Japan has a rich history of martial arts, many of which have been developed and refined over centuries. The term ‘budo’ in Japanese refers to the spirit of martial arts, whereas ‘bujutsu’ refers to the application of budo through practice. When one thinks of martial arts, countries such as China, Korea, Thailand and Japan likely come to mind. Of these however, Japan practices the widest range of martial arts. Officially, there are nine martial arts recognized by the Japanese government, however these can be further sub-divided, and then there are the other non-official martial arts that consider themselves to be unique in their own right, and not included in the official classification of nine. Worldwide, there are thought to be more than 50 million people practicing some form of Japanese martial arts.
Trying to categorize all type of martial arts in Japan becomes even more complicated as some martial arts are classified as traditional (before the Edo era), while others are classified as modern (developed after the Edo era). Naturally, the modern martial arts have their roots in the more traditional forms, so there is some overlap between what is considered modern and traditional. Below, we will try to summarize the most popular martial arts practiced in Japan today.
Judo [柔道]
Judo (meaning the gentle way) is a grappling martial art that was created in Japan in the late 19th century. Officially developed in 1882 by Jigoro Kano, it is considered a modern martial art, but has its roots in the older Jujutsu. Judo focuses on throws, joint locks, and choke-holds. The objective of Judo is to subdue an opponent by using their own strength and momentum against them. Judo is considered one of the most popular martial arts in the world, and it is an Olympic sport.
Karate [空手]
Karate (which means empty hand in Japanese) is a striking martial art that originated in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan (modern day Okinawa) in the 14th century. Anyone who has watched the 1984 classic ‘Karate Kid’ may remember that Miyagi sensei came from Okinawa. Karate emphasizes the use of the hands and feet for striking, as well as the use of blocks. The objective of Karate is to strike the opponent using various techniques, such as punches, kicks, and strikes with the elbow, knee, and other parts of the body. Karate is often used as a form of physical and spiritual discipline.
Aikido [合気道]
Aikido (meaning ‘unifying life energy’, or ‘way of the harmonious spirit’) is a martial art that focuses on using an opponent’s energy against them, rather than relying on brute strength. It was developed in the early 20th century by Morihei Ueshiba, who believed in the ‘art of peace’. It emphasizes the use of joint locks and throws to subdue an attacker, and uses circular movements to redirect force against an attacker. Techniques such as blending, turning, pivoting, circling, and spiraling are practiced. Aikido is often used as a form of physical and spiritual discipline and is considered a non-violent martial art.
Kendo [剣道]
Kendo (meaning the way of the sword) is a modern Japanese martial art that involves the use of bamboo swords (shinai) and protective armor (bōgu). Kendo is based on the much older traditional martial art of ‘Kenjutsu’. The objective of modern Kendo is to strike the designated target areas on the opponent’s armor using the shinai. These areas are the head, wrist and torso. When striking an opponent, practitioners of Kendo will yell the battle cry ‘Kiai’, which adds to the atmosphere. Kendo is considered a form of swordsmanship and is often used as a form of physical and spiritual discipline. Kendo has a strong emphasis on discipline, etiquette, and respect for others, and it is often practiced in a competitive setting.
Sumo [相撲]
Sumo is a traditional Japanese wrestling art and is Japan’s national sport. Although now likely passed in popularity by baseball and soccer, it still has a large national following, and all 8 major competitions throughout the year are broadcast on NHK for the whole nation to watch. The objective of Sumo is to push the opponent out of the circular ring (dohyo) or to make the opponent touch the ground with any part of his body other than the soles of his feet. Sumo is a full-contact sport that requires strength, technique, and strategy. Considered Japan’s oldest sport, it has deep connections to the religion of Shinto, and is steeped in tradition even today.
Kyudo [弓道]
Kyudo (meaning the way of the bow) is a traditional Japanese martial art that involves the use of the longbow (yumi). The longbow is more than two meters in length from top to bottom, and is generally made from bamboo, leather and wood. The objective of Kyudo is to shoot an arrow at a target with precision and grace. Kyudo is considered a form of archery, and it is often used as a form of physical and spiritual discipline. As in many forms of Japanese martial arts, meditation is used to improve focus and concentration. The goal is not only to hit the bullseye of the target, but in so doing, also to reach a state of ‘Shin-Zen-Bi’, meaning ‘truth, virtue and beauty’.
Jujutsu [柔術]
The traditional martial art of Jujutsu officially dates back to the 17th century, and was at that time practiced by the samurai class in feudal Japan. However, some would say that Jujutsu dates back much further, to 700 or 800 AD. Jujutsu is more of a wide category of martial arts that emphasises grappling over striking. Jujutsu is still practiced in its traditional form today, even though Judo, which has its roots in Jujutsu, is more popular. Just like with Judo, there is an emphasis on the word ‘gentle’ or ‘soft’. Not only is it necessary to soften up your opponent’s defenses, but also to soften yourself, to let go, and reach a state of flow.
Naginata [薙刀]
Naginata is a martial art that involves the use of a pole weapon with a curved blade on one end. The objective of Naginata is to strike the opponent using the blade or to subdue them using the shaft of the weapon. Naginata is often used as a form of physical and spiritual discipline. Although first develops and practiced by samurai, it was later used to train upper class women. Even today, the majority of practitioners and teachers of Naginata are female. This form of martial art shares some similarity with Kendo, as in competition points are awarded depending on where the weapon strikes the opponent’s armor. There is also a pairs event in competition called engi-kyōgi.
Ninjutsu [忍術]
Ninjutsu is a martial art that was traditionally associated with the ninja of feudal Japan, otherwise known as ‘ninpo’. It includes elements of stealth, camouflage, and assassination, as well as various weapons such as the katana and shuriken, Kunai and Shuko.
Shorinji Kempo [少林寺拳法]
Shorinji Kempo is a martial art that combines elements of Karate and Judo. The objective of Shorinji Kempo is to subdue an opponent using various techniques, such as strikes, kicks, and blocks (known as goho), and joint locks, pins and dodges (known as juho). This form of martial arts, although based on more traditional forms such as Judo and Karate, was actually established after WW2, and takes some of its techniques and philosophy from Chinese style Kung-Fu. Shorinji Kempo was adopted by many fast-growing corporations in Japan in the 1940s, to instill a sense of confidence and strength in their employees.
Bojutsu [棒術]
Bojutsu, also known as Bojitsu, is a Japanese martial art that involves the use of the ‘bo staff’, a long wooden staff that is typically around six feet in length. The bo staff is a versatile weapon that can be used for striking, blocking, and thrusting. The art of Bojitsu is believed to have originated in China and was brought to Japan by the monk Bodhidharma. It later became a part of the martial arts training of the Japanese samurai. Bojitsu places a strong emphasis on discipline, focus, and proper breathing, which are considered integral to the practice. It also emphasizes the development of fluidity of movement and the use of correct body mechanics to maximize power and efficiency. Bojitsu is not widely practiced and it’s not very common to find schools that teach it specifically, but it is often taught as part of other martial arts such as Karate, Kendo, and Aikido.
