jujitsu

plural jujitsus · alternative jiu-jitsu · alternative jiujitsu · alternative ju-jitsu · alternative ju-jutsu · alternative jujutsu · alternative jūjutsu

1. countableuncountableA Japanese martial art and method of self-defence, typically unarmed, emphasizing manipulating an opponent’s force against themselves rather than directly opposing it with force, and using a wide variety of holds, throws, and defensive techniques.
2. countableuncountableBrazilian jiu-jitsu, a related art, derived from judo.
3. countablefigurativelyuncountableStrategic maneuvering, especially with the aim of using the strength of one's opponent against them in an unexpected or counterintuitive way.

   The far-right glitterati were not impressed with Trump’s Epstein jiu-jitsu.

   2025 July 16, Ryan Bort and Asawin Suebsaeng, “Trump calls Epstein conspiracy a ‘hoax’ and turns on Maga ‘weaklings’”, in Rolling Stone, archived from the original on 16 Jul 2025

present singular third person jujitsus · present singular third person jujitsu's · participle present jujitsuing · participle present jujitsu-ing · participle past jujitsued · past jujitsued · participle past jujitsu-ed · past jujitsu-ed · alternative jiu-jitsu · alternative jiujitsu · alternative ju-jitsu · alternative ju-jutsu · alternative jujutsu · alternative jūjutsu

1. ambitransitivefigurativelyTo attack (someone) or overcome (a challenge) with strategic maneuvering.

   Mischievous bloggers and tweeters are jujitsu-ing the Allied publicity machine with gags about how it’s Ange who is going to come on to whack Marion. Allied might be upstaged by the gossip, and become best known for something other than itself.

   2016 November 7, Peter Bradshaw, “Allied: what happens when a film gets eclipsed by gossip”, in The Guardian

   2 more examples

   He could never have developed GE’s reputation in that sector if he were still fighting the image of stonewalling on Hudson River cleanup efforts. “They've completely jujitsu-ed that,” notes PR executive Richard Edelman. “They've set a new standard. It's not just corporate social responsibility (CSR) as philanthropy. It's CSR that makes money.”

   2008, “Go on the Offensive and Shape the Message”, in William J. Holstein, Manage the Media (Don't Let the Media Manage You), Boston, MA: Harvard Business Press, →ISBN, page 60

   Your economy will face “devast[at]ing” consequences, U.S. President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin about the sanctions the United States and its allies would impose if Russia invaded Ukraine. When Putin invaded Ukraine anyway, the sanctions did hit hard. Yet Putin hasn’t withdrawn. And he’s jiujitsu-ed with Russia’s own countersanctions.

   2022 August 18, Bruce W. Jentleson, “Who’s Winning the Sanctions War?”, in Foreign Policy