jujitsu Method of unarmed self-defence used in hand-to-hand combat. It involves such techniques as striking, holding, throwing, choking and joint locking. There are c.50 systematized variants (including judo, karate, and aikido) that have been refined over a period of 2000 years in Japan, China, and Tibet. In the early 19th century, when the Samurai were forbidden to carry weapons, jujitsu became a form of self-defence.

ju·jit·su / ˌjoōˈjitsoō/ (also jiu·jit·su or ju·jut·su / ˌjoōˈjət-/ ) • n. a Japanese system of unarmed combat and physical training. Compare with judo.