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What do jujitsu, judo and aikido have in common? They are all Japanese martial arts that have their foundation in Budo - the Way of the warrior. All three martial arts involve throwing and subduing a opponent or attacker.

The ways an attacker can be beaten or subdued include chokes and strangles (Judo), joint locks and grappling. Judo and jujitsu will both take an opponent to the ground for submission. Aikido can apply a lock from the ground or from standing - and with multiple attackers it is best to be on your feet.

Jujitsu has a history that goes back hundreds of years, whereas judo and aikido are newer martial arts which came to being in the 20th century.

Budo, the Way of the warrior, was originally about fighting in battle and killing your enemies before they could kill you. But the founders of judo and Aikido took the old fighting and killing skills and made them more defensive.

Jigoro Kano sensei was a jujitsu master who called on the jujitsu schools of the time to merge and modernise their teachings, and he founded what is known today as Kodokan Judo.

Judo was recognised as an Olympic sport in the 1960s.

Morihei Ueshiba sensei was a master of several spear, sword and jujitsu styles which he blended into a defensive system he termed Aikido. Most of Ueshiba Sensei's highest-ranking students - who became Masters of the art - founded their own schools of Aikido after World War Two, which helps to account for the many different styles of Aikido in existence today.

One of the most interesting forms is Shodokan Aikido, founded by Kenji Tomiki sensei, who was a high-ranking student of both Jigoro Kano and of Morihei Ueshiba. Thus Tomiki Sensei was a Master of both Judo and Aikido, and his style reflects both these skill sets. It can even have randori free-practice and shiai competition (just like Judo) which gives it a sporting aspect as well as self-defense.