Popular Japanese Martial Arts Styles

Self-defense techniques practiced in gymnasiums are mostly Japanese Martial Art. Except for Kung Fu, Chinese martial arts, famous modern competitive fighting, and self-defense styles mostly originated from Japan. Whether Japanese or not, many people across the globe practice various styles of Japanese martial arts.

These combat techniques have existed since the period of the Samurai in the past. These Japanese warriors were famous for their swordsmanship. This skill requires discipline, philosophical balance, and combat prowess. Their swords were their most valuable possessions but not the only weapon they had.

Also, the Japanese warriors were proficient in unarmed styles of combat. They used the ancient hand-to-hand techniques regarded as jujitsu. The various styles of this “no sword” method use an opponent’s strength against the person. The aim of these techniques is to cause the opponent to lose balance through skillful maneuvers and handholds.

Hand-to-hand Forms of Japanese Martial Arts

Some popular forms of martial arts utilize techniques like kicks, throws, grapples, or punches to defeat opponents. Though these combat styles do not require using weapons, sometimes they may be used for training.

Aikido

Morihei Ueshiba started a peaceful form of martial art, Aikido, during the 1920s. It focuses on holds and utilizes an opponent’s energy against the individual. When properly practiced, you can defend yourself and bring the attacker down without any harm to the person. Locks and quick throws are the important techniques used for this style of martial art.

Regarded as the “Gentle Martial Art,” Aikido has a spiritual aspect. It depends on the philosophy neo-Shinto and its practice. It ranks practitioners using “dan” and “kyu” systems. While the dan rank uses black, the kyu rank uses white. Previously, only white and black belts existed. Aikido has more belts now. Their number and ranks vary across schools.

Judo

This prominent form of martial art is a derivation of the ancient Jujutsu practiced by the Japanese warriors. Founded in 1882 by Jigoro Kano, it became an Olympic sport in the 1960s. The martial arts “judo” means “the gentle way.” Practitioners focus their energy on techniques that will help put their opponents out of action. They can use full throws to bring their opponents to the ground and pin them.

Also, they can also use holds to force opponents to submission. Blows are seldom used in this hand-to-hand combat. This essential skill is an aspect of the Japanese police training program. Like aikido, it has both the kyu and dan system of ranking.

Sumo

It is a style of wrestling believed to be the oldest Japanese martial arts. During prayers for a good harvest in the past, the Japanese used sumo to entertain the gods. Then, it was mostly used for combat training and occasionally for entertainment. Later, it became a performance for entertainment and then a sport. This style of martial arts is of Shinto origin. The Shinto practice for purifying the wrestlers before any fight by throwing salt into the wrestling ring remained to date.

Karate

It is a fighting style that uses kicks, punches, and strikes. During a fight, the moves, rhythm of the practitioners’ movements, their balance, and speed are judged. Though karate has become a sport, this style of martial arts can also be lethal. Also, it utilizes the kyu and dan system of ranking with black and white for the highest and lowest belt level respectively.

Weapon-based Japanese martial arts are also used as sports in recent times. The swords for Kendo and Naginata and bows and arrows for Kyudo are culled from the Samurai’s weapons for the battlefield.