Everything about Japanese Martial Arts totally explained
Japanese martial arts refers to the enormous variety of
martial arts native to
Japan. At least three Japanese terms are often used interchangeably with the English phrase "Japanese martial arts": "
budō", literally meaning "martial way",, which has no perfect translation but means something like science, art, or
craft of war, and, literally meaning "martial art." The term "
budō" is a modern one, and is normally intended to indicate the practice of martial arts as a
way of life, and encompassing physical,
spiritual, and
moral dimensions with a focus of self-improvement, fulfillment, or
personal growth. The terms "
bujutsu" and "
bugei" have more discrete definitions, at least historically speaking.
Bujutsu refers specifically to the practical application of martial tactics and techniques in actual combat.
Bugei refers to the adaptation or refinement of those tactics and techniques to facilitate systematic instruction and dissemination within a formal learning environment.
The term also is used generally to indicate that a particular style or art is "traditional", rather than "modern". However, what it means for an art to be either "traditional" or "modern" is subject to some debate. As a general rule of thumb, the primary purpose of a
koryū martial art was for use in war. The most extreme example of a
koryū school is one that preserves its traditional, and often ancient, martial practices even in the absence of continuing wars in which to test them. Other
koryū schools may have made modifications to their practices that reflect the passage of time (which may or may not have resulted in the loss of "
koryū" status in the eyes of its peers). This is as opposed to "modern" martial arts, whose primary focus is generally upon the self-improvement (mental, physical, or spiritual) of the individual practitioner, with varying degrees of emphasis on the practical application of the martial art for either sport or self defence purposes.
The following subsections represent not individual schools of martial arts, but rather generic "types" of martial arts. These are generally distinguishable on the basis of their training methodology and equipment, though wide variation still exists within each.
Sumo
, considered by many to be Japan's national sport, has its origins in the distant past. The earliest written records of Japan, which are dated from the eighth century A.D., record the first sumo match in 23 B.C., occurring specifically at the request of the emperor and continuing until one man was too wounded to continue. Beginning in 728 A.D., the emperor
Shōmu Tennō (聖武 天皇, 701–756) began holding official sumo matches at the annual harvest festivals. This tradition of having matches in the presence of the emperor continued, but gradually spread, with matches also held at Shinto festivals, and sumo training was eventually incorporated into military training. By the seventeenth century, sumo was an organized professional sport, open to the public, enjoyed by both the upper class and commoners.
Today, sumo retains much of its traditional trappings, including a referee dressed as a Shinto priest, and a ritual where the competitors clap hands, stomp their feet, and throw salt in the ring prior to each match. To win a match, competitors employ throwing and grappling techniques to force the other man to the ground; the first man to touch the ground with a part of the body other than the bottom of the feet, or touch the ground outside the ring with any part of the body, loses. Six grand tournaments are held annually in Japan, and each professional fighter's name and relative ranking is published after each tournament in an official list, called the
banzuke, which is followed religiously by sumo fans.
Jujutsu
joint locks or throwing techniques, to defeat an opponent, as opposed to direct force such as a punch or a kick. This isn't to imply that jujutsu doesn't teach or employ strikes, but rather that the art's aim is the ability to use an attacker's force against him, and counter-attack where he's weakest or least defended.
Methods of combat included striking (kicking, punching), throwing (body throws, joint-lock throws, unbalance throws), restraining (pinning, strangulating, grappling, wrestling) and weaponry. Defensive tactics included blocking, evading, off balancing, blending and escaping. Minor weapons such as the
tantō (dagger),
ryufundo kusari (weighted chain),
jutte (helmet smasher), and
kakushi buki (secret or disguised weapons) were almost always included in
koryū jujutsu.
Most of these were battlefield-based systems to be practiced as companion arts to the more common and vital weapon systems. At the time, these fighting arts were used many different names, including
kogusoku,
yawara,
kumiuchi, and
hakuda. In reality, these grappling systems were not really unarmed systems of combat, but are more accurately described as means whereby an unarmed or lightly armed warrior could defeat a heavily armed and armored enemy on the battlefield. Ideally, the samurai would be armed and wouldn't need to rely on such techniques.
In later times, other
koryū developed into systems more familiar to the practitioners of the jujutsu commonly seen today. These systems are generally designed to deal with opponents neither wearing armor nor in a battlefield environment. For this reason, they include extensive use of
atemi waza (vital-striking technique). These tactics would be of little use against an armored opponent on a battlefield. They would, however, be quite valuable to anyone confronting an enemy or opponent during peacetime dressed in normal street attire. Occasionally, inconspicuous weapons such as knives or
tessen (iron fans) were included in the curriculum.
Today, jujutsu is practiced in many forms, both ancient and modern. Various methods of jujutsu have been incorporated or synthesized into judo and aikido, as well as being exported throughout the world and transformed into sport wrestling systems, adopted in whole or part by schools of karate or other unrelated martial arts, still practiced as they were centuries ago, or all of the above.
Swordsmanship
Swordsmanship, the art of the
sword, has an almost mythological ethos, and is believed by some to be the paramount martial art, surpassing all others. Regardless of the truth of that belief, the sword itself has been the subject of stories and legends through virtually all cultures in which it has been employed as a tool for violence. In Japan, the use of the
katana is no different. Although originally the most important skills of the warrior class were skill at riding a horse and shooting the bow, this eventually gave way to swordsmanship. The earliest swords, which can be dated as far back as the
Kofun era (3rd and 4th centuries) were primarily straight bladed. According to legend, curved swords made strong by the famous folding process were first forged by the smith
Amakuni Yasutsuna (天國 安綱, c.700 AD).
Other sources explain that the folding process was brought to Japan from
China.
The primary development of the sword occurred between 987 A.D. and 1597 A.D. This development is characterized by profound artistry during peaceful eras, and renewed focus on durability, utility, and mass production during the intermittent periods of warfare, most notably
civil warfare during the 12th century and
Mongolian invasion during the 13th century (which in particular saw the transition from mostly horseback archery to hand to hand ground fighting).
This development of the sword is paralleled by the development of the methods used to wield it. During times of peace, the warriors trained with the sword, and invented new ways to implement it. During war, these theories were tested. After the war ended, those who survived examined what worked and what didn't, and passed their knowledge on. In 1600 A.D.,
Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川 家康, 1543–1616) gained total control of all of Japan, and the country entered a period of prolonged peace that would last until the
First World War. During this period, the techniques to use the sword underwent a transition from a primarily utilitarian art for killing, to one encompassing a philosophy of personal development and spiritual perfection.
The terminology used to describe the Japanese art of swordsmanship is somewhat ambiguous. Many names have been used to describe various aspects of the art, or to encompass the art as a whole.
Kenjutsu
kenjutsu" is more often used to refer to the specific aspect of swordsmanship dealing with partnered sword training. It is the oldest form of training, and at its simplest level, consists of two partners with swords drawn, practicing combat drills. Historically practiced with wooden katana (
bokken), this most often consists of pre-determined forms, called
kata, or sometimes called
kumitachi, and similar to the partner drills practiced in kendo. Among advanced students,
kenjutsu training may also include increasing degrees of freestyle practice.
Battōjutsu
scabbard (
saya). The term came into use specifically during the
Warring States Period (15th–17th cent.). Closely related to, but predating
iaijutsu,
battōjutsu training emphasizes defensive counter-attacking.
Battōjutsu training technically incorporates
kata, but generally consist of only a few moves, focusing on stepping up to an enemy, drawing, performing one or more cuts, and sheathing the weapon.
Battōjutsu exercises tend to lack the elaborateness, as well as the aesthetic considerations of
iaijutsu or
iaidō kata. Finally, note that use of the name alone isn't dispositive; what is
battōjutsu to one school may be
iaijutsu to another.
Iaijutsu and Iaidō
, approximately "the art/science of mental presence and immediate reaction", is also the Japanese martial art of drawing the sword. However, unlike
battōjutsu,
iaijutsu tends to be technically more complex, and there's a much stronger focus upon perfecting form. The primary technical aspects are smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard.
, which would be "the way of mental presence and immediate reaction", is nominally the modernization of
iaijutsu, but in practice is frequently identical to
iaijutsu. The replacement of
jutsu with
dō is part of the 20th century emphasis upon personal and spiritual development; an evolution that took place in many martial arts. In the case of
iaidō, some schools merely changed in name without altering the curriculum, and others embraced the wholesale change from a combat-orientation to spiritual growth.
Naginatajutsu
is the Japanese martial art of wielding the
naginata, a weapon resembling the medieval European
glaive. Most
naginata practice today is in a modernized form (
gendai budō) called the "way of naginata" (
naginata-dō) or "new naginata" (
atarashii naginata), in which competitions are also held.
However, many koryu maintain naginatajutsu in their curriculum. Also of note, during the late Edo period, naginata were used to train women and ladies in waiting. Thus, most naginatajutsu styles are headed by women and most naginata practitioners in Japan are women. This has led to the notion that naginatajutsu is a martial art that wasn't used by male warriors. In fact, naginatajutsu was developed by the warrior monks of early medieval Japan and was widely used by
samurai.
Sōjutsu
spear (
yari). For most of the history of Japan,
sōjutsu was practiced extensively by traditional schools. In times of war, it was a primary skill of many soldiers. Modernly, it's a minor art that very few schools still teach.
Other koryū martial arts
The original martial art schools of Japan were almost entirely
sogo (comprehensive) bujutsu. With the long peace of the
Tokugawa shogunate there was an increase in specialization with many schools identifying themselves with particular major battle field weapons. However, there were many additional weapons employed by the warriors of feudal Japan, and an art to wielding each. Usually they were studied as secondary or tertiary weapons within a school but there are exceptions, such as the art of wielding the short staff, (
jōjutsu) which was the primary art taught by the
Shintō Musō-ryū.
Other arts existed to teach military skills other than the use of weaponry. Examples of these include
marine skills such as
swimming and
river-fording (
suieijutsu), firestarting and
demolition (
kajutsu),
horsemanship (
bajutsu).
Gendai budō
koryū status, and is now considered
gendai budō. For example, aikido and judo are examples of
gendai budō that were founded in the modern era, while
iaidō represents the modernization of a practice that has existed for centuries.
The core difference is, as was explained under "
koryū", above, that
koryū arts are practiced as they were when their primary utility was for use in war, while the primary purpose of
gendai budō is for self-improvement, with application as a secondary purpose. Additionally, many of the
gendai budō have included a modern sporting element to them. Judo and kendo are both good examples of this.
Judo
, literally meaning "gentle way" or "way of softness", is a modern martial art, practiced primarily as a sport, and is a form of
grappling. It contains substantially the same emphasis on the personal, spiritual, and physical self-improvement of its practitioners as can be found throughout
gendai budō.
Judo was created by
Kano Jigoro (嘉納 治五郎
Kanō Jigorō, 1860–1938) at the end of the
19th century. Kano was a brilliant martial artist educated at the
Tokyo Imperial University. The combination of martial talent and formal education enabled Kano to take the
koryū martial arts he learned (specifically
Kitō-ryū and
Tenjin Shin'yo-ryū jujutsu), and systematically reinvent them into a martial art with an emphasis on freestyle practice and competition. Kano devised a powerful system of new techniques and training methods, which famously culminated on June 11, 1886, in a tournament that would later be dramatized by celebrated Japanese filmmaker
Akira Kurosawa (黒沢 明
Kurosawa Akira, 1910–1998), in the film "
Sanshiro Sugata" (1943). In that tournament, fifteen of Kano's students faced fifteen students from a rival jujutsu school. The result was two losses, one draw, and twelve victories for the judo students.
Judo became an
Olympic sport in
1964, and has spread throughout the world. Kano Jigoro's original school, the "
Kodokan", has students worldwide, and many other schools have been founded by Kano's students. Of particular note is
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which traces its history back to Kodokan judo practitioner
Mitsuyo Maeda (1880–1941), who emigrated to Brazil in the early twentieth century and taught his judo there. Today, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a practice distinct from Olympic judo, which is the predominant form of judo practiced.
Kendo
, meaning the "way of the sword", is the sport of Japanese
fencing. It is a relatively modern evolution of the art of
kenjutsu, and its exercises and practice are descended from several particular schools of swordsmanship. The primary technical influence in its development was the
kenjutsu school of Ittō-ryū (founded c. 1500s A.D.), whose core philosophy revolved around the concept that all strikes in swordsmanship revolve around the technique
kiri-oroshi (vertical downward cut). The modern form of kendo really began to take shape with the introduction of bamboo swords, called
shinai, and the set of lightweight wooden armour, called
bogu, by Naganuma Sirōzaemon Kunisato (長沼 四郎左衛門 国郷, 1688–1767), which allowed for the practice of strikes at full speed and power without risk of injury to the competitors.
Today, virtually the entire practice of kendo is governed by the
All Japan Kendo Federation, founded in 1951. Competitions are judged by points, with the first competitor to score two points on his opponent declared the winner. One point may be scored with a successful and properly executed strike to any of several targets: a thrust to the throat, or a strike to the top of the head, sides of the head, sides of the body, or forearms. Practitioners also compete in forms (
kata) competitions, using either wooden or blunted metal swords, according to a set of forms promulgated by the AJKF.
Aikido
gendai budō, a modern Japanese martial art, developed by
Morihei Ueshiba (植芝 盛平
Ueshiba Morihei, 1883 – 1969). The art consists of "striking", "throwing," and "joint locking" techniques and is known for its fluidity and blending with an attacker, rather than meeting "force with force". Emphasis is upon joining with the rhythm and intent of the opponent in order to find the optimal position and timing with which to apply force. Aikido is also known for emphasizing the spiritual and philosophical development of its students reflecting the religious background of its founder.
Morihei Ueshiba developed aikido mainly from
Daitō-ryū aiki-jūjutsu, incorporating training movements such as those for the
yari (spear),
jō (a short
quarterstaff), and perhaps also
juken (
bayonet). Arguably the strongest influence is that of
kenjutsu and in many ways, an aikido practitioner moves as an empty handed swordsman.
Kyūdō
, which means “way of the
bow,” is the modern name for Japanese
archery. Originally in Japan, Kyujutsu, the “art of the bow,” was a discipline of the samurai, the Japanese warrior
class. The bow is a long range weapon that allowed a military unit to engage an opposing force while it was still far away. If the archers were mounted on horseback, they could be used to even more devastating effect as a mobile weapons platform, archers were also used in sieges and sea battles.
However, from the 16th century onward, firearms slowly displaced the bow as the dominant battlefield weapon. As the bow lost its significance as a weapon of war, and under the influence of
Buddhism,
Shinto,
Daoism and
Confucianism, Japanese archery evolved into Kyudō, the “Way of the Bow.” In some schools Kyudō is practiced as a highly refined contemplative practice, while in other schools it's practiced as a modern day sport.
Karate
Okinawa. It is a fusion of pre-existing
Okinawan martial arts, called "
te", and
Chinese martial arts, so is strictly speaking, not a Japanese martial art, but rather it's an art that has been adopted and developed by the Japanese. Indeed, the word "karate" was originally a generic term for Chinese martial arts, and written with
homophonic ideograms meaning "China hand", rather than "empty hand".
Karate's route to Japan began with
Gichin Funakoshi (船越 義珍
Funakoshi Gichin, 1868–1957), who is called the father of modern karate, and is the founder of
Shotokan karate. Although some Okinawan karate practitioners were already living and teaching in Japan, Funakoshi gave public demonstrations of karate in Japan at a physical education exhibition sponsored by the ministry of education 1917, and again in 1922. As a result, Karate training was subsequently incorporated into Japan's public school system. It was also at this time that the white uniforms and the
kyū/
dan ranking system (both originally implemented by judo's founder, Kano Jigoro) were adopted.
Karate practice is primarily characterized by linear punching and kicking techniques executed from a stable, fixed stance. Many styles of karate practiced today incorporate the forms (
kata) originally developed by Funakoshi and his teachers, and many different weapons originally used as farm implements by the peasants of Okinawa, such as the
sai, sickle (
kama), and quarterstaff (
bō). Many modern karate practitioners also participate in full, light, and no-contact competitions.
Philosophical and strategic concepts
Aiki
The principle of is particularly difficult to describe or explain. The most simple translation of
aiki, as "joining energy", belies its philosophical depth. Generally, it's the principle of matching your opponent in order to defeat him. It is this concept of "matching", or "joining", or even "harmonizing" (all valid interpretations of
ai) that contains the complexity. One may "match" the opponent in a clash of force, possibly even resulting in a mutual kill. This isn't
aiki.
Aiki is epitomized by the notion of joining physically and mentally with the opponent for the express purpose of avoiding a direct clash of force. In practice,
aiki is achieved by first joining with the motion of the opponent (the physical aspect) as well as the intent (the mental portion), then overcoming the will of the opponent, redirecting their motion and intent.
Historically, this principle was used for destructive purposes; to seize an advantage and kill one's opponent. The modern art of aikido is founded upon the principle that the control of the opponent achieved by the successful application of
aiki may be used to defeat one's opponent without harming them.
Attitude
Kokoro (心:こころ) is a concept that crosses through many martial arts, but has no single discrete meaning. In context, it means something like "heart," "character," or "attitude." Character is a central concept in karate, and in keeping with the
do nature of modern karate, there's a great emphasis on improving oneself. It is often said that the art of karate is for self-defense; not injuring one's opponent is the highest expression of the art. Some popularly repeated quotes implicating this concept include:
» "The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants." -
Gichin Funakoshi
» "The Way isn't meant as a way of fighting. It is a path on which you travel to find your own inner peace and harmony. It is yours to seek and find." -
Hironori Ohtsuka
Budō
Literately "the way of war" used in a similar way as
Martial arts but specifically relating to Japanese arts.
Bushidō
A code of honor, in principle similar to
chivalry but culturally very different.
Courtesy
Shigeru Egami:
Words that I've often heard are that "everything begins with rei and ends with rei." The word itself, however, can be interpreted in several ways; it's the rei of reigi, meaning "etiquette, courtesy, politeness," and it's also the rei of keirei, "salutation" or "bow." The meaning of rei is sometimes explained in terms of kata or katachi ("formal exercises" and "form" or "shape" ). It is of prime importance not only in karate but in all martial arts. For our purposes here, let us understand rei as the ceremonial bow in which courtesy and decorum are manifest.
He who would follow the way of karate must be courteous, not only in training but in daily life. While humble and gentle, he should never be servile. His performance of the kata should reflect boldness and confidence. This seemingly paradoxical combination of boldness and gentleness leads ultimately to harmony. It is true, as Master Funakoshi used to say, that the spirit of karate would be lost without courtesy.
Kiai
A term describing a 'fighting spirit'.
Hard and soft methods
There are two underlying strategic methodologies to the application of force in Japanese martial arts. One is the, and the other is the . Implicit these concepts is their separate but equal and interrelated nature, in keeping with their philosophical relationship to the Chinese principles of
yin and yang (Jap.:
in and
yō).
The hard method is characterized by the direct application of counter-force to an opposing force. In practice, this may be a direct attack, consisting of movement directly towards the opponent, coinciding with a strike towards the opponent. A defensive technique where the defender stands his ground to block or parry (directly opposing the attack by stopping it or knocking it aside) would be an example of a hard method of defense. Hard method techniques are generally conceptualized as being linear.
The soft method is characterized by the indirect application of force, which either avoids or redirects the opposing force. For example, receiving an attack by slipping past it, followed by adding force to the attacker's limb for the purpose of unbalancing an attacker is an example of soft method. Soft method techniques are generally conceptualized as being circular.
These definitions give rise to the often illusory distinction between "hard-style" and "soft-style" martial arts. In truth, most styles technically practice both, regardless of their internal nomenclature. Analyzing the difference in accordance with yin and yang principles, philosophers would assert that the absence of either one would render the practitioner's skills unbalanced or deficient, as yin and yang alone are each only half of a whole.
Openings, initiative and timing
Openings, initiative, and timing are deeply interrelated concepts applicable to self defense and competitive combat. They each describe different considerations relevant to successfully initiating or countering an attack.
are the foundation of a successful attack. Although possible to successfully injure an opponent who is ready to receive an attack, it's obviously preferable to attack when and where one's opponent is open. What it means to be open may be as blatant as an opponent becoming tired and lowering their guard (as in physically lowering their hands), or as subtle as a momentary lapse in concentration. In the classical form of combat between master practitioners, each would stand almost entirely motionless until the slightest opening was spotted; only then would they launch as devastating an attack as they could muster, with the goal of incapacitating their opponent with a single blow.
In Japanese martial arts, refers to "the decisive moment when a killing action is initiated."
There are two types of initiative in Japanese martial arts,, and . Each type of initiative complements the other, and has different advantages and weaknesses. Early initiative is the taking advantage of an opening in an opponent's guard or concentration (
see suki
, supra). To fully take the early initiative, the attack launched must be with total commitment and lacking in any hesitation, and virtually ignoring the possibility of a counter-attack by the opponent. Late initiative involves an active attempt to induce an attack by the opponent that will create a weakness in the opponent's defenses, often by faking an opening that's too enticing for the opponent to pass up.
The Three Attacks
