Ju-jitsu (or Yawara) is an ancient Japanese Martial Art. Its origins date back to the sixteenth century when legend narrates that its founding father, a young Japanese man called Shirobei Akiyama who was studying medicine in China, witnessed a heavy blizzard. He was able to appreciate how branches of most trees broke while the elastic branches of the Willow tree bent and efficiently freed themselves from the snow.
The Gentle Art or Art of Subtleness (for this is the meaning of Ju-Jitsu) would not aim to neutralize power with power but rationally absorb an attack and convert that energy to the opponent’s own detriment. This basic principle became the heart of the teaching of the Yoshin ryu school, founded by the Akiyama and considered to be the foremost Ju-jitsu dojo.
The Art developed throughout the Sengoki Era and continued through the Kanei, the Munnji and the Kanbun (1624-1673) periods. In the years of civil disorder the Samurai class
(Aristocratic warriors / Bushi) came to dominate. It is during this period that Ju-jitsu first developed as an open-field art of combat and then more and more as a physical and mental study.

The Golden Age of Ju-jitsu lasted until 1869, date in which the Emperor’s return to Japan and the subsequent abolition of Feudalism made the Samurai lose their status of privileged class. Samurai radition nevertheless kept Ju-jitsu alive and travellers brought the Art to all four corners of the world.
In more recent years the essence of some Martial Arts, such as Judo and Aikido, has developed from Ju-jitsu concentrating on specific aspects of their Martial Art forefather. Its international governing body was established in 1977 – based on a document originated by Italy, Germany and Sweden in order to develop the sport aspect of Ju-jitsu. Since then the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) has become a structured federation organised in Continental Unions, coordinated by a central Board and supported by specialised Committees.
JJIF organises World Championships every two years and Continental Championships every other year. International Camps, Seminars, Congress and General Assembly are called every year.
Brief History of JJIF
The Federation commenced as a coalition of three Countries determined to work as a team. Thus, in 1977, Germany, Italy and Sweden founded the EUROPEAN JU-JITSU FEDE-RATION (E.J.J.F).
Ten years later, in 1987, the number of Member Nations increased, in and out of Europe, to such an extent that the Federation had to change its name to the INTERNATIONAL JU-JITSU FEDERATION (I.J.J.F) and the original European nucleus of the Federation became the first Continental Union (E.J.J.U) of the I.J.J.F.
In the early 90’s the I.J.J.F became Provisional Member of the General Association of International Sport
Federations (G.A.I.S.F), Member of International World Games Association (I.W.G.A – third pole of the Olympic movement along the Summer and Winter Games) and affiliated to the Sport for All Federation (F.I.S.p.T).
In 1997 the I.J.J.F participated to its first World Games (Lahti, Finland) where it was greeted by a
“full house” spectator participation.
Following a series of changes of its Statutes and a change to its Membership structure, the 1998 General Assembly of the I.J.J.F decided to change its name to the JU-JITSU INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION (J.J.I.F).
During the 1998 GAISF Congress the J.J.I.F obtained Full Membership status.
In October 2001, J.J.I.F President Dr. Rinaldo Orlandi is elected member of the Board of Directors of the IWGA.
Ju-Jitsu Competitions
The Jutsukas compete at National level, and the best athletes of every Member Nation are allowed to participate in the local Continental Championships (organised by the local Union) and eventually the World Competitions (which take place every two years).
A well-determined score system based on Continental and World Championship results is then used to assess who the top 4 or 6 seeded Countries (and not athletes!) are for each category. These Countries will then have the right to present their athletes to compete in the International World Games
(every four years) only in the categories for which they have qualified.

The Ju-Jitsu International Federation currently contemplates two different types of Competitions at world level: the Duo System and the Fighting System.

The former is a discipline in which a pair of Jutsukas from the same team show possible self-defence techniques against a series of 12 attacks,

randomly called by the mat referee from the 20 codified attacks to cover the following typologies: grip attack (or strangulation),
embrace attack (or necklock), hit attack (punch or kick) and armed attack (stick or knife).
The Duo System has three competition categories: male, female or mixed, and the athletes are judged for their speed, accuracy, control and realism. It is arguably the most spectacular form of Ju-jitsu competition and it requires great technical preparation, synchronism and elevated athletic qualities.

With a different approach, the Fighting System is articulated in a series of two-round, one-on-one combats between athletes from opposing teams. The system is divided in 10 categories according to
weight and sex (Male categories: -62 kg, -69kg, -77kg, -85kg, -94kg, +94kg;
Female categories 55kg, -62kg, -70kg, +70kg). The actual combat is divided in three phases (Parts): Part I sees the Jutsukas involved in distance combat (controlled attacks with arms and legs and atemis of various nature). Once a grab has been made the Fight enters Part II and hits are no longer allowed.

The Jutsukas try to bring one another down with various throwing techniques (and points are given according to how “clean” and effective the action was).

Once down on the tatamis (mats) the match enters its Part III. Here points are given for immobilisation techniques, controlled strangulations or levers on body joints that bring the opponent to yield.

The winner is the Jutsuka who has accumulated most points during the fight.
Automatic victory is assigned to the Jutsuka who gets an “Ippon” (clean action, full points) in all three Parts or who outscores his opponent with a 14 point score difference by the end of round one.
This type of competition requires timing, agility, strength and endurance.

refrence: http://www.jjifweb.com/html/ju-jitsu.html