World Ju-Jitsu Federation

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World JuJitsu Federation


Also known as	WJJF, World JuJitsu Kobudo Organisation (WJJKO)
Date founded	1976
Country of origin	United Kingdom based with International affiliates
Founder	James Blundell (martial artist)
Current head	Robert Clark
Arts taught	Jujutsu, Kobudo
Ancestor schools	Tenshin Shinyo Ryu and Kito Ryu jujutsu, western wrestling
Official Site	http://members.aol.com/wjjf523/

The World Ju Jitsu Federation (WJJF) is a martial arts organisation based in Liverpool, England. It was established in 1976 with the aim of promoting the study of Jujutsu and to help organise, control and develop the art in Britain and throughout the world. The WJJF is currently headed by Robert Clark, a 9th dan in the style.^[1]

For the history and background of jujitsu see "jujitsu"

1 Organisation
- 1.1 Origins and leadership
2 Style
- 2.1 Grading and belts
3 References
- 3.1 Sources
4 External links

[edit] Organisation

The WJJF holds national and international courses in jujutsu techniques and has also produced several books and videos on Jujutsu and Kobudo; it also promotes coaching of this art, requiring all 1st dan blackbelts to pass an 'assistant coaches' course and offers an NVQ in coaching jujutsu, it has also introduced a correspondence course. Membership is open to any club or groups of clubs practising jujutsu to a standard approved by the WJJF and has affiliates in both traditional and modern schools.

The promotion of jujitsu throughout Great Britain and Europe has been done through the work of two groups or federations, The British Ju-Jitsu Association and the World Ju-Jitsu Federation, the latter probably the more widespread having affiliated clubs throughout the world.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Origins and leadership

Robert Clark is the 'Chief International Technical Director' of the World Ju-Jitsu Federation, he developed the Jujutsu style that is now taught in the WJJF clubs.^{[citation needed]} This style was created by adapting the traditional Jujutsu he had learned from Jack Briton aiming to make it more suited to modern life. Clark is the International Technical director and is assisted by the National coach Alan Campbell and the International president Giacomo 'Spartaco' Bertoletti from Italy.

[edit] Style

The WJJF teaches a syllabus designed by Clark, aiming to be short and decisive, to reach a quick submission or escape. Techniques form various positions including types of punches kicks strangling, and grabs, and countering with throws, joint locks, strikes, choke holds. There is also teaching of the traditional perspective of Jujutsu including using Katas, and weapons training at higher levels and in the kobudo syllabus.

[edit] Grading and belts

Belt system used in the WJJF

The syllabus is divided in to junior and senior sections each with 8-10 kyu grades each assigned a coloured belt progression is by examination on the techniques required for that grade. There are also techniques for 5 Dan ranks listed in the syllabus, however 10 Dan ranks exist, 5 of which are not examined from a syllabus. A student must have studied for a specified length of time before being eligible to be examined for that grade:^[2]

Red - (Beginner)
White - Sixteen sessions
Yellow - Twenty-four sessions
Orange - Sixteen sessions
Green - Sixteen sessions
Blue - Thirty-six sessions (some clubs include a Blue and white belt requiring 18 sessions to that and 18 to full Blue)
Purple - Twenty-four sessions
Brown - Thirty-six sessions (some clubs include a Brown and white belt requiring 18 sessions to that and 18 to full Brown)
Shodan - (1st Dan) - Sixty sessions (Black)
Nidan - (2nd Dan) - Two years
Sandan - (3rd Dan) - Three years (blue & white vertical bands)
Yondan - (4th Dan) - Four years
Godan - (5th Dan) - Five years (red & white vertical bands)