club (TJK Tewkesbury) we teach Jujutsu, a comprehensive blend of:
- Real world practical self-defence applications
- Jujutsu & Judo throws and takedowns
- Effective and powerful striking
- Applied Jiu-jitsu ground skills
- Modern sport submission grappling
- Traditional Japanese Jujutsu
This integrated approach gives our students a well rounded skillset, effective real-world skills tested and developed via sport training, and an understanding of how Jujutsu has adapted and evolved through time, while staying true to Jujutsu's traditional and practical roots.
At TJK Tewkesbury, we are the newest club in the TJK Jujutsu Association under Sensei Ross Iannoccaro (8th Dan Jujutsu, 2nd Dan Judo, 1st Dan Karate) who has been teaching Jujutsu for over 45 years, and along with his son Sensei Lee Iannoccaro, they have continued to evolve, refine and update the TJK syllabus to be one of the most comprehensive and effective self-defence and jujutsu schools in the UK.
Train in a martial art shaped by history, built for today.
