In my earlier articles on Taijutsu we saw that there are three main components:

1) Taihenjutsu
2) Dakentaijutsu
3) Jutaijutsu

This article will discuss Jutaijutsu as I have already discussed the other two.

Jutaijutsu teaches grappling with the opponent, as well as throwing, joint locking, choking, and escaping from these when your opponent applies them to you.

In Jutaijutsu the throws differ from judo and aikido in the fact that the throws are performed in a manner which makes breakfalling awkward or impossible for the adversary. The reason for this is to inflict the most possible damage through the throw, thus preventing the attacker from coming after you. Throws in Jutaijutsu involve attacking balance points and relying on form and momentum as opposed to muscling a person down to the ground.

Joint locks are usually used to immobolize and control an attacker. When practicing joint locks it is important to practice changing from one to another. By this I mean going from one lock to another so that if your initial attempt fails you, you don't stay stuck with what you first tried. When dealing with opponents stronger than you it is crucial to soften the attacker (with a punch, kick etc..) before attempting joint locks or he will resist using his strength. When learning these techniques take the time to find make them work without forcing or muscling the techniques. Doron Navon Shihan once told us that if we do the techniques with force and strength alone we will only be able to fight a person as strong as we are.

In throwing, too, it is important to practice going from one throw to another. Fluidity in technique and letting go of what doesn't work can save your life.

Remember, throws and locks are not separate entities. For example, many a time a lock is used to assist in throwing or a lock can be used to immobilize an attacker after throwing him on the ground. You should also practice going from throws to locks to chokes and vice versa in many different combinations.

Choking is also a part of Jutaijutsu you should also add to your training. Practice the various types of chokes and then practice them together with your throws and locks. There are two main types of chokes:

1) Chokes applied directly on to the windpipe.
2) Chokes applied on the arteries of the neck.

Be careful in your practice of chokes with your partner. Allow them to tap out and release the pressure on their throats. Blood chokes (those applied to the arteries of the neck) aren't very painful but cut off the blood flow to the brain. Your partner may get dizzy or brown-out if you hold on to these chokes for too long.

Do not forget to also practice escaping from throws, locks and chokes. Practice with a partner and let him attack you whether it be a choke, throw, or lock and find various counters to each of his techniques. In order to make the training realistic your partner should not stop his technique if your counter doesn't really work and you must do your counters in a manner which will make your partner feel that they work.

We must practice many forms of throws, locks, and chokes but remember that we are not doing it in order to memorize a certain number of techniques but rather to get a feel of Jutaijutsu and an understanding of the principles that lie behind the techniques.

Now that we have discussed the three main parts of Taijutsu I must state again that the three parts are not separate entities; all three put together make Taijutsu an effective means of self protection. You should not even think of them as separate things there is only the whole. I will try to illustrate this with the following example:

Your adversary attacks you with a punch. You block his punch and he continues with a kick which you dodge by leaping back and you immediately strike your adversary stepping forward. You now grab the stunned attacker and throw him to the ground. Now you attempt to immobilize him but he slips out of your grip and kicks out at you. You quickly roll away from his attack and get up ready to continue.

As we see, all three aspects are a whole used together. You shouldn't think of them as separate and the blending of the components should come naturally. Finally, I'd like to say that we all have to go out and train. For only through training hard will we come to grasp the true feeling of Ninjutsu.

Alon Adika has been practicing ninjutsu since 1987. His instructors are Yossi Sherriff & Doron Shihan. He lives in Jerusalem, Israel and may be contacted at aq4866@yfn.ysu.edu.