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Special
Interests |
| Martial
Arts |
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A part from sumo and
baseball, Japan is also quite well known for its martial arts. Although
they were introduced from China, many have been adopted and modified
to suit the Japanese. Martial arts are now popular both in and outside
Japan.
Literally translated
as "empty hands", karate is related to the Chinese Kung fu and the
Korean Taekwondo. One defends oneself with fists, elbows, and feet
in karate. Hence no weapons are used, just as its name implied.
For maximum results, all movements require the intense discipline
of the mind.
There are two basic types
of karate performances. The first is "kata", where the fighter performs
his or her skills in front of a panel of judges. Precision, technique,
and posture are the criteria. The second type is called "kumite",
where two karate fighters spar each other.
Karate started in the
14th Century. It only spread to the rest of Japan in the first half
of this century. For this reason alone, karate is not considered
a traditional Japanese martial art.
Judo is probably one
of the most popular martial art in the world. It has even been featured
in the Olympic Games and is practiced by millions or people throughout
the world today.
Judo was actually developed
from the ancient martial art, jujutsu, which was a means of self-defense
that was favored by the samurais. It was modernized to judo, which
means "the gentle way". It teaches the principle of flexibility
and techniques are more important than stamina. The basic principle,
however, lie in defeating opponents simply by redirecting their
strength against themselves!
Aikido's roots can be
traced back to the Minamoto clan back in the 10th Century. However,
it was Ueshiba Morihei who started its modern form in the 1920s.
A Japanese defensive
martial art, aikido is comprised of many different techniques, such
as shinto, karate, and kendo. Aikido techniques can overpower an
opponent without much strength.
Breathing and meditation
form an integral part of the training. The concentration of movement
is also derived from classical Japanese dance and the awareness
of "ki", or the life force or will, which flows from the fingertips.
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