Taijutsu Unarmed Combat

Categorized in Ninjutsu Martial Arts, Country of Origin Tags: Japan

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Taijutsu (体術, Taijutsu), literally meaning “body skill” or “body art”, is a term for Japanese Ninja martial arts techniques that rely on a science of body movements. Historically, the word taijutsu was often used interchangeably with jujutsu (as well as many other terms) to refer to a range of grappling skills.

Taijutsu techniques are the body and hand to hand skills of the ninja. Taijutsu techniques do not require hand seals. Instead the ninja will train their body in different forms of fighting. A ninja can also use their inherent Bloodline abilities when doing Taijutsu techniques.

Clans such as Hyuuga can utilize their ability to see the inner chakra channels of their opponent and then stop the flow, or utilize the Kaiten technique to form a protective barrier by releasing chakra from their body.

Taijutsu, is a form of traditional Japanese unarmed combat common to a plethora of arts utilized throughout main land Japan’s history. Contemporary belief askews it as singularly applicable to the Takamatsuden arts; this is erroneous. Taijutsu is a generic term meaning ‘body skills’ and thus is not particular to one specific school.

Taijutsu is a method of using the body for self defence. Before there was Aikido, Judo, Karate etc, many believe there was the Japanese art of Taijutsu. Actually, Taijutsu is the collective name for any martial art that relies on body dynamics. In some lines of aikido the word taijutsu denotes all aikido work without weapons.

Taijutsu is a martial art which may include strikes, kicks, joint locks, throws and many of the techniques found in the above mentioned (Aikido, Judo, Karate, etc), it depends on the particular ryuha. While most of its aspects appear external, the dedicated student will find many internal aspects as well.

Taijutsu is commonly associated with the schools that supposedly teach Ninjutsu, although there are many ryuha with no relation to Ninjutsu that have Taijutsu in their curriculum. Asayama Ichiden ryu is just one example, there are far too many to list them all. Taijutsu was used by Bushi/Samurai, some Ninja also used their own version of Taijutsu.

A synthesis of taijutsu applications could be as follows;

• Taihenjutsu- Evasion, postures, ukemi (rolls/falling), etc.
• Dakentaijutsu- Striking patterns, fist formations, conditioning, etc.
• Jutaijutsu- Throws, joint locks, pins, etc.

Related Information

1. The Ninjutsu
2. Bujinkan Ninjutsu
3. Ninja’s Mikkyo Mind
4. Jujutsu and Taijutsu
5. Boryaku Military Strategy
6. Ninjutsu Rules of the Bujinkan
7. Seishin Teki Kyoyo Spiritual Refinement
8. Intonjutsu Art of Escape
9. Hensojutsu Disguise and Impersonation
10. Traditional Ninjutsu
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12. Choho Intelligence
13. Kayakujutsu
14. Chi Mon Geography
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