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Techniques/General Information

Techniques are based upon several premises.

1. USJJA techniques are primarily for response to attack, and are therefore personal defense techniques which are attack responsive.
2. Because the FUNDAMENTALS of USJJA jujitsu are responsive to attack, the following is true of the techniques:

1. Create an opportunity to detach from the threatening situation
2. Always have an initial move that either creates diversion of intent on the part of the attacker, actually deflects or diverts an attack, and all follow-up to these primary objectives has enhancement of personal safety as a foremost objective.
3. Are based upon Reasonable Restraint principles.
4. Are initially simple, easy to master and functional.
5. Have the capability to lead to follow-up techniques which enhance personal safety.
6. Whenever possible adhere to the following premises:
   
   1.    If a person cannot be grabbed or cannot be struck, a major self-defense objective has been met.
      
   2.   Deterrence of potential physical confrontation or engagement is always preferable to actual physical conflict.
      
   3.   The fundamental purposes of striking techniques are to set up a following technique or to finish or put to conclusion a physical threat. They are not the core technique.
7. Utilize the attacker’s force whenever possible to create the jujitsu application.
    i.  Consequently, they automatically adhere to the principle of Reasonable Restraint

There are several basic categories of technique. This list is not comprehensive, although it is generically functional.

1. Striking
2. Counters to Strikes
3. Defense against Grabbing
4. Defense against Holds
5. Pressure Point Applications (both striking and pressure submission)
6. Joint Lock Applications
7. Throwing Techniques
8. Weapons Use
9. Weapons Defense
10. Restraints
11. Come-alongs
12. Use of Ki

Within these categories are hundreds of techniques with as many variations on each. The purpose of learning many techniques and the variations therein is to eventually adopt a few, and thereby adapt them to ones own method of response to attack. For practical purposes, a person needs only to master a response to each threat possible. There are far more techniques than there are threats to which to respond. That said, here is the basic syllabus.