Tai Jutsu Godai-Ryu

The Tai-Jutsu Godai-Ryu, was born based on the knowledge acquired by the Daishi Jorge Sosa father, in his life of learning in the Martial Arts. Hanshi Sosa Sr. began training JUJITSU at the age of 17 with Sensei Silvestre Mendez.
JŪJITSU is a very ancient art that is called, "The Art of Flexibility". It is an art of self-defense designed to defend oneself with the body using techniques with the body and feet. It is recommended for defense in unforeseen situations in the street. The practitioner of this art learns to use techniques of immobilization, dislocation, tearing, breaking, strangulations, projections, and ground fighting. Jujitsu methods have existed for more than 2000 years and were widely used during the VIII and XVI centuries.
As a result of this art, JŪDŌ is born, being its creator and precursor Master Jigoro Kano, who makes Judo a more classical practice, Daishi Sosa Sr. said that Judo is the practice of elegant Jujitsu, where Master Kano gave his variations to the practice itself, being less aggressive than Jujitsu.
TAI-JUTSU GODAI-RYU is described by Daishi Sosa Sr. as the grandson of Jujitsu. It is the combination of Jujitsu, Judo and Karatedo, to carry out a more real defense in the street and that the person defending himself has more resources against one or more attackers, either unarmed or with weapons.
The total use of the whole body is vital for the defense and the knowledge of the four elements of nature such as water, fire, wind, and earth are essential in the use of Tai-Jutsu techniques being the fifth element oneself, which together with the elements of nature, make the person very strong in self-defense.

About the author

This article was written by Maritza Stinson, our in-house Budo historian dedicated to research and document the different ways Japanese Martial Arts came to America.