Go-Shin Jitsu
Master the Art of Go-Shin Ju-Jitsu
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Welcome to Go-Shin Jitsu
Here you will find all the information you need to learn about our Dojo, who we are, and what we do.
If any further information is needed, please contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Also, on this webpage you will have all the information you need on learning about our tailored Ladies self-defense courses.
History of Go-Shin Jitsu
From the Kodokan to the Modern Day
The roots of Go‑Shin Jitsu stretch back to the early foundations of modern Japanese martial arts and the creation of the Kodokan by Dr. Jigoro Kano. In the early 1880s, Dr. Kano, a visionary martial artist and educator, brought together master's from various traditional Ju‑Jitsu schools to help shape what would become Judo — a system designed for physical education, discipline, and sport.
⭐ The Missing Element: Real Self‑Defence
While Judo grew into an effective and respected martial art, many of the Ju‑Jitsu masters involved felt that something essential was being lost — the practical self‑defence techniques that had defined traditional Ju‑Jitsu for centuries.
To preserve this vital aspect, Dr. Kano and the attending masters gathered, refined, and approved the most effective self‑defence techniques from the different Ju‑Jitsu schools. Their goal was to create a system that retained the realism and practicality of classical Ju‑Jitsu while fitting within the Kodokan’s structured approach. From this collaboration, the self‑defence system of the Kodokan was created.
That system was named:
Go‑Shin Jitsu — “The Art of Self‑Defence.”
🔄 A System That Evolves with the Times
Go‑Shin Jitsu was not created overnight. It took many years of development, testing, and refinement. Techniques were added, adapted, or replaced as the world changed, and new threats emerged. Because of this constant evolution, a more accurate translation of Go‑Shin Jitsu is:
“Modern Self‑Defence System.”
This adaptability is one of its greatest strengths. Go‑Shin Jitsu has always moved with the times — and it still does. It remains a system designed for real‑world situations, continually evolving to meet the challenges of an ever‑changing world.
🛡️ A Style Built for Today
Unlike sport‑based martial arts, Go‑Shin Jitsu has always focused on what works in real‑life encounters. Its techniques are practical, efficient, and designed to help practitioners stay safe in unpredictable situations.
Because the system has never stopped developing, it remains perfectly suited to the realities of modern self‑defence, where threats and violence continue to evolve.
In a world where personal safety is more important than ever, Go‑Shin Jitsu continues to provide a system that is relevant, adaptable, and effective.
🌱 A Living Tradition
From its origins in the Kodokan to its modern hybrid forms taught today, Go‑Shin Jitsu has remained true to its purpose:
- Practical self‑defence
- Adaptability
- Real‑world effectiveness
- Continuous evolution
It is a living system — shaped by history, strengthened by tradition, and refined for the world we live in now.
🌍Go-Shin Jitsu Comes to Europe and England
The Arrival of the System We Teach Today
The spread of Go‑Shin Jitsu beyond Japan began in 1956, when the system was introduced into Europe — and specifically into England — by Captain Hassameir.
Capt. Hassameir served with the Police Force in Cologne, Germany, and was one of the leading Ju‑Jitsu practitioners in the country at that time. Recognizing the value and practicality of Go‑Shin Jitsu, he travelled to England in the 1950s along with several of his colleagues to meet with the major Ju‑Jitsu bodies operating in Britain.
These early exchanges laid the groundwork for the system’s development outside Japan.
🇬🇧 Established in England — 1968
After several years of collaboration, training, and refinement, Go‑Shin Jitsu became formally established in England in 1968. This marked the beginning of the British lineage of the style — the same lineage that continues through our club today.
📜 A Proudly Preserved Lineage
One of the most treasured pieces of our club’s history is the original minutes of the mid‑1950s meeting chaired by Capt. Hassameir himself. These documents are still held by our club to this day and serve as a formal record of:
- The introduction of Go‑Shin Jitsu into Europe
- The early collaboration between German and British Ju‑Jitsu practitioners
- The official lineage connecting our instructors directly back to the system’s European foundation
This preserved history is a testament to the authenticity, integrity, and unbroken heritage of the Go‑Shin Jitsu we teach.
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