What is Nihon Taijutsu Self Defense?

1. Introduction

Taijutsu or Nihon Taijutsu - 日本体術 (1), referring to its Japanese origin, is an ancient martial art with roots tracing back to the 12th century and the development of the first schools of armed and unarmed combat, known as koryu. Over the centuries, this art evolved through various classical Japanese schools, resulting in a rich diversity of styles. Emerging as a response to the needs of warriors on the battlefield, Taijutsu focuses on functional adaptation in combat, primarily unarmed, utilizing the strength of an attack in different situations with precision and efficiency.

Despite the diversity of styles, Taijutsu shares a wide range of techniques, including projections, joint locks, chokes, strikes, and the use of traditional Japanese weapons such as the sword (kenjutsu), the staff (jojutsu), and small improvised weapons like the suntetsu, tessen, and hishigi, among others. These techniques were designed to enable an unarmed practitioner, even of smaller size and strength, to effectively defend against larger, stronger, or armed opponents.

Although it has evolved over time, resulting in various schools, styles, and names to define a method of defense and attack using body techniques, the essence of Taijutsu remains its pragmatic effectiveness and adaptability in unarmed combat.

Today, Taijutsu is practiced worldwide, serving as a vehicle to preserve the rich heritage of Japanese martial arts and as a means for the physical, mental, and spiritual development of its practitioners. This centuries-old martial art remains relevant, transmitting a valuable tradition that transcends cultures and borders.

Header from the Statutes of the French Federation of Aikido, Taijutsu, and Kendo - Yoseikan - in 1970

2. Historical Overview

We teach the Yoseikan style of Jujutsu - Taijutsu and Aikido, which was introduced in France during the 1950s. This style finds its roots in the teachings of Japanese master Minoru Mochizuki (1907-2003), a student of Judo-Jujutsu masters Jigoro Kano, Kyuzo Mifune, and Toku Sampo, as well as Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido, through Daito Ryu Jujutsu - Aikibujutsu.

The successful dissemination of this style in Europe owes much to the efforts of Minoru Mochizuki’s son, Hiroo Mochizuki (1936), who became its heir and contributed his own modern qualities to this rich tradition by creating Yoseikan Budo. Also crucial was the contribution of French-Tunisian Jim Alcheick (1931-1962), whose fundamental role in the expansion of the style was evident when he founded the French Federation of Aikido, Taijutsu, and Kendo (Yoseikan) in 1958, serving as its technical director and treasurer. A student of these three masters, Frenchman Roland Hernaez (1934-2024), introduced the Yoseikan style of Jujutsu - Taijutsu to Spain in 1977 and Aikido in 1993. Thus, the rich history and influence of these masters have left a lasting legacy in martial arts practice across Europe, particularly in Spain.

Alcheick, J. (1957). Defense pour tous (FFAKT); Judo avec enchainements au sol par l’image; Nihon Taijitsu. Black Belt Magazine.

"(...) While deeply studying Yoseikan Aikido, I often stayed several hours longer at the Dojo on Avenue Parmentier to begin practicing this completely unknown discipline with a barbaric name: 'taijutsu,' or body techniques."

— Hernaez, R. (1982). Le Taijitsu Jujitsu dynamique.

"Roland Hernaez adopted a form of Jujutsu from Jim Alcheick, using the elevated name 'Taijutsu.' (...) Under the name Taijutsu, Roland Hernaez’s teaching is directly linked to the Yoseikan Aikido of my father, better known in Europe as Aikido Jujutsu. This was encouraged by Jim Alcheick, who likely found this name more favorable. (...) Roland Hernaez, with great talent, established a Cartesian classification of these techniques and developed this method logically, adapting it for Western practitioners."

— Mochizuki, H. (2020). El Budoka 2.0, No. 46

 Ricardo Sanz Orús, certified at the Butokuden in Kyoto by Yashuo Kawano, president of the Seibukan Academy.

In 1993, Spanish professor Ricardo Sanz Orús tested in Barcelona for his 1st dan in Taijutsu and 1st dan in Nihon Jujutsu, recognized by the International Federation of Taijutsu Self-Defense and Associated Disciplines (2) based in France and the All Japan Budo Federation - Seibukan Academy (3) based in Japan. Later, in 1995, he tested in France for his 1st dan in Aikijutsu, recognized by the French Federation of Martial Arts Schools and the All Japan Budo Federation - Seibukan Academy.

In 2007, certified by the French Federation of Martial Arts Schools, the International Federation of Nihon Taijutsu / Jujutsu and Associated Disciplines (France), the World Federation of Yoseikan (Switzerland), the All Japan Budo Federation - Seibukan Academy (Japan), and masters Roland Hernaez, Minoru Mochizuki, and Hiroo Mochizuki, he founded the Spanish Association of Yoseikan Aikido and the Spanish Association of Nihon Taijutsu.

Since 2023, he has been the President of the International Seibukan Budo Federation (SBIF) and Technical Director of Nihon Taijutsu / Nihon Jujutsu of said federation, headquartered in Switzerland.

3. What is Nihon Taijutsu - Self-Defense?

"The Taijutsu I teach is a martial art with an individual name and techniques of Japanese origin, a Western-style technical method, and a teaching approach that, in my case, focuses on self-defense as a non-competitive physical-sports activity."

— Sanz, R. (1998). Manual de enseñanza de Nihon Taijutsu y Nihon Jujutsu.

· Nihon Taijutsu is a martial art with techniques of Japanese origin that, according to oral tradition, trace back 900 years to the Japanese school Daito Ryu. With different techniques, schools, styles, and denominations, it refers to a generic term for a method of training the Japanese warrior (bushi), employing "body techniques" or "barehanded" methods for self-defense when unarmed.

· It is a modern self-defense system combining the Yoseikan style of Jujutsu and Aikido, introduced in France in the 1950s, with Shorinji Kempo, which was popularized in the 1970s. This system uses all natural weapons of the body to apply strikes, joint locks, throws, chokes, and immobilizations as responses to various forms of aggression, both armed and unarmed, against single or multiple attackers.

· It is a physical-sporting activity that involves opposition—a planned, repetitive physical exercise aimed at improving the practitioner’s physical condition. Its systematic and regular practice benefits the individual both physically and mentally.

· Nihon Taijutsu is a western-conceived technical method created by French master Roland Hernaez (1934-2024) and taught to members affiliated with the Seibukan Budo school - International Seibukan Budo Federation (SBIF).

· It is a high-performance teaching and training methodology created by Ricardo Sanz Orús, who began practicing Taijutsu in 1986, became a teacher in 1993, and currently holds master titles including 8th dan in Nihon Jujutsu - Taijutsu, 7th dan in Yoseikan Aiki (Yoseikan Aikido), and 7th dan in Nihon Kobudo. These titles were awarded by the Spanish and Madrid Federations of Wrestling. This methodology is designed based on the epistemology of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences for the instruction of a martial art of Japanese origin and a non-competitive physical-sporting activity, focusing on functional self-defense.

· Nihon Taijutsu - Self-Defense® is a trademark officially registered in Spain. Its protected services include education, training, entertainment, and sports and cultural activities. Its use is legally protected, and any unauthorized use is expressly prohibited. Prior authorization from the trademark owner is required for its use, and such authorization is time-limited.

 

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Notes

(1) Also Known As: Taijutsu is also referred to as Yawara, Jujutsu, Kempo, Koshinomawari, etc., depending on various spatial, temporal, and methodological factors. The terms Taijutsu and Nihon Taijutsu are used interchangeably on this platform, maintaining the same meaning in both contexts. The term "Nihon" (Japanese or of Japan) was added in 1985 at the request of Japanese master Minoru Mochizuki to French master Roland Hernaez.

(2) International Federation of Taijutsu: The International Federation of Taijutsu Self-Defense and Associated Disciplines (FITJ) was founded in 1983. In 1992, it was renamed the International Federation of Nihon Taijutsu / Jujutsu - Taijutsu and Associated Disciplines (FINTJ). In 2008, it became the World Federation of Nihon Taijutsu, Nihon Jujutsu, Taijutsu, and Associated Disciplines (FMNITJ).

(3) All Japan Budo Federation - Seibukan Academy: Founded in 1968 by Suzuki Masafumi. In 2024, this organization separated into two independent entities.

(4) Certifications:

• Certified by the French Federation of Martial Arts Schools (FFEAM): 1st dan in Aikijutsu.
• Certified by the International Federation of Nihon Taijutsu / Jujutsu - Taijutsu and Associated Disciplines (FINTJ), the Spanish Association of Nihon Taijutsu (AENTJ), and master Roland Hernaez: 5th dan in Nihon Taijutsu, 5th dan in Nihon Jujutsu, 5th dan in Aiki Jujutsu, 5th dan in Nihon Kobudo, and 5th dan in Tanbojutsu.
• Certified by the World Federation of Yoseikan (YWF), the Spanish Association of Yoseikan Budo (AEYB), the Spanish Association of Yoseikan Aikido (AEAY), and masters Minoru Mochizuki and Hiroo Mochizuki: 5th dan in Yoseikan Aiki, 5th dan in Yoseikan Goshinjutsu, 5th dan in Yoseikan Kempo, 5th dan in Yoseikan Iai. Official representative of Yoseikan.