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Introduction: Martial arts were important for the samurai class in medieval Japan. These arts were really to help one prepare for combat. Skill in these areas could save the life of the samurai who knew them well. "Martial" means fighting. So these fighting skills were much more than recreation!
Many of these martial arts were brought from China, but the Japanese further developed them and added to them. Some of these martial arts became further ritualized [given formal rules] in Zen Buddhism. A samurai warrior of the Middle Ages would be an expert at some of these arts, especially archery and sword fighting.
I. Sumo Wrestling
A. History of Sumo Wrestling
Sumo wrestling is an ancient sport dating back at least 1500 years. According to one Japanese legend, the very origin of the Japanese race depended on the outcome of a sumo match. The Japanese people on the islands of Japan supposedly established their claim to these islands when the god, Take-mikazuchi, won a sumo match with the leader of a rival tribe.
The first sumo matches were a form of ritual dedicated to the gods with prayers for a good harvest. They were performed with sacred dancing and dramas within the walls of the Shinto shrines.
During the Nara Period (the 8th century) sumo was introduced into the ceremonies of the Imperial Court. A wrestling festival was held annually (every year) which included music and dancing in which the victorious wrestlers participated.
Early sumo wrestling was rough. It combined parts of boxing and wrestling with few or no rules. But at the Imperial Court rules were formulated and techniques developed so that it became more like the sumo wrestling of today.
During the Age of the Samurai, sumo was useful as military training. Later jujitsu was developed as an offshoot of sumo by the samurai. In the 17th century peace was finally restored under the Age of the Shoguns. A period of prosperity followed, marked by the rise to power of the new merchant class. Professional sumo groups were organized to entertain the common people, and sumo has become the national sport of Japan.
Sumo wrestlers are very popular today, something like famous athletes, movie stars, or pop singers are in the United States. In the Middle Ages the sumo wrestlers were also like heroes. Artists painted their pictures and they were treated to free meals by fans. And they could eat a lot!
B. Rules and the Wrestling Ring
A wrestler wins when he forces his opponent outside of a ring or throws him onto the floor of the ring. The ring is small - 15 feet in diameter.
C. The Wrestling Match
After entering the ring each wrestler goes through a series of symbolic movements. He symbolically rinses his mouth with water and wipes his body with a paper towel. Each wrestler also scatters a handful of salt to purify the ring. This is supposed to ensure him against injuries.
The wrestlers then squat and face each other in the center of the ring, crouch forward in a "get set" position supporting themselves with their fists on the ground and proceed to glare fiercely (give mean looks) at each other. They do not begin the match at once, however, but engage in a kind of "cold war". They go back to their corners for more salt, scatter it and return to glare. They repeat the process again and again, usually for a few minutes allowed by the rules.
Then the wrestlers charge to meet in the center of the ring. The match is usually over in a matter of minutes when one of the wrestlers has been pushed out of the ring or thrown to the ground.
The conclusion of the day is the "bow dance" by one of the victorious wrestlers.
Learn more about sumo:
- See "A Beginner's Guide of Sumo" for an introduction to modern matches between real Japanese sumo wrestlers.
- For an interesting history of sumo, and to know how the ruling family won possession of the islands through a sumo match.
- Check out "The Story of Canada Yama" educational materials on sumo at [Need Adobe Acrobat Reader download] This is a comic book version giving much information about sumo.
- Read another detailed introduction to the history of "Sumo Wrestling".
- Schauwecker's Guide to Japan has a very good list of links to everything sumo!
- See paintings of Sumo wrestlers during the Edo period at the sumo museum.
II. Ju-jitsu (Empty-Hand Fighting Style)
Ju-jitsu evolved over 2,500 years ago. It is the combination of many fighting techniques that either originated in Japan or were brought to Japan from neighboring China or Korea. The roots of Ju-jitsu can be traced back to the legendary gods Kajima and Kadori, who used the ju-jitsu techniques against the inhabitants of an eastern province as punishment for their crimes.
Nearly 2,500 years ago in China, Ju-jitsu and its philosophies developed. This "open-hand" fighting techniques were practiced combined with the wrestling sports in Japan in 230 B.C. From 230 B.C. onward, many different schools of Ju-jitsu were formed. "Empty-hand" techniques were practiced, along with weapons, as part of the samurai warrior's training during the Heian period (circa [about] 784 AD). In approximately 880 A.D, a Jiujitsu school was formed by Prince Teijun.
Photo from AJJF, forbes
During the period of Japanese history between the 8th and 16th centuries, there was constant civil war and many martial arts systems were utilized [used], practiced, and perfected on the battlefield. This training was used to conquer armored [wearing armor] and armed [having weapons] opponents. Many close fighting and weapons techniques were created and mastered at this time.
A school of Jiujitsu was founded in 1532. This school taught both armed and unarmed fighting techniques. In 1559, a Chinese monk named Chin Gen Pinh came to Japan and established a school for Kempo known as the (China Hand), which was adopted by Jiujitsu. Shortly after another martial arts master also migrated to Japan from China, bringing with him Ch-an Fa and Korean Tang Su a punching and nerve striking skill and method of fighting. These skills were also adopted by Jiujitsu.
Approximately 1603, Japan came to a fairly peaceful period following the formation of the Tokugawa military government. During this time, known as the Edo period (1603-1868), the feudal civil wars and unsettled feelings and emotions within many people had plagued Japan for centuries started to disappear. Martial arts styles began to use more weaponless styles, which incorporated many of the grappling ground fighting techniques of the weaponed styles. Universally, these techniques were known as Jiujitsu. It has been estimated that over 750 styles of Jiujitsu were in existence in Japan during the Edo period.
At the end of the Edo period originated the beginning of the Meiji Restoration period in which power had transferred from the Shogun back to the Emperor. Many samurai warriors had supported the Shogun during the war and as a result, lost much status [social standing] and esteem [respect, honor] when power was restored to the Emperor. A law was introduced, making it a crime to practice the old style or method of martial arts of the original samurai. Samurai were also forbidden from carrying their swords or similar weapons. The art of Jiujitsu had nearly disappeared during this period, but had eventually survived because some masters began to practice the art underground in hiding, or in other countries, until the ban was lifted in the mid-twentieth century.
Jiujitsu has become the basis for other fairly new martial art styles such as judo, and is referred to as "the calm and gentle art" whereby pressure points, kicks, sweeps and throws, grappling and other effective techniques are combined to counter an attacker with ease.
[Adapted from History of Jujitsu, The Gentle Arts]
See the History of Ju-jitsu - "the gentle arts"
III. Judo
Judo is a modern sport which came from Jujitsu, or fighting without weapons, and from Chinese and Korean martial arts like Kung-Fu and Tae-Kwan-Do. The purpose is to use hands and feet, and to throw the opponent to the ground.
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Learn more about judo:
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This is Page One: Sumo, Ju-Jitsu, and Judo
Go to Page Two: Karate, Archery, Fencing, and Weapons
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