jujitsu

American  

[joo-jit-soo] / dʒuˈdʒɪt su /

Also jujutsu, or jiujitsu

noun

1. a method developed in Japan of defending oneself without the use of weapons by using the strength and weight of an adversary to disable him.

2. the use of an opponent's strengths or one's own weaknesses to accomplish one's goals.

   That was a kind of intellectual jujitsu, the way she handily won the debate.

   The town of Vacaville, in a prime example of touristic jujitsu, turned its isolation into an attraction in itself.

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verb (used with object)

1. to turn (a situation) to one's advantage by exploiting one's own weaknesses or another's strengths, as in a social or political relationship.

   He deftly jujitsued the conversation to make my knowledge of the subject seem pretentious.

jujitsu British  

/ dʒuːˈdʒɪtsuː /

noun

1. the traditional Japanese system of unarmed self-defence perfected by the samurai See also judo

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Etymology

Origin of jujitsu

First recorded in 1870–75; from Japanese jūjitsu, earlier jūjutsu, equivalent to jū “soft” ( see judo) + -jut(u) “technique,” from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese shù

Explanation

Jujitsu is a Japanese martial art that involves defending oneself by hand with holds, throws, and blows. The practice of jujitsu dates to the 17th century, when samurai warriors used it to augment their swords. Jujitsu is from the Japanese jujutsu, which comes from ju, "softness," and jutsu, "art." While some forms of jujitsu involve very small weapons, most don't. In this style of close combat, a practitioner tries to redirect an opponent's attack against them, rather than aggressively countering that force. Today, some people learn jujitsu in order to practice a graceful, powerful martial art, and others use it for self defense.

Example Sentences

The World Combat Games – including several Olympic sports alongside others such as aikido and ju-jitsu – was first held in 2010.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 19, 2021

But Mr Sanford pulled off a brilliant bit of political ju-jitsu: despite three terms in Congress and two as governor, he ran as a scrappy, independent underdog.

From Economist • May 9, 2013

It is by this kind of ju-jitsu that referendums can be won and lost.

From BBC • Jul. 16, 2012

Graham Cummings – who gives his location as Stirling – was among those to receive the ju-jitsu methods employed by the team.

From The Guardian • Jul. 12, 2012

He's frightfully strong, and they say he licked the Japanese ju-jitsu man they had at the School of Physical Training.

From A Tall Ship On Other Naval Occasions by Bartimeus

Related Words

• judo
• karate
• wrestling