British Jiu Jitsu History: Introduction of Jiu Jitsu into England

Although the principles of Jiu Jitsu can be traced back in Japan to the HoJo regime (12th to the 14th centuries), the introduction into the U.K. didn’t take place until the 1890’s. E.W. Barton-Wright who had been living and working in Japan for nine years planned to establish his own Jiu Jitsu club upon return to the U.K. Barton-Wright had studied Tenjin Shin’yo Ryu Jiu Jitsu with Master Yukio Tani and being very entrepreneurial in nature, saw the opportunity to bring something special to the British people along with earning income. He brought back with him the 18 year old Master Instructor Tani who along with his skills, was a natural showman. The original plan was to open a permanent club and to call the art Bartitsu after himself. The original school failed due mainly to the British people not being aware of what Jiu Jitsu was and had never previously seen it. Barton-Wright staged many publicity events by touring the country showing the art of Jiu Jitsu and placed challenges to all comers to defeat the Japanese martial artist. Many other Japanese experts joined the musical hall circuit including Japanese wrestler Taro Miyake, Akhitaro Ohno, and Gunji Koizumi, "The Father of British Judo." Koizumi eventually founded the London Budokwai in 1918 teaching Jiu Jitsu, Kendo and other Japanese arts. Yukio Tani became an instructor at the school one year later and retired from the music hall tours. The Budokwai was directly affiliated to the Kodokwan of Tokyo, which was the prominent school of authority on the art in Japan. All certificates issued by the Budokwai were fully recognized by the Kodokwan.