1. The Origen of Martial Arts

When you hear the word: martial arts, what reminded is. Two people fighting in a ring. Or persons who wearing suit for doing judo, karate etc… and tie a black belt, knights in armor or Samurai hold Japanese swords. Martial arts, this word may not familiar to you. So this time let’s take up the topic: the origin of martial arts.

“Martial arts.” This word can translate into Japanese in two meaning. In shorts, “武道(Budo)” and “武術(Bujutsu)”.

First, let’s take up martial arts as a Bujustu. In Japan, it was existed from ancient times. When a war broke out, a soldier had to kill enemies as much as they could. Thus they had to master at handling weapons and had to overcome a physical handicap: the body is small or power is weak, to achieve this purpose. At the very time, martial arts was born.　If one reads Kojiki (the oldest history book in Japan), it will prove that what kind of thing Japanese old martial arts were:建御雷神(takemikazuchinokami) threw away 建御名方神(kakeminakatanokami). And, Nihon shoki (history book in Nara age) describe the oldest fighting game in Japan: 野見宿禰(nominosukune) killed 当麻蹶速(taimanokehaya). If you interested in this, please read these books.

Second, take up martial arts as a Budo. After the Meiji Restoration, Bujutsu was declined, because of the tendency to the westernization in Japan. Then adapted Bujutsu to new society, Bujutsu had to modernize. In this process, Budo was built. And, it took an original form in the second half of Meiji. But, the word: Budo didn’t spread throughout Japan immediately. However, martial arts were developed rapidly in early stage of Showa. At the same time connection with militarism ideology was strengthened. After the war, martial arts were blanket banned by GHQ. On the other hand, sports were encouraged as a physical culture suitable for peaceful democratic society. When San Francisco Peace Treaty came into effect and GHQ was abolished, martial arts began to revive. Also, it went into the stage of new development. In other words, it is internationalization of martial art. But, this new development caused new problems. It is becoming sports. Martial arts must return original intention and recover the balance of local and global. This is the future subject of martial arts.

Next we will take up the difference between Budo and Bujutsu and Kobudo(Kobujutsu).

A list of references: 武術武道家列伝(Bujutsubudoukaretsuden)　加来耕三(written by Kouzou Kaku)　                            

                  武道の誕生(Birth of martial art)　井上　俊(written by Syun Inoue)