Mountain Tae Kwon Do School

The first true Japanese combative art developed around 23 BC and was a form of "combat wrestling" which involved joint-lock techniques and strikes. In AD 607, the earliest recorded cultural exchange took place between Japan and China. Shortly after, there was a great Chinese influx into Japan and undoubtedly, they brought kung fu with them. Apparently the introduction of Chinese methods was assimilated into this fighting art since there are many similarities between the two styles.

In the 13th century this style became known as ju jitsu, "art of gentleness." The techniques include methods of striking, kicking, throwing, choking, and in particular joint-locking. Weaponry and the tying of an adversary are also part of this popular Japanese system.

Although widely regarded as a specialty within the martial arts, in the 19th century, jujitsu is a generic term referring to many systems with considerable differences among them. Some jujitsus favor hitting and kicking to such a degree that they cannot be distinguished from karate. Other styles of jujitsu bear a striking resemblance to judo. Jujitsu systems range from those using only one category of techniques, such as throws, to those using techniques from all the weaponless categories as well as stick and cutting weapons and thrown objects.