'Bharat Dojo Yatra': What are jiu-jitsu, aikido, practiced by Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra earlier this year, he maintained "a daily routine of practicing jiu-jitsu every evening," which brought together young martial arts students from various towns. "Our goal was to introduce...young minds to the beauty of 'Gentle Art'...to transform violence into gentleness," he shared on X, hinting that a "Bharat Dojo Yatra is coming soon." Notably, the video of Gandhi talking about his 'Bharat Dojo Yatra' has gone viral.
Gandhi's martial arts practice aims to transform violence
"We aimed to instill in them the value of transforming violence into gentleness, giving them the tools to build a more compassionate and safer society," Gandhi added. The term 'dojo' in Japanese refers to a place for learning martial arts, similar to an akhada for kushti (wrestling) in India. Here's a little about the martial art forms mentioned by Gandhi in his video.
Watch: Gandhi's video here
Jujutsu: The 'Gentle art' from Japan
Jujutsu, often romanized as jiu-jitsu, is a family of martial arts that originated in Japan. The term translates to "gentle art," with "ju" meaning "soft/supple/gentle" and "jutsu" signifying "art/technique." Its origins can be traced back to late 16th century Japan during the samurai era. Samurai warriors developed various grappling and self-defense techniques for situations where they lost their weapons during battle.
Jujutsu's influence on various combat sports
Over time, jujutsu's popularity led to the birth of multiple offshoots that influenced various combat sports. These include judo, sambo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and mixed martial arts (MMA). Interest in jujutsu, especially the modern Brazilian form, surged after Royce Gracie's legendary performance in the first United Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993. Gracie defeated larger and stronger opponents using submission holds rather than kicks or punches.
Aikido: The non-violent offshoot of jujutsu
Aikido is an offshoot of jujutsu developed by Morihei Ueshiba in the early 20th century. It literally means "way of harmonizing energy" and differs from most other martial arts. Aikido's goal is to end conflict non-violently—to deflect strikes rather than overpower one's adversary. The idea is not only to defend oneself but also protect or not hurt the attacker. Interestingly, Gandhi holds a black belt in Aikido, signifying the highest level of technical skill in the martial art.
