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” ( judo ) + -jut(u) “technique,” from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese shù

Example Sentences

Ver is clean-cut and fit — he has a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

He’s a charming Aussie surfer who plays videogames and has a black belt in jujitsu.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 5, 2025

Over the weekend, he posted a long message complaining that the New York Times was planning to report that he’d gotten roughed up, injuring his shoulder, in a sparring match with an agency jujitsu instructor.

From Slate • Apr. 26, 2025

Chien brought his background in martial arts — he practices Muay Thai and jujitsu — to Charles but adds that while he spoke some Mandarin, he strived to elevate his language skills for the show.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2024

“What do you need those for, Taylor?” she’d asked, and Taylor had done a little circle-turn and half a jig punctuated with jujitsu moves.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

Related Words

• judo
• karate
• wrestling