| Japanese martial arts refers to the enormous | | | | types of martial arts (such as jujutsu, |
| variety of martial arts native to Japan. | | | | kenjutsu, or naginatajutsu) on both sides of |
| | | | the divide. |
| History | | | | |
| | | | A note on the organization of this article; |
| The historical origin of Japanese martial | | | | it would be impossible to discuss Japanese |
| arts can be found in the warrior traditions | | | | martial arts in terms of the thousands of |
| of the samurai and the caste system that | | | | individual schools or styles, such as |
| restricted the use of weapons by members of | | | | Itto-ryu, Daito-ryu or Tenshin Shoden Katori |
| the non-warrior classes. Originally, samurai | | | | Shinto-ryu. Instead, major sections are |
| were expected to be proficient in many | | | | divided based on when the art originated |
| weapons, as well as unarmed combat, and | | | | (regardless of whether it is still |
| attain the highest possible mastery of combat | | | | practiced), and subsections are dedicated to |
| skills, for the purpose of glorifying either | | | | the root type of martial art, such as jujutsu |
| themselves or their liege. Over time, this | | | | (the art of empty-handed combat through use |
| purpose gave way to a philosophy of achieving | | | | of indirect application of force) or kendo |
| spiritual goals by striving to perfect their | | | | (Japanese sport fencing), wherein notable |
| martial skills. | | | | styles or major differences between styles |
| | | | may be discussed. |
| Ordinarily, the development of combative | | | | |
| techniques is intertwined with the tools used | | | | Koryu, meaning traditional school, or old |
| to execute those techniques. In a rapidly | | | | school, refers specifically to schools of |
| changing world, those tools are constantly | | | | martial arts, originating in Japan, either |
| being improved upon, requiring the techniques | | | | prior to the beginning of the Meiji |
| to use them to be continuously reinvented. | | | | Restoration in 1866, or the Haitorei edict in |
| The history of Japan is somewhat unique in | | | | 1876. The term also is used generally to |
| its relative isolation. Compared with the | | | | indicate that a particular style or art is |
| rest of the world, the Japanese tools of war | | | | "traditional", rather than "modern". However, |
| evolved slowly. Many people believe that this | | | | what it means for an art to be either |
| afforded the warrior class the opportunity to | | | | "traditional" or "modern" is subject to some |
| study their weapons with greater depth than | | | | debate. As a general rule of thumb, the |
| other cultures. Nevertheless, the teaching | | | | primary purpose of a koryu martial art was |
| and training of these martial arts did | | | | for use in war. These martial arts were |
| evolve, first with conditions on the | | | | developed for use in war, and were tested |
| battlefield (archery giving way to the sword; | | | | (either intentionally or incidentally) by the |
| glaive giving way to spear), then through a | | | | scientific method over centuries of time. The |
| long period of peace, and finally into modern | | | | most extreme example of a koryu school is one |
| times. Over time two trends defined the arts | | | | that preserves its traditional, and often |
| - first there was increasing specialization, | | | | ancient, martial practices even in the |
| and second, many of the arts took on | | | | absence of continuing wars in which to test |
| trappings of budo which implies a higher | | | | them. Other koryu schools may have made |
| purpose than just the mastering of arms. | | | | modifications to their practices that reflect |
| | | | the passage of time (which may or may not |
| The martial arts developed or originating in | | | | have resulted in the loss of "koryu" status |
| Japan are extraordinarily diverse, with vast | | | | in the eyes of its peers). This is as opposed |
| differences in training tools, methods, and | | | | to "modern" martial arts, whose primary focus |
| philosophy across innumerable schools and | | | | is generally upon the self-improvement |
| styles. That said, Japanese martial arts may | | | | (mental, physical, or spiritual) of the |
| generally be divided into koryu and gendai | | | | individual practitioner, with varying degrees |
| budo based on whether the existed prior to or | | | | of emphasis on the practical application of |
| after the Meiji Restoration, respectively. | | | | the martial art for either sport or self |
| Since gendai budo and koryu often share the | | | | defense purposes. |
| same historical origin, one will find various | | | | |