Where Did Japanese Martial Arts Originate?

Many of the Japanese martial arts originated in China. The first people to settle what would become part of the Japanese culture are thought to have come from what is now China and Korea, and that region of the world strongly influenced the surrounding cultures.

The Japanese refined and improved the Chinese and Korean martial arts, making them distinctly Japanese. They even infused some of the arts with religious practices.

Karate

Karate may be traced to the island of Okinawa, part of present day Japan. It is thought to have first been practiced in India, having its roots in Buddhism.

Karate spread to China, but it was quite rigorous and physically demanding, so it developed regional differences which made the northern and southern forms of karate quite different. Okinawa, like most of Japan, had its own style of hand-to-hand combat, called okinawa-te. The two styles of Chinese karate eventually made their way to Japan and combined with okinawa-te to become the style of karate that we are familiar with today.

Jujitsu

Samurai often were students of jujitsu, or fighting without weapons. The training helped Samurai to defend themselves against an armed attacker if they found themselves weaponless.

Jujitsu focuses on immobilizing the opponent rather than outright killing or maiming him. The first jujitsu school in Japan was started in the mid-1500s, though the art was in use before the school was opened. More recently, as in within the last 150 years, jujitsu became the parent of another martial art form, judo.

Sumo Wrestling

Sumo wrestling is one of the more unusual martial arts, which is at least 1500 years old. While it was not necessarily a combat art, it was used as a training sport by the samurai. Sumo wrestling was included in prayers and at sacred dances in the Shinto religion. Because sumo wrestling was highly favored in Japan’s Imperial Court, it was included in ceremonies and festivals. Sumo wrestling is the parent of judo, and the grandparent of jujitsu. Today, sumo wrestling is the national sport of Japan.

Japanese Tradition and Martial Arts

Japan’s history involves a feudal period involving a rigid caste system, during which the martial arts gained prominence among the unarmed. The feudal lords, called daimyo, operated in a clan-like structure where one family ruled over their region. They employed military leaders, called shogun, to enforce the laws and maintain armies.

The soldiers in these armies, called samurai, were the foot soldiers of the era. They were well-versed and highly-skilled in martial arts, including those that used weapons and those that did not, and they were fiercely loyal to those in power above them. The samurai were especially skilled with the use of swords and at archery, but they also learned ways to defend themselves in the event they were unarmed and under attack.

Common people were not allowed to join the military caste, so they did not receive military training. There were periods in Japanese history where it was illegal for the average person to possess weapons. Instead, the person used martial arts without weapons to defend themselves as the need arose.

Ancient Traditions: The Basis of Martial Arts

Regardless of the reason why you may want to pursue a martial art, you can know that the martial arts of Japan have firm foundations in ancient traditions. Thousands, if not millions, of people have learned the disciple of the art, the beauty of the skill, and the self-confidence that being able to protect yourself brings.

There are many forms of Japanese martial arts to choose from, so you can find one that suits your need.