How to Say "Jiu Jitsu" in Japanese

柔術

jūjutsu

The English phrase "jiu jitsu" is translated into Japanese as 柔術 (jūjutsu).

柔術 refers to the martial art known as jiu jitsu. The term ブラジル柔術 is used specifically to refer to Brazilian jiu jitsu.

What does it mean word for word?

The word 柔術 is composed of 柔 (jū), meaning "soft" or "gentle" and 術 (jutsu), meaning "art" or "technique."

jūjutsu

The term 柔術 was historically associated with the samurai class, who used these 'gentle arts' to defeat armored opponents without using weapons.
The word 術 is used today in modern Japanese for 'technology' or 'skill', such as in 技術 ('gijutsu'), meaning 'technique' has evolved into 'technology'.
The character 術 (jutsu) is also found in words like 'ninjutsu' (the art of the ninja), showing that both are categorized as 'arts' of a specific skill.

「坊や、忘れたようだな。わし、銃より強い武器があるって。」　「それ、もしかして…」「そうだ！柔術だ！」
"Son, you seem to forget, don't you, that I've got something stronger than a gun…" "You mean…?" "That's right, Jiu-jitsu!"
This sentence is useful for seeing how 柔術 is used in a conversational context.
Tatoeba #13247410 by 58mph, translation #13247407 by 58mph
彼は柔術の達人です。
Kare wa jiu jitsu no tatsujin desu.
He is a master of jiu jitsu.
昔の武術は柔術が中心でした。
Mukashi no bujutsu wa jiu jitsu ga chuushin deshita.
In ancient martial arts, jiu jitsu was central.

Misaki and Kenta are talking about martial arts at a gym.

美咲 Misaki

健太、柔術を習っているの？
Kenta, jiu jitsu o naratte iru no?
Kenta, are you learning jiu jitsu?
健太 Kenta

うん、最近始めたんだ。
Un, saikin hajimeta nda.
Yeah, I started recently.
美咲 Misaki

かっこいい！私も興味があるわ。
Kakkoii! Watashi mo kyoumi ga aru wa.
That's cool! I'm interested in it too.
健太 Kenta

美咲も一緒にどう？
Misaki mo issho ni dou?
Why don't you join me, Misaki?

Sources

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