Jiu Jitsu
Welcome to the monastery’s dojo.
Jiu Jitsu is known as a self-defense martial art. It means the ‘gentle’ or ‘supple’ art. It was the hand-to-hand combat art of the Japanese samurai, considered by many military historians to have been the fiercest warrior in history. When combat weapons had failed him, Jiu Jitsu was the warrior’s last line of defense.
"Jujutsu" thus has the meaning of "yielding-art", as its core philosophy is to manipulate the opponent's force against themself rather than confronting it with one's own force. - Wikipedia
ESSAYS
THE THREE MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS
The three major characteristics of Great River Jiu Jitsu are: no challenge, no resistance, no injury.
Little Creek Monastery subscribes to these characteristics.
Monastery Jiu JITsu Resources
Martial arts principles can be cross-related into our everyday lives. For example, we can all use better Balance. Or, as noted in the quote above, we can guide a problem’s force against itself in the sense of leading it in a better direction. Toward a more balanced position.
Many of the monastery’s essays focus on how to more effectively and deliberately apply principles to overcome challenges, but also on how to improve awareness. When extrapolated, improved awareness about myself can lead to improved awareness about life, consciousness and even awareness itself. It all hinges on practice.
“The main idea is to practice in ways that are within reach and do-able, however small and incremental they may appear. Otherwise, it’s not a practical practice. Because, practically speaking, those little increments add up.” - Mark Walter, sensei