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.
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).[3]
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 Koryu styles, which are often instead headed by leaders who claim leadership from unbroken lineages of transmissions from different Japanese ryū, with some of them hundreds of years old.[citation needed]
Rather, the JJIF was founded as an international federation solely for governing Sport Ju-Jitsu, a competitive sport derived from traditional jujutsu.
JJIF currently regulates three different types of competitions at the international level: the Duo system', Fighting system and Ne Waza.[9]
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.
Fighting
With a different approach, the Fighting System is articulated in a one-on-one competition between athletes. The system is divided in several categories according to weight and sex
The actual competition 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 – punches, strikes and kicks). Once a grab has been made the Fight enters Part II and hits are no longer allowed.
The jutsukas try to bring one another down with various throwing techniques (and points are given according to how "clean" and effective the action was). Also – despite being uncommon – submission techniques as controlled strangulations and locks are allowed in part II.
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.
Ne-Waza
Ne-Waza (ground technique) is one of the main Jujitsu (and Judo) bases. The fight of two opponents starts standing. Punches and kicks are not allowed. After starting the fight the referee interrupts only in critical moments, so normally the main part of the fight takes place on the ground. It is the goal to win by submission with a lock on the joints or strangulation. During the time of 6 minutes it is possible to gain points for throws, take-downs, controlling positions and actions to gain an advantage in the fight. The Ne-Waza Ju-Jitsu is extremely tactical and sometimes described as the chess game of martial arts. This ruleset is similar to Brazilian jiu-jitsu rules.
Weight categories in JJIF ne-waza-system
age
sex
weight categories
Cadets (U17)
female
−44 kg
−48 kg
−52 kg
−57 kg
−63 kg
−70 kg
+70 kg
male
−55 kg
−60 kg
−66 kg
−73 kg
−81 kg
−90 kg
+90 kg
Juniors (U20) Seniors
female
−48 kg
−52 kg
−57 kg
−63 kg
−70 kg
−78 kg
+78 kg
male
−60 kg
−66 kg
−73 kg
−81 kg
−90 kg
−100 kg
+100 kg
The contest duration is 4 minutes for cadets, 6 minutes for juniors and seniors (<=35 years) and 5 minutes for competitors from 36 years onwards.
Sport Ju-Jitsu and the Olympic Movement
The JJIF is 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.[10]
