Ju-Jitsu International Federation
| Ju-Jitsu International Federation | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | JJIF |
| Date founded | 1977 (as EJJF) |
| Arts taught | Sport jujitsu |
| Ancestor arts | Jujutsu |
| Official Site | http://www.jjif.info/ |
The Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) is an international sport federation founded in 1998 after the expansion of the European Ju-Jitsu Federation (EJJF) for the propagation of the modern competitive sports version of Jujitsu, also known as Sport Ju-Jitsu.
As a member of the General Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF) and the International World Games Association (IWGA), the JJIF represents Sports Ju-Jitsu worldwide. The JJIF is currently the only Jujutsu/Ju-Jitsu organization recognized by the GAISF and IWGA; Ju-Jitsu under JJIF rules is a part of the World Games.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
The Federation commenced as a coalition of three countries' associations. In 1977, delegates form Germany, Italy and Sweden founded the European Ju-Jitsu Federation (EJJF). As the number of member Nations increased, in and out of Europe, in 1987 the Federation changed its name to International Ju-Jitsu Federation (IJJF) and the original European nucleus of the Federation became the first Continental Union (EJJU) of the IJJF. Following a series of changes of its Statutes and a change to its membership structure, in 1998, the IJJF decided to change its name to the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF).[2]
In the early 90's the IJJF became a provisional member of the General Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF), member of International World Games Association (IWGA – part of the Olympic Movement together with the IOC) and affiliated to the Sport for All Federation (FISpT). During the 1998 GAISF Congress the JJIF obtained full membership status. In October 2001, JJIF President Rinaldo Orlandi was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the IWGA.
Ju-Jitsu under JJIF rules has been an event at the World Games since the 1997 World Games in Lahti, Finland.
[edit] Traditional Jujutsu and Sport Ju-Jitsu
Different schools (ryū) have been teaching traditional Jujutsu in Japan since the 15th century. The JJIF is not a governing body for any of these schools of traditional Japanese jujutsu—the JJIF does not exercise authority over traditional Japanese jujutsu styles, which are often instead headed by leaders who claim leadership from unbroken lineages of transmissions from different Japanese ryū, some of them hundreds of years old.
Rather, the JJIF was founded as an international federation solely for governing Sport Ju-Jitsu, a competitive sport derived from traditional jujutsu.
[edit] Gendai Jujutsu and Sport Ju-Jitsu
Sport ju-jitsu can be considered as a form of gendai Jujutsu or modern jujutsu. However, the differences between sport ju-jitsu and other forms of gendai jujutsu can be found on the emphasis. Other forms of gendai jujutsu such as goshinbudo and Ketsugo jujutsu put more emphasis on self-defense, while Sport Ju-Jitsu emphasizes applying jujutsu techniques in a competitive situation, conforming to sporting rules and limitations.
[edit] Rules of Sport Ju-Jitsu
JJIF currently regulates two different types of competitions at the international level: the Duo system' and the Fighting system.[3]
[edit] Duo
The former is a discipline in which a pair of Jutsukas (Ju-Jitsu athlete) from the same team show possible self-defence techniques against a series of 12 attacks, randomly called by the mat referee from the 20 codified attacks to cover the following typologies: grip attack (or strangulation), embrace attack (or necklock), hit attack (punch or kick) and armed attack (stick or knife).
The Duo system has three competition categories: male, female or mixed, and the athletes are judged for their speed, accuracy, control and realism. It is arguably the most spectacular form of Ju-jitsu competition and it requires great technical preparation, synchronicity and elevated athletic qualities.
[edit] Fighting
With a different approach, the Fighting System is articulated in a series of two-round, one-on-one combats between athletes from opposing teams. The system is divided in 10 categories according to weight and sex
(Male categories: -62 kg, -69 kg, -77 kg, -85 kg, -94 kg, +94 kg; Female categories 55 kg, -62 kg, -70 kg, +70 kg).
The actual combat is divided in three phases (Parts): Part I sees the Jutsukas involved in distance combat (controlled attacks with arms and legs and atemis of various nature). Once a grab has been made the Fight enters Part II and hits are no longer allowed.
The jujutsukas try to bring one another down with various throwing techniques (and points are given according to how "clean" and effective the action was).
Once down on the tatamis (mats) the match enters its Part III. Here points are given for immobilisation techniques, controlled strangulations or levers on body joints that bring the opponent to yield.
The winner is the Jutsuka who has accumulated most points during the fight. Automatic victory is assigned to the Jutsuka who gets an "Ippon" (clean action, full points) in all three Parts. This type of competition requires timing, agility, strength and endurance.
[edit] Sport Ju-Jitsu and the Olympic Movement
The JJIF is already a member of GAISF and IWGA, and both organizations are in close cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The organisation is striving to establish Sports Ju-Jitsu as an Olympic event in the future.[4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Korea Jujitsu Belt Wrestling Federation website
- ^ What is Ju-jitsu, JJIF website]
- ^ The official rules can be found at the JJIF website.
- ^ Traditional Ju-Jitsu shines bright as gold at the Sixth World Games, Grappling Magazine, March 2002
