歴史
History of the International Jujutsu Institute
Background of Jujutsu
Jujutsu is a traditional Japanese martial art*. The two Japanese characters “Ju” and “Jutsu” can be translated as pliable/flexible and techniques/martial art respectively. Jujutsu originated in Japanese samurai schools where warriors were taught combat methods, primarily various weapons arts. Jujutsu techniques were usually taught as a subsidiary method and included strikes, joint locks, strangulations and throwing techniques for use in ‘emergency situations’, if the samurai was unarmed. The term ‘jujutsu’ was one of many different names for unarmed combat methods — others included yawara and taijitsu, for example. During periods of peace, jujutsu was oriented more towards civil combat away from the battlefields. At the beginning of the Meiji period (1868-1912) restrictions were placed upon carrying weapons in public and the status of the samurai class declined. This affected their traditional combat training, including the practice of jujutsu. Specialised jujutsu schools subsequently opened up to the broader Japanese society.
Historical Overview
The International Jujutsu Institute (IJJI) was established outside of Japan by Mr Kam Hock Hoe, who on 23 June 1980 was recognised as a 10th dan jointly by the Singapore Judo Federation and Malaysian Judo Federation. He was known to his students as ‘Professor’ Kam. Born in Malaya in 1903, Mr Kam Hock Hoe commenced his jujutsu training in 1922 under a Japanese teacher named Professor Watanabe and became a professional wrestler in 1925. He became known on the South East Asian wrestling circuit and in 1931 was named ‘Panther Hoe’ because of his quick and effective movements. In the early 1930s he wrestled throughout South East Asia, East Asia and South Asia. During this period he also took up the pursuit of boxing and continued his jujutsu training under Professor T. Yamanaka. After further jujutsu training in Kyoto, Japan in 1933 he was awarded professorship and sandan honours.
After his studies in Japan, Mr Kam Hock Hoe returned to Malaya and in 1935 he founded Hoe's Ju-Jitsu Studio in Kuala Lumpur. Between 1936 and 1941 he also taught boxing and self-defence training to the Malay police forces. When Malaya was invaded by the Japanese on 7 December 1941 formal jujutsu classes were suspended by Mr Kam Hock Hoe. Hostilities ceased in Malaya in September 1945, and, in 1947, he recommenced formal jujutsu classes in Malaya.
In 1956 Mr Kam Hock Hoe moved to Penang, Malaya and shortly after founded the International Ju-Jitsu Institute. In 1958 he also commenced classes at the Royal Australian Air Force base at Butterworth, just across from Penang.
In 1979 he relocated the Institute back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He restricted his teaching to a few students, the ‘fourth generation’, including his adopted son, Errol Perera and Leong Chock Lim, Lai Wai Beng and Yew Hong Huat.
Mr Kam Hock Hoe stayed in Kuala Lumpur until he passed away on 3 October 1990. He trained actively with his students right up until the day of his death.
* Difficulties in the transliteration of Japanese characters to roman characters has resulted in "Jujutsu" being written differently through the years. "Jujutsu" is now the standardised transliteration, however the original spelling in reference to the names of schools and clubs in this article has been maintained for historical accuracy.