Japanese culture has given rise to a wide variety of fighting styles. While some of these fighting styles remain largely Japanese, martial artists worldwide have adopted many of them; one is an official Olympic sport. The practices embrace philosophy, mental discipline and a moral dimension as well as physical skills. They encompass both soft- and hard-fighting styles. Some include the use of weapons; some do not.
Karate
The literal meaning of the Japanese word "karate" is "empty hand." The people of the Ryukyu Islands developed this hard style of punches and kicks as a way to defend themselves without weapons, as the government of the time had denied their ownership. Karate teaches strikes with hands, elbows, and feet, blocks to avoid oncoming strikes, and the use of pressure points on the human body. As with Judo, Karate enjoys a worldwide following.
Sumo
The Japanese tradition of Sumo wrestling has strong ties with the Shinto religion. Sumo practitioners perform elaborate rituals before matches and observe strict traditional rules, both in and out of the arena. During a sumo match, a pair of opponents face off and attempt to either force the other outside the ring or make him touch the ground with a body part other than the feet. Matches can last between several seconds and a few minutes. While it is generally considered a Japanese-only sport, some foreigners have been invited to compete.
Weapons Styles
Styles, such as Shinkendo, train the practitioner in the use of swords, such as the katana. Samurai warriors, in particular, made use of the katana. As with other Japanese styles, Shinkendo emphasizes mental focus as well as physical skill.
The covert ninja mercenaries used a variety of weapons, including the katana, throwing darts called shiruken, a form of bow and arrow, and a short sickle called the kusarigama.
Judo
According to the official Olympics website, Judo is a recognized Olympic sport. It employs throws, body holds, joint locks and chokes. The International Judo Federation notes that Judo is a relatively modern martial art, having been developed in the late 19th century from jujitsu, another older style. As with karate, you can find Judo practitioners from all parts of the world. Also like karate, Judo uses a system of colored belts to distinguish beginners from more experienced students, starting with white and progressing through darker colors to black, which signifies an expert.
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