The literal translation of the word ju jutsu means "gentle art". In Japan, Jujutsu can also be used as a broad umbrella term encompassing all Japanese martial arts such as Jujutsu, judo, aikido et cetera (in the same way as the term Gung Fu is used in China to encompass many different schools of martial art). Also it can have a more specific meaning related to schools that follow the tenets of old school jujutsu, as opposed to other divergent specializations such as those denoted by the 'Aiki', Karate, or Kenpo prefixes. The prefix 'ju' in jujutsu means softness, suppleness or flexibility. Jujutsu exponents use their techniques to react to an opponent’s attack rather than using brute strength in order to overcome the enemy. In that way, a smaller person may stand a chance of overcoming a larger person by means of stratagem and effective technique. A bamboo tree has a flexible trunk which bends in high winds to avoid being up rooted.
This analogy is a succinct way of describing how a jujutsu exponent conceptualizes the art of fighting.

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