A Janpanese Martial Arts - Kendo

Kendo is a Japanese style of fencing derived during the Meiji period in Japan (1868-1912), from the two-handed sword fighting techniques of the samurai. Today kendo, which means "way of the sword", is practiced with shinai (bamboo swords), and fighters wear protective equipment covering the target areas: the head, wrists, and abdomen. The bogu (protective gear) consists of a men (face mask), a do (breastplate), kote (fencing gloves), and the tare, a kind of apron to protect the stomach and hips. Under the protective gear, kendoka (students of kendo) wear a hakama, or wide split skirt, reaching the ankles. The weapon used in Kendo is the shinai, or bamboo sword. The shinai is approximately four feet in length and is made of four carefully formed bamboo slats bound together to form hollow cylinder. A cord runs along the length of the shinai. To make a valid cut a player must strike his opponent with the side opposite the cord. In addition the point must be struck with the top third of the shinai.

Kendo is not very well suited as self-defense - quite the contrary, it is a very aggressive martial art! There are no blocking techniques which are not counter-attacks: you must attack quicker than your opponent to defend yourself! Kendo is a full-contact martial art - unlike most other martial arts, the cuts are not just marked, but they are delivered with only a minimum of restraint. Still, injuries (other than occasional blisters on the soles of the feet) are very rare. The injury frequency is in fact equal to the one in curling.

To avoid injuries, the kendokas use protecting armor (bogu). The different parts of the bogu are:

Men - a fencing mask combined with shoulder flaps for protection of the head, face, throat and shoulders.

Do - a breastplate, covering the torso and stomach.

Kote - a pair of padded gloves for the hands and the wrists.

Tare - an apron which is worn around the hips to protect the thighs and the groin.

The concept of Kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana. The purpose of practicing Kendo is:

To mold the mind and body,

To cultivate a vigorous spirit,

And through correct and rigid training,

To strive for Improvement in the art of Kendo;

To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor,

To associate with others with sincerity,

And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself.

Thus will one be able to love his country and society,

To contribue to the development of culture,

And to promote peace and prosperity among all people.

Shaolin Kempo - 4 Combination Martial Arts

The martial art practiced by monks has always been a source of fascination for most people. This is why it isn't surprising to find Shaolin Kempo Karate or SKK a popular choice for those who want to learn self-defense. Hailing from the offensive and defensive styles of monks, Shaolin Kempo Karate is currently being taught in many Western Gyms and dojos.

History of Shaolin Kempo

Devised by Frederick Villari, Shaolin Kempo is a hybrid of several fighting styles, namely: Shaoilin Kung Fu, Kempo, Jujutsu, Chin Na, and Mongolian Wrestling. Villari's idea was to create a martial arts system that encompasses the four basic types of fighting, therefore eliminating any holes or weaknesses associated with following just one or two styles. Recognized as a Full Contact form of martial art, the technique is currently being taught in numerous dojos, all of which are affiliated with its founder. Variations of this art are also being taught by former disciples of Villari, putting their own style to the system.

Teachings of Shaolin Kempo

Shaolin Kempo is largely popular due to Villari's claim that the system is 'unebeatable.' A former student of martial art greats like William Kwai Sun Chow and Nick Cerio, it seems that the main purposes of Villari is to develop a martial art system with no flaws. This is why he combined so many disciplines in Shaolin Kempo, combining all four ways of fighting: striking, throwing, grappling, and kicking. Derived largely from Shaolin Kung Fu, the Style also utilizes the five animal forms: crane, snake, tiger, dragon, and leopard.

Although there is a hint of spiritual aspect in this martial art, Shaoilin Kempo is first and foremost a style meant for fighting and beating an opponent. It relies not just on strength but also proper form, coordination, and physical fitness. As a self-defense mechanism, the technique proves to be most effective -especially since the offense maneuvers aim to incapacitate the enemy.

Belts and Ranking

Like Karate, Shaolin Kempo also utilizes a belt ranking system with the black belt achieving the highest degrees. Elevating from one belt to another usually involves learning high-level techniques and displaying them proficiently during demonstrations and sparring. Most of the Kung Fu styles depicting animal postures are taught in the higher levels of green, brown, and black. The level for beginners usually involves the art of Kempo. Of course, mixing and matching different styles and movements are also popular, allowing practitioners to master techniques that doesn't leave room for the opponent's defense.

Japanese Karate

If you want to keep your body healthy or would like to keep that figure, enroll yourself in a Japanese karate lesson and you will surely achieve those goals. Today, more and more people are practicing Japanese karate for various reasons. There are others who love karate because they are able to defend themselves while others love karate for it boosts their self-confidence. In addition, karate also forms or moulds their character as a whole for it advocates discipline and respect.

However, before you can do those punches and kicks and blocks, it is necessary and only right for a practitioner to at least have a background check on how Japanese karate began. There are already a lot of karate styles today but actually they just all boil down to those invented and developed in Japan. Karate in vernacular means "Chinese hand" or "Empty hand" depending on how you write it either in Japanese or Chinese character. It is said that the Okinawan Karates started in the 1600s when Chinese practitioners of various Kung Fu styles get together with local adherents of an art called "te" (meaning "hand"). "Te" was a Western type of boxing which is rough and not well constructed. Later on, they combine the different fighting techniques and then resulted into a close-range, hard, external styles.

In the late 19th century Gichin Funakoshi created a new style of Karate. He introduced this in the world in the early 20th century and thus became a common kind of karate. They are called Japanese Karates which they often normally call karate for short. Japanese Karate styles are rough and tend to be used suitably for external methods. When used in defense they are done in circular, and in offense in linear method. Traditional karate styles put emphasize on thorough physical conditioning.

Japanese karate styles are commonly divided into the following groups or styles: Shotokan, Shito-Ryu and Wado-Ryu. Just like other types of karate, Japanese karate requires the familiarization of the basic moves of karate. These include blocking, punching and kicking. These are necessary karate moves, like alphabets which needs to be memorized to be able to level up to higher karate methods. After that a practitioner learns the Kata or forms.

Traditional karate gives a lot of advantages. However, for this to be able to come true, a person needs to enroll in an effective karate school. Aside from that, a person needs a lot of dedication and not merely memorization. Karate masters on the first place advocate the principle of making karate a passion and not only a way of boasting for the knowledge being acquired. Traditional karate can be practiced as an art.

Is Aikido a Martial Art ?

Sensei Henry Ellis Co-Author of the new book Positive Aikido.- 2005. A direct student from 1957 of the legendary master Kenshiro Abbe Sensi 1915 - 1985..

PART 1

At first sight of the above title I am sure that a lot of Aikidoist's will be angry, they will assume that this is yet another attack on the credibility of Aikido by other martial artist's. 

On this occasion they are totally wrong, I have been a student of Aikido since 1956, In those early days I first started Judo in 1955 at the Kenshiro Abbe School of Budo, I studied Karate with Harada Sensei and Kendo with Tomio O'Tani Sensei, so with my background I feel that I have something to offer to this debate.

First Impressions

The Aikido that I first saw being demonstrated by Abbe Sensei in 1956 was without doubt a positive martial art. 

I was immediately impressed by its positive techniques and power, and in those days my fellow martial artists and I were in no doubt that we were witnessing a devastating new form of self-defence as demonstrated by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. 

Abbe Sensei had begun his martial arts career at the age of five and became a legend in his own lifetime. At eighteen he was the youngest ever all Japan Judo champion and also the youngest ever 5th Dan at the world renowned Kodokan. He later became the oldest ever all Japan Judo champion at the age of thirty three.

When Abbe Sensei arrived in the UK in 1955 he was 8th Dan Judo, 6th Dan Karate, 6th Dan Kendo, 6th Dan Kyudo, 6th Dan Aikido, 

the question must be asked; would this Budo master have studied Aikido if he did not believe it to be a martial art?

It is my opinion that Abbe Sensei would not have studied Aikido as it is today.

Please break my finger

As a direct student of Abbe Sensei I asked one day whilst we were traveling to a seminar 

"Sensei, how did you first become a student of O'Sensei and Aikido"? 

He smiled as he reminisced for a few moments; then told me the following story:

He said that he was a young man at the time and the Judo champion of all Japan and traveling on a crowded train across Japan to yet another Judo competion. 

Sitting opposite him in the same carriage was an old man who was trying to make some conversation with him, Abbe had his eyes closed as he tried to sleep. 

The old man said to him " I know who you are" Abbe Sensei replied rather modestly " everyone knows who I am, I am Kenshiro Abbe champion of all Japan" he politely asked the old man who he was, the old man replied 

"I am Morihei Ueshiba founder of Aikido" Abbe Sensei nodded politely and suggested that they now try to get some sleep, the old man suddenly stuck his hand forward and offered the smallest digit to this powerfully built young man, Abbe was stunned as the old man said " 

please break my finger" Abbe thought I will break his neck if he doesn't go to sleep, he was now becoming irritated by this old man, he immediately grasped the old mans finger in an attempt to shut him up, he freely admitted that in his frustration it was his intention to break the offending digit. To his total amazement he was suddenly slammed onto the carriage floor. As he lay prostrate and unable to move he knew he had to study with this master. He asked O'Sensei if he could study with him, O'Sensei agreed and Abbe stayed with O'Sensei for ten years.

O'Sensei had spent many years studying various martial arts, I believe that the art of Daito-ryu and Ju-jitsu had more influence on the development of Aikido than anything else he had studied, and we know he went to Mongolia to fight and this would be the perfect opportunity to test his many skills in a real situation, so we can be in no doubt that this incredible man was a true warrior and modern Samurai.

A knife for my enemy

It was this early positive style of Aikido that Abbe Sensei brought to the UK in 1955, at this time there was also the first Japanese master to Europe, this was Tadashi Abe Sensei 6th Dan who was based in France, he was a small man even by Japanese standards, but to my mind he was the hardest man I have ever met.

He was very similar to Kazuo Chiba Sensei who I met with in London's West End last week, When he traveled he always carried a knife with him, this was not for his own protection but to hand to his shocked opponent, he would say "please, this is for you". 

He said that an opponent with his bare fists was no challenge, but a man with a knife was "very interesting".

I think we can safely assume that as these teachers were so hard and positive then this must have been the style of Aikido that was being taught at the Hombu dojo in Japan, this was the Aikido of O'Sensei as a young man, the Aikido being taught today is that of O'Sensei as an old man, there is no doubt that as people get older they lose the spirit of their youth and become more philosophical in their approach to life.

My father who was once regarded as the toughest man in town later in life found his peace taking his dog for long walks. I believe that we now have two aikido's, traditional aikido which if truly traditional (this word is much abused) is the martial side of Aikido, the soft fantasy and dancing style of Aikido should simply be categorized as an "Art".

Those who are true traditional Aikidoists will take no offence at this article, yet the dancers will probably be offended and I care little for their feelings as I honestly believe that this soft Aikido has no more right to call itself a martial art than has synchronized swimming has a right to be in the Olympics.

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PART 2

In my previous article, I attempted to establish the hard style of Aikido that was first introduced to the West in the 1950's. I would like to emphasize the fact that I get no satisfaction from publicly criticizing Aikido and I get a great deal less satisfaction when I see Aikido being brought into ridicule.

To continue from part one.....

Hard training

The training in and exercises in those early days were very hard and physical, with karate style kicking and punching a very integral part of our warm up, followed by 200 press ups on the backs of the wrists, with fingers pointing both inwards and outwards, very often while you were in the raised position Abbe Sensei would instruct another student to sit on your back, as we were the only group of five Dan grades in the UK and all in the same dojo then this was the training in all the Aikido dojos in the UK and today we are the only organization in Aikido still doing these press ups.

The purists say "these press ups are bad for you" what they really mean is they can't do them, this is all part of the watering down of traditional Aikido.

Choreography

Aikidoists are often accused of practicing " Choreographed Aikido" and to be honest I must admit that these claims are very often justified, with Uke (attacker) preparing to break fall long before he makes his attack, and most of them attack off balance , therefore making any multiples of techniques possible with the minimum of effort and of course this makes Tori (defender) look "fantastic".

What is really sad is that these people believe that this is good Aikido. 

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei would always say to us that "two" students are training at the same time, one is Uke who is learning and improving his attacking techniques and his 

opponent Tori is also learning and improving his defensive techniques, whilst we were training with Abbe Sensei if Uke's foot or heel came off the mat as he attacked Abbe Sensei would give the offending leg a good whack with a shinai (bamboo sword) he would then say " My English is very bad but my shinai speaks fluently!".

If Uke attacks on balance then it is obvious that Tori's technique must be good and strong to throw him, and as Abbe Sensei said so many times " two students are training" . 

Mark Eastman a strong young Dan grade with me went on a seminar recently where there was a 6th Dan. The 6th Dan refused to use him as Uke stating " I can not use you as you do not harmonize with me", he was not being awkward or difficult just attacking on balance.

Diluted training

Today all of these traditional exercises and training methods have now changed to a simple warm up routine with jumping up and down on the spot and lots of deep spiritual discussion. 

Hard exercise is now considered to be aggressive and not in harmony with the true spirit of Aikido.

Abbe Sensei said that hard training developed the spirit, he also referred to Ki during those early days as he demonstrated the power of his technique, when asked to explain the meaning of Ki, he said not to worry about Ki as that would be a part of our training and development.

He then said "Only when you reach first Dan will you be able to understand the true concept of Ki as a further extension of your Aikido." 

I still believe that line of thought, and the instructors in our dojo's very rarely speak of Ki although it is taught as a important and integral part of our training and study.

Ki Aikido

Although Ki is generally recognized as the spirit and breathing during the application of technique, every teacher and student will offer a very wide and varied and sometimes bizarre interpretation of the meaning of this much abused word. 

The main problems arise and are created by the teachers themselves, who very often mislead their students to the extent that they almost believe that Ki is a form of magic. The following is one prime example from a very prominent Aikido magazines letters section.

Title: The Spirit of Protection 

I am a carpenter and 2nd kyu in Aikido. I was working in a large new home doing repair work, I had finished my job and was heading for a long staircase when I noticed the owners two year old son was heading for the same stairs from the opposite direction. 

As he approached the top of the stair he was watching me and not where he was going. I was too far away to grab him, so I shot to him (irimi) and stuck my arm straight out to him, my "Ki" went through the little boys' face and out the back of his head, he fell backwards and started crying. 

His mother heard the crying and came up the stairs, when I told her what had happened, she thanked me, 

I said "Don't thank me, Thank Aikido".

That poor child may well now be as disturbed as the writer.

Harry Potter Ryu

There are many such misguided examples which I will refer to in future articles, it is this kind of nonsense that brings Aikidos credibility into doubt I am fully aware that every martial art has its own version of " Harry Potter" in their ranks, what I fail to understand is that there are more of them in Aikido than all the other martial arts combined.

The reason that I am so critical and vociferous about Aikido is that every day I see these people watering down this great martial art that I have spent most of my life studying, teaching and promoting for the past 46 years. I am often asked "Sensei, which do you think is the best and worst martial art".

I always make the same reply " All the martial arts are good, if there is a problem with any martial art, then it can only be the people who represent that particular art who misrepresent their art

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PART 3

The Converted

In articles parts one and two I have covered the introduction of Aikido to the West, and the impact on other Martial Artists, Aikido progressed and developed in the UK by visiting existing dojos of all the various Martial Arts and offering to demonstrate and teach for free in the hope of starting a small class in the more receptive dojos, as one can imagine this was no easy task as more often than not our efforts were not an open invitation to most dojos. 

In the end the positive style of the early Aikido won through, and this is a very important point to make in the early development of Western Aikido was that most of the new students of Aikido were from other Martial Arts. I do not believe that we could have converted other Martial Artists to Aikido had it not been so strong and effective.

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei - 8th Dan Judo, 6th Dan Karate, 6th Dan Kendo, 6th Dan Aikido.

Bad breath!

I have referred to the many changes in Aikido over the past 46 years from its history to training and choreography and Ki Aikido and also the many Harry Potters of the Aikido world, as a direct result of these articles I was contacted by a Aikido student in the UK to tell me that she had now stopped training in Aikido because her teacher stated that he was now going to teach the students "To breath through their toes".

Lets Dance

The most important of all the changes that have taken place in the past 46 years have to be the changes in technique and its application, the early style of Aikido was very compact and powerful. From the day of its introduction to the UK, Aikido was always taught as a circular moving Martial Art with Tori at the centre of all movement. 

As Uke (the attacker) made his attack, Tori would turn within his own circle making it possible to carry out the technique in a very small area of maybe four square feet. Today the fantasy aikidoist need a football pitch. 

I have seen some so called "masters" twirling Uke around on the end of one finger and pirouetting several times before being thrown the full length of the mat.

Harmonising

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei always taught that Uke would only "go" if the technique was effective. I often hear and have seen some of these people who say they can throw an opponent without touching them and sometimes by breathing and projecting their "Ki". 

You cannot do that if someone is attacking on balance, I have never seen anyone do that to a student of mine. Of course if you do attack on balance you will then be accused of "Not harmonizing".

Aikido for real

I have read various accounts of the first Americans to practice Aikido in the early 60's. There were Americans practicing Aikido in the UK in the late 1950's at "The Hut" The Abbe School of Budo. 

The Americans were members of the USAF stationed in the UK. they were always questioning " How would that work in the street?" and we would often finish up in the car park of The Hut after class and engage in some real Aikido. 

Afterwards everyone would be in good spirits and have a few beers.

Sunday mornings were always the best practice sessions with the dojo doors being locked to all but the Dan grades. It was then that the Dan grades would fight each other for real. This was the only way to truly evaluate your technique. 

On one occasion I was fighting with Sensei Ken Williams (The British National Coach) he hit me hard and I went down clutching my chest and moaning loudly in agony. 

It was known that I didn't go down and I never made a fuss, so now everyone was concerned for me and as Sensei Williams leaned over me asking "Harry, are you OK" I lashed out with my fist at his head, just making a glancing contact, he then stepped back and kicked me in the head putting an end to my cunning.

The smallest of all the Dan grades was Eric Dollimore, he was only about 5ft-6in in height and around 130 lbs. 

I always felt that Eric was avoiding me on these Sunday morning sessions, as he was about to leave the mat I said to him "Eric, would you like to try against me" he just turned and said "Sorry Harry, I have to be at my girlfriends home for lunch". As he left the mat I smiled to myself and thought "That's what I expected" the smugness did not last long as I heard a voice behind me say 

"OK then Harry, can we make it quick as I must get away". 

It was Eric; for a moment I was surprised then I thought to myself if you want it quick I will accommodate you. 

I moved in to take him out with the one punch and the next thing I knew I had gone through the dojo office partition wall and I was still lying stunned the office floor when I heard Eric's voice call out 

"See you Monday Harry, gotta go". 

That was a very important lesson to me, I have never underestimated anyone since the little guy taught me a lesson.

The Grading Lottery

If in the 1950's and 60's you saw a 5th or 6th Dan you would be in awe of him. I now see so many multi grades and to be honest they would not be graded first Dan in the old days. They make these claims knowing that if they are ever challenged and prove their mettle they know they can claim that this is against the principals of Aikido. 

Another favourite of these people is to juggle around with their grades and come up with multiples of matching grades, for a prime example of this abuse check out the article "British Aikido-The Controversy" on the web-site http://www.geocities.com/BritishAikido

Mitsusuke Harada Sensei "5th Dan" 

Harada Sensei was my Karate teacher in the 1960's, he was then and still is a 5th Dan at the Shotokan dojo in Tokyo. he was graded by the founder of modern day Karate Gichin Funakoshi Sensei. 

He taught Karate to the USAF at the Kodokan dojo after the second world war. He was graded 5th Dan by Funakoshi Sensei in 1957 and is still 5th Dan after 45 years, stating that "Any grade above 5th Dan is totally pointless". 

This is exactly the feeling of Sensei Derek Eastman and myself, although we are two of the only remaining four of the original group left of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei's group from the 1950's, we both agreed that there were too many "Harry Potter" grades around, we then decided that like Harada Sensei we would make 5th Dan the highest level in our organization.

5 Ways to Get Better at Judo

There are a few things that I tell people that will help them get better at Judo.

Have a good gi:

I always encourage judoka to invest in a good gi. Don't go with a no name brand, but buy a well known gi brand, such as Mizuno. A judo gi is like a good suit, when you wear it you feel good and it is nice to feel good. Secondly a quality gi is tailored nice so the cut and design of the gi will fit nicer than a run of the mill gi. Wearing a good judo suit will also make you look the part and it's like the saying "fake it til you make it." People spend hundreds of dollars in a dinner suit they wear once or twice a year but a good judo gi you wear two to three times a week.

Have a good club:

You must have a good club in order to improve your judo game. Many people believe that a good club should be a huge club with six mat areas a sauna and a gym. But many of the top judo clubs in the world are one and a half mat areas and a small weights area. The space of the club isn't what makes a good judo club it is the people that make up the club. The judokas in the club should represent the fundamental aspects if judo, mutual welfare and benefit."

Therefore they should understand that not everything is about them and that everyone is there to learn and enjoy the benefits of judo.

Have a good mindset:

You must have a particular mindset about judo. If you do not like to learn then judo is not a sport for you. If you do not like to lose then Judo is not for you and if you do not like to grow and develop your current skills into better skills then judo is not for you. Judo requires dedication a d a lifetime of study. Judo is not just a martial art or sport but a journey. Not just a journey from white to black belt and beyond but further. Judo is an art where you never stop learning and growing and there is always something new to learn and develop. The day you think you know it all is the day you will begin to plateau in not only your judo skills but in your enjoyment for the art of judo. So stay strong mentally and you will go far in judo.

Have a good strength and conditioning program:

You have heard me say it over and over again. You must have a good strength and conditioning program if you want to get better at judo. I don't just mean any strength program or a power lifting program or a cross fit regime. I am talking about a program that is written specifically for judo. I have written fitness and conditioning manual called workouts for judo that answers all your questions about fitness and conditioning for judo. By having a program written for judo will help you get better at judo and quickly due to the fact that you won't be gassing out or worried that you are going to run out of steam. You can just keep on going and keep on working your technique.

Be critical:

Be critical about your judo game. What aspects of your game do you need to improve on? Do you need to develop a better ground game? Is your ground game good but your transitions bad? Do you use enough foot sweeps or do you grip fight too much? If you are critical about your judo game and put strategies in place to rectify these holes then you will become a more complete judoka if you critically analyse your judo and adjust what needs fixing. You may need to film yourself doing uchikomi and analyse you technique to make sure you are doing everything correctly.

The History of Ninjutsu

It is certainly no surprise that Ninjutsu does not have a clear lineage or history, especially given its dealings with extreme amounts of secrecy, stealth and escapism. More than likely, the early founders of Ninjutsu did not necessarily want many people knowing where this art came from, considering they were trying to remain concealed and as unobtrusive as possible. We do know, however, that Ninjutsu originated in the country of Japan when early mountaineers needed to devise complex methods of survival.

As time went on, however, Ninjutsu became more popular of an art and many schools were set up in its name in order to teach Ninjutsu and pass on this extremely rare and unique knowledge. During the early stages of Ninjutsu, a man by the name of Juhakkei (who was a ninja) studied alongside a man by the name of Juhappan (a Samurai warrior) and together, they each developed two very different and yet similar standards for their respective martial arts. In Ninjutsu, these became known as 18 Disciplines and formed a standard to which all Ninjutsu schools should adhere.

Another important figurehead in the development of Ninjutsu was a man by the name of Masaaki Hatsumi. Masaaki Hatsumi is the head of the Bujinkan Dojo and is one of the few original Bujinkan teachers left, however, Masaaki Hatsumi was required to modernize traditional Ninjutsu to suit the changing and developing needs of the Japanese people. However, Masaaki Hatsumi is now considered to be the head figure of Ninjutsu itself, and he is said to actually have possession of the Densho (ancient scrolls) on which the original 18 Disciplines were written. Masaaki Hatsumi's ancestry can be drawn back 34 generations which may give Ninjutsu authorities and experts some clues about who might have originally founded Ninjutsu, however, it is not likely that a definitive conclusion will be reached in that respect.

Ninjutsu has reached a peak in popularity with several movies and television shows that are showcasing ninjas and the art of Ninjutsu, such as the comedy Beverly Hills Ninja and Kill Bill I and II. Unfortunately, neither of these moves, although well known, paints Ninjutsu in the best light. True ninjas may find the entertainment industry's take on the art form somewhat infuriating or embarrassing, but because of the ninja's secrecy, Hollywood is left to draw its own conclusions. It is quite possible that Ninjutsu's somewhat unsavory reputation can be contributed to the entertainment industry as well however, true followers and Ninjutsu enthusiasts understand Ninjutsu's true meaning.

Ninjutsu is not necessarily as practical a martial art as it once was, however, many people still believe it has applications in modern society today. Some people also believe that the only true way to study Ninjutsu is to study under a ninja master who was schooled by a ninja master and so on until an original Bujinkan teacher is traced. Either way, Ninjutsu has taken its place among history and society and will not soon be forgotten.

The Practice of Kenjutsu

The History Kenjutsu is a military art form which was created in Japan in the 15th century. It was primarily designed to prepare samurai, as well as ordinary soldiers for combat on the battlefield.

The main emphasis of kenjutsu centers around the practice of swordsmanship. But in some styles the practice of other battlefield-related weapons is also an integral part of their curricula. At the simplest level, it can be viewed as a collection of combat techniques for various weapons, most notably the sword.At a more complex level, it can be considered the study of the strategy both large-scale and small, offensive as well as defensive.  In terms of learning to fight with a sword, kenjutsu has a more complete curriculum. Kendo of necessity limits the range of techniques and targets. Kendoka generally use shinai, which allow techniques which do not work with real swords. Kenjutsu practitioners do not usually use shinai in training, preferring to use bokken (wooden swords) or katana (steel swords) in order to preserve the cutting technique of real sword fighting. Kenjutsu training largely consists of practicing cutting technique and performing partner Kata. For safety reasons, free-sparring is seldom practiced with Bokken or katana.

It was natural for the samurais to practice everyday with their sword. To the samurai the sword was their foremost weapon and privilege - other groups in the society was forbidden to bear swords.

Furthermore the practice with the sword was much more than preparing for battle. Around the Japanese sword grew a whole philosophy. It has many names, as ken, katana, tachi, and to.

The history of Kenjutsu dates back to the late Kamakura Period ( 1192 - 1333) when the country was embroiled in a series of civil wars unparalleled in Japanese history, as the influence and authority of the ruling Ashikaga Shogunate waned and the various provincial warlords all fought one another for hegemony and control of the land. It was in this disorderly environment that the growth of the military arts blossomed, as there evolved the need for well-organized martial disciplines to train and prepare the legions of warriors and clan members for combat on the battlefields. Kenjutsu was one of the Six Ancient Martial Arts which warriors study; the others were archery, jujutsu, gunnery, horsemanship and spearman ship. But in terms of popularity and practicality, kenjutsu (swordsmanship) practitioners out numbered all others, especially with the advent of the warriors code of ethic, Bushido. The pre-eminence of the study of swordsmanship continued up until the late 20th century, when unarmed martial arts then became popular. 

History Of The Samurai And Bodyguard Training That Became Jujutsu

Unarmed fighting forms have be a part of Japanese culture for many centuries. Unarmed combat is mentioned in the earliest Japanese historical records. The Japanese fighting systems we know today have their origins found in ancient Japanese battlefield combat systems. The fighting styles that fall under the general name Sengoku Jujutsu were originally not for unarmed combat as much as they were to help a lightly armored warrior defeat a heavily armed warrior. The heavily armed attacker would generally not be prepared to defend against unarmed techniques. Jujitsu training includes learning striking, body throws, sweeps, joint-locks, off-balance throws, pinning, grappling, wrestling, strangulating holds, submission holds, and even weapon skills such as with the tanto. Jujitsu training also includes defensive strategies such as evasion, blocking, blending, escaping, and maintaining balance.

During the Edo period is when the Jujitsu that we recognize today started to come into being. The Nihon Jujutsu of today is a child of Edo Jujutsu, which was less battlefield oriented and focused on dealing with unarmored opponents. One of the primary differences is the addition use of striking vital targets. This would not be of much use against an armored opponent, but it is very powerful when used against an enemy in civilian or street clothes.

One aspect of the original forms of Jujitsu training that is no longer seen much is the use of a cord to restrain or choke an attacker. While these techniques are not as relevant with today's weapons, Tokyo police still carry a hojo cord and train with it regularly.

Truly modern Jujutsu was founded towards the end of the Tokegawa period around the year 1850. Around this time many Jujutsu schools sprung up which stressed Jujitsu training based on the Edo Jujustsu system rather than the Sengoku Jujutsu system as battlefield confrontation was no longer very relevant.

Modern Jujutsu is employed by law enforcement and militaries all around the world. It is a very effective way to restrain an attacker without using lethal force. If an opponent is not trained in Jujutsu, it is very hard for them to defend against Jujutsu's attacks and control maneuvers. Modern Jujutsu is also very popular in the mixed martial arts sport of today, and there are also many Jujutsu specific competitions.

One of the reasons Jujutsu is so effective is that it specializes in reacting to any given situation. You do not just run striking drills and hope an opponent cannot defend against your combinations. Jujutsu allows the student to stay effective no matter where the fight goes. If the fight goes to the ground, the Jujutsu student is prepared. Jujutsu allows the student to keep control over the fight and impose his strategy upon the opponent no matter what they try to do.

How to See a Sumo Match in Japan

Sumo is one of Japan's most popular and long-running spectator sports with a 2,000 year legacy. Performed in the past to entertain the Shinto gods, sumo still holds much weight (literally) in the modern era. In sumo, two rikishi or wrestlers enter the ring wearing a silk sash. After throwing salt and performing rituals and rites of Shinto purification, the rikishi take opposite places in the ring. The sumo ring called the dohyo is packed with clay and dusted with sand.

They slap, stomp and glare to build anticipation for the showdown. Then when the moment is right, the sumo wrestlers dart with sheer force to get the upper hand and push the other out of the ring. The first one to step outside the ring or touch the ground loses, and the sumo match is over within seconds.

The demanding life of a sumo career can start as early as age fifteen. On average, a sumo wrestler stands about six foot tall and weighs somewhere around 325 pounds. The ultimate victory of a sumo wrestler is to secure the title of yokuzuna or grand champion. There are no limits that separate weight classes. Sumo is practiced with traditional authenticity, and the ritual of this highly ceremonial sport only increases the spectacle.

The honbasho or sumo tournament is held for 15 days in Tokyo in January, May and September, and you can watch a match at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo's National Sumo Hall. Honbasho can also be observed in Osaka in March, Nagoya in July and Fukouka in November. During the tournament season, you can also observe training session in the beya or sumo stable. Each morning the sumo wrestlers train from 6am to around 9am. It is best to call ahead before sitting in on training. When at the stable, always be respectful and quiet while watching the action.

The best seats can cost a fortune, but many general seating areas can go for as little as $35 dollars a match. Tickets for sumo matches are easier to snag for morning or afternoon matches, since early matches see fewer crowds. Sumo is one of the best ways to explore one of the most beloved traditions of Japan. It

Japanese Martial Arts: History, Styles, and Weapons

Japanese Martial Arts

The history of the island nation of Japan paints a clear picture of a proud and powerful people forging a national identity, robust culture, and unique way of life from the crucible of war and uncertain peace. Central to this culture was the concept of martial valor, of being able to fight aggressively as well as defensively, both for the very practical purposes of waging war along with strong notions of duty, honor, and personal development. It was from this militaristic and spiritual foundation that the Japanese martial arts styles, of which there are legion and which will be discussed throughout this article, developed.

History

Broadly speaking, the history of Japanese martial arts can be broken down into two categories: Koryu Bujutsu (bujutsu meaning the practical application of martial tactics and techniques in actual combat) and Gendai Budo (budo meaning a way of life encompassing physical, spiritual, and moral dimensions with a focus of self-improvement, fulfillment, or personal growth).

Koryu Bujutsu encompasses the more ancient, traditional Japanese fighting styles, while Gendai Budo is more modern. The division between them occurred after the Meiji Restoration (1868), when the Emperor was restored to practical political power and Japan began the process of modernization in haste. Prior to the Restoration, the Koryu styles focused extensively, if not exclusively, on practical warfare. The Samurai, or warrior caste were expected to be masters of all forms of combat, armed and otherwise. Their martial arts evolved as weapons and technology did, but the focus always remained the same: victory in actual combat, for their own honor and for the cause of their ruler.

However, with the Meiji Restoration and the modernization of Japan, including the large-scale introduction of firearms, the traditional Japanese fighting styles of the samurai became outdated and no longer useful for their practical purpose of military combat. In their wake, the Japanese martial arts styles evolved into what came to be known as Gendai Budo, which focused far less on broad-scale military application and far more on self-improvement and personal growth. They became not just a tool for military victory, but a vital component of a fulfilling, meaningful, and spiritually connected way of life.

Interestingly, this distinction can be noted in the differing terminology: the traditional techniques were referred to as bujutsu, which specifically relates to waging war, while the modern styles are collectively known as budo, which are far more involved with personal betterment.

Styles

Traditional Japanese Martial Arts (Koryu Bujutsu)

Sumo: The oldest of Japanese martial arts styles is sumo, named after the emperor who popularized it (Shumo Tenno) in 728 AD. However, the origins of the fighting style go back long before him, to 23 AD, when the first sumo battle was fought, watched over by the emperor and continuing until one of the fighters was too wounded to continue. After Emperor Shumo reintroduced the sport, it became a staple of the annual harvest festival, spreading throughout Japan and even incorporated into military training. From the 17th century onward, it became a professional sport in every regard, open to all classes, samurai and peasants alike. The rules of the sport are simple: 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. It is still an incredibly popular sport in Japan to this day, followed religiously be legions of fervent fans.

Jujutsu: This Japanese martial arts style literally translates into "soft skills", and uses indirect force such as joint locks and throws to defeat an opponent, rather than direct force like punches and kicks, to use the attackers force against them and counterattack where they are weakest. It was initially developed to fight against the samurai, who often terrorized townspeople, as more direct forms of combat proved ineffective against well-armored foes. Small weapons such as daggers, weighed chains, and helmet smashers (tanto, ryufundo kusari, and jutte, respectively) were used as well in jujutsu. Many elements of jujutsu have been incorporated into a wide variety of more modern Japanese martial arts, including judo, aikido, and non-Japanese martial arts styles like karate.

Ninjutsu: Ninjutsu, or the art of the Ninja, has in the modern period grown to become one of the best known styles of Japanese martial arts. However, when it was developed, Ninjas were used as assassins during the turbulent Warring States Period. Although many a martial arts movie has portrayed ninjas as expert combatants, their true purpose was to avoid combat, or even detection altogether. A skilled ninja would kill his mark and be gone before anyone even suspected he was there. Ninjas were trained in the arts of disguise, escape, concealment, archery, medicine, explosives, and poisons, a skillset uniquely suited to their particular task.

Although there are a number of other Koryu Bujutsu Japanese martial arts styles, they mostly involve weapons, and will be discussed in the Japanese Martial Arts Weapons section.

Modern Japanese Martial Arts (Gendai Budo)

Judo: Literally translated into "the gentle way" or "the way of softness", Judo is an extremely popular Japanese martial art style developed in the late 19th century based on grappling, and used for sport as well as personal and spiritual development. While incorporating many jujutsu elements, it mainly involves freestyle practice and is used for competition, while removing many of the more harmful jujutsu aspects. In 1964, Judo became an Olympic sport and is currently practiced the world over.

Aikido: Aikido is one of the most complex and nuanced of the Japanese martial arts styles, and that is reflected in its name, which translates into "the way to harmony with ki", "ki" meaning life force. Aikido was developed by Morihei Ueshiba in the early-mid 20th century, and focuses primarily on striking, throwing, and joint-locking techniques. Aikido is well known for its fluidity of motion as a signature element of its style. Its principle involves the use of the attacker's own force against him, with minimal exertion on the part of the wielder. Aikido was influenced significantly by Kenjutsu, the traditional Japanese martial art of sword combat, and in many respects practitioner is acts and moves as an empty-handed swordsman. Aikido also places a strong emphasis on spiritual development, reflecting the importance of spirituality to its founder, and the resultant influence on the martial arts style.

Japanese Karate: Karate, the "way of the empty hand", was actually not originally a Japanese martial art, having been developed in Okinawa and later influenced by the Chinese. However, early in the 20th century Karate found acceptance in Japan, going so far as to be incorporated into the Japanese public school system. Japanese Karate involves linear punching and kicking, executed from a fixed stance. In this sense, it is very different from the other Japanese martial arts such as Aikido and Judo, which are more fluid in their motions.

Kempo: Kempo is a system of self-defense and self-improvement developed after WWII, based on a modified version of Shaolin Kung-Fu. It involves a combination of strikes, kicks and blocks, as well as pins, joint locks and dodges, making it a middle way between the "hard" styles like Japanese Karate and the more "soft" styles like Judo and Aikido. It was originally introduced into Japan after the war in order to rebuild Japanese morale and spirits, first adopted by large scale corporations for their employees before spreading into the culture of Japan and the larger martial arts world. Now, Kempo is practiced by over 1.5 million people in over 33 countries.

Japanese Martial Arts Weapons

Weapons played a key role in the Japanese Martial Arts, especially during the Koryu Bujutsu phase when they were practically used in combat. Here we will go through a number of Japanese martial arts weapons, as well as the martial arts styles associated with each.

Sword (Katana): Undisputed amongst the hierarchy of Japanese martial arts weapons is the Katana, or the traditional curved sword. The first Katana, with its famous strengthening folding process was forged by legendary swordsmith Amakuni Yasutsuna in 700 AD, with subsequent developments occurring between 987 and 1597 AD. During times of peace, artistry was emphasized, and during times of war, like the 12th century civil war and the 13th century Mongolian invasion, durability, effectiveness, and mass production were more important. The evolution of Swordsmanship was cyclical, with peaceful times being used to invent new techniques, and war times being used to test them. What worked survived, what didn't, didn't. During the more than 200 year peaceful period of the Tokugawa Dynasty, the art of swordsmanship changed from one focused on combat and killing to one of personal development and spiritual perfection.

Japanese Martial Arts Weapons Techniques (Katana):

Kenjutsu: the "art of the sword", this technique is the oldest and used to refer to partnered, one-on-one sword training.

Battojutsu: This is the Art of Drawing a Sword, and involves quickly stepping up to your opponent, drawing your blade, cutting them down in one or two strokes, and re-sheathing the blade. The fact that it has a category onto itself speaks volumes for the philosophy behind Japanese martial arts weapons styles. Battojutso is connected with Iaijutso, or the art of mental presence and immediate reaction, which needs to be perfected if battojutu is to be effective.

Kendo: Kendo, which translates into the "way of the sword", is a modern, gendai budo Japanese martial arts style. As the sword is no longer a combat weapon, Kendo has reinvented Japanese swordsmanship into a competitive sport. Kendo really took off once the bamboo sword and lightweight wooden armor were introduced, as they allowed for full-speed strikes without the risk of injury. Now, almost all of competitive Kendo is governed by the All Japan Kendo Federation, established in 1951.

Other Japanese Martial Arts Weapons and Martial Arts Styles

Naginata & Naginatajutsu: The naginata was a wooden pole with a curved, single-edged blade at the end. It was used by the samurai, as well as by regular footsoldiers. Naginatajutsua was the art of the naginata, used extensively in traditional Japanese combat. Interestingly, during the Edo period, the Naginata was traditionally a weapon of high-born women, and many practitioners and teachers to this day are women. In the modern world, naginata-do is the ritualistic and competitive form of naginatajutso, practiced by many in Japan and beyond.

Spear & Sojutso: this is the art of fighting with a spear. Although it used to be practiced extensively, and was a primary skill of average soldiers during times of war, it has since declined significantly in popularity, for obvious reasons.

Bow & Kyudo: Kyudo is the "way of the bow", with the Koryu name being Kyujutsu, or the art of the bow. In traditional Japanese martial arts, the bow and its art was a staple of Samurai discipline, as it was a potent military weapon. When used on horseback, it was even more devastating. However, as Japan adopted firearms, the bow was displaced as a practical instrument of war. Thus, in modern times, Kyudo is practiced for sport and contemplation rather than for warfare.

Other Japanese martial arts weapons exist, such as the tanto (dagger), ryufundo kusari (weighed chain), and jutte (helmet smasher), but the Katana, naginata, spearm and bow were the mainstays of the warrior class.

Japanese Martial Arts List

If the above was a bit too long to read, here is a concise list of the major differing Japanese martial arts styles:

Traditional Japanese Martial Arts Styles

Sumo: earliest style, involves pushing a single opponent over or knocking them from the ring.

Jujutsu: An early style used against samurai and armored opponents, it involves using throws and joint locks to use the enemies own force against them.

Kenjutsu: The art of the sword, involves fighting a single opponent one-on-one with a Katana.

Ninjutsu: The art of the ninja, involves using stealth and indirect or long-range methods of assassination.

Modern Japanese Martial Arts Styles

Judo: "The Gentle Way", based on grappling, used for sport as well as spiritual and personal development. Judo was accepted as an Olympic sport in 1964.

Aikido: "The Way of Harmony with Ki", Aikido involves fluid motion and turning the attacker's own force against him. It is also used for spiritual and personal development.

Japanese Karate: An "imported" martial art to Japan, Japanese Karate is more linear than the other arts, involving direct punches and kicks from a fixed position.

Kempo: Based on Shaolin Kung-Fu, Kempo incorporates direct strikes, kicks, and blocks, as well as indirect pins, joint locks, and dodges. Having been introduced after WWII, is incredibly popular in Japan and throughout the world.

Kendo: The "way of the sword", Kendo uses bamboo swords and lightweight wooden armor to allow full-speed strikes and has reinvented Japanese sword fighting into a competitive sport rather than an art of war.