Taijutsu

Taijutsu is a Japanese martial arts term that literally means "body technique" or "body skill" and refers to combat skills or martial art systems that primarily use body movements without weapons. It is a blanket term for empty-hand techniques, often used interchangeably with jujutsu, though both can refer to various forms of unarmed or lightly armed combat.​

Core Meaning

Taijutsu encompasses all martial movements that rely on the body itself—such as striking, kicking, throwing, joint locks, grappling, and various dynamic body motions—rather than external weapons. Its focus is on practical, effective body techniques often adapted in traditional martial arts like judo, aikido, jujutsu, and some modern systems like Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.​

Usage in Martial Arts

• In traditional martial arts, taijutsu might be used as a broad label for any unarmed or empty-hand techniques.​
• In modern schools, the term features in names—such as Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu—signaling an approach centered around versatile body mechanics, incorporating methods from ancient arts.​
• Different systems (judo, aikido, karate, kenpo) may use more specific names for their techniques, but taijutsu underlies the general principle: using the body for combat without reliance on weapons.

Though not by nature given to fighting, man developed ways of combat with his hands, feet, and head as a means of staying alive. These primitive fighting techniques evolved for the hands, the feet, and the head. Consolidating all these resulted in taijutsu (techniques for the whole body) and for man-to-man combat, plus sword fighting.

This is Karate. Masutatsu Oyama