Jiu jitsu means “gentle art.” It comes from two Japanese words: ju, meaning gentle, soft, or yielding, and jitsu, meaning art or technique. The name describes the core principle of the martial art: using leverage, technique, and timing to overcome a stronger opponent rather than relying on brute force.
That’s the short answer, but the only way to understand it is to do it. If you’ve never grappled with a high level jiu jitsu martial artist, you’d be surprised how gently they can control you… But if you want to know more, here’s the full story.
The Japanese Origins
Jiu jitsu (also spelled jujutsu or jiu-jitsu) originated in Japan as a combat system used by samurai. When a samurai was disarmed or fighting in close quarters where weapons were impractical, jujutsu provided the techniques for throwing, joint locking, choking, and pinning an opponent. The emphasis on yielding to an attacker’s force and redirecting it is where the “gentle” in “gentle art” comes from. It’s gentle in strategy, but not in execution.
Japanese jujutsu evolved over centuries into dozens of styles and schools, each with its own emphasis. Some focused on throws (which eventually became judo under Jigoro Kano in the late 1800s). Others focused on ground fighting and submissions. The techniques varied, but the principle stayed the same: leverage and technique over size and strength.
(Side note: That’s still the principle we use, even in modern no gi American jiu jitsu. We just do it with different techniques…)
From Japan to Brazil
In the early 1900s, a Japanese judoka and jujutsu practitioner named Mitsuyo Maeda emigrated to Brazil, where he began teaching his ground-fighting techniques to Carlos Gracie. Carlos and his brothers refined and expanded what they learned, placing heavy emphasis on ground fighting, positional control, and submissions. What emerged became known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), a distinct martial art that took the “gentle art” principle and built an entire system around fighting on the ground.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu proved its effectiveness in the early UFC tournaments in the 1990s, when Royce Gracie, a smaller fighter using jiu jitsu, defeated much larger opponents from other martial arts. Those events changed combat sports permanently and made jiu jitsu one of the most practiced martial arts in the world.
What Does “No-Gi” Mean?
Traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is trained in a gi, a heavy cotton uniform similar to a judo uniform, with a jacket, pants, and belt. The gi provides grip options (collars, sleeves, lapels) that create a specific style of grappling built around fabric control.
No-gi jiu jitsu (sometimes written no gi) removes the uniform entirely. You train in shorts and a rash guard. Every technique is based on body mechanics, overhooks, underhooks, wrist control, and leverage rather than fabric grips. No-gi jiu jitsu tends to be faster-paced, more athletic, and the techniques translate more directly to MMA and real-world situations.
The 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu system, created by Eddie Bravo in 2003, was built specifically for no-gi grappling. 10th Planet gyms like ours in Bastrop train exclusively without the gi, developing techniques like rubber guard, lockdown, and truck that were designed from the ground up for no-gi competition. Over 200 10th Planet affiliated schools operate worldwide, including Airlock in Bastrop.
How Do You Spell It?
You’ll see it written several ways: jiu jitsu, jiu-jitsu, and jujutsu. All refer to the same family of martial arts. “Jujutsu” is the closer transliteration from the original Japanese. “Jiu jitsu” and “jiu-jitsu” are the most common English spellings, particularly when referring to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. BJJ is the standard abbreviation for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
At 10th Planet Airlock, we spell it “jiu jitsu,” just to keep it simple…
What Does Jiu Jitsu Look Like Today?
Modern jiu jitsu is practiced by millions of people worldwide as a martial art, a competitive sport, a fitness practice, and a self-defense system. The competitive landscape includes major organizations like IBJJF, ADCC, WNO, and CJI, with both gi and no-gi divisions. The sport continues to evolve rapidly, especially on the no-gi side, where athletes are developing new techniques and strategies every year.
For most people walking into a jiu jitsu gym for the first time, the experience looks like this: a warm-up, technique instruction with a partner, and live grappling (called “rolling”) where you practice what you’ve learned against a resisting training partner.
At 10th Planet Airlock, the “gentle art” principle holds true from day one. You learn to use your body intelligently rather than muscling through positions. That’s what makes jiu jitsu accessible to people of every size, age, and fitness level.
Where to Train Jiu Jitsu in Bastrop, TX
10th Planet Airlock is a dedicated no-gi jiu jitsu academy in Bastrop, Texas, founded July 4, 2023. We teach the 10th Planet system six days a week, morning and evening, led by Rei Villa, a 10th Planet Black Belt and retired 20-year U.S. Army veteran. We were voted the #1 Best Martial Arts Gym in Bastrop County in 2025.
If you’ve been reading about jiu jitsu and wondering what it would feel like to actually try it, we wrote a complete walkthrough of your first class. Your first class is always free.
Book your free trial class at 10th Planet Airlock →
Or call us: (512) 271-5260
Or email: airlockbjj@gmail.com
Check out the full class schedule here.
10th Planet Airlock | 303 Martin Luther King Dr, Bastrop, TX 78602 | Inside Bastrop Fitness Project | Voted #1 Best Martial Arts Gym in Bastrop County 2025 | We Defy Foundation Partner
