Kids Web Japan

Q. Are there martial arts besides karate?

Major martial arts in Japan include sumo, kendo, aikido, judo, shorinji kempo, kyudo and naginata.

Sumo, which was also introduced on the page about traditional Japanese sports, is a 2-person wrestling sport held in a ring. The winner is the one who topples their opponent or pushes them out of the ring.

In kendo, two opponents hold long bamboo swords while wearing masks and armor, and aim sword strikes at their opponent's face or torso.

Aikido is a martial art in which attacks are repelled using bare hands or weapons such as swords or spears, using the attacker’s own strength against them.

In judo, two opponents fight using a range of grappling and throwing techniques. Judo and karate are often confused, but they are different arts. Karate’s roots come from Chinese kung-fu, which was then developed in Okinawa and spread through Japan. Judo is a technique derived from jujutsu that was widely learned in the Edo period. At the end of the 19th century, Jigoro Kano refined judo into its current form, incorporating elements of competitive sports.

Shorinji kempo is a combination of kung-fu that was practiced at the Shaolin temple, other martial arts techniques in China, and traditional martial arts that were practiced in Japan. It was developed by So Doshin in 1947 and spread all over Japan as it gained popularity. The aim of Shorinji kempo is to improve oneself and practice self-harmony through training

Kyudo is a form of archery, using a Japanese-style bow to shoot at targets. The goal is to train the mind and body through a series of movements. The shooting styles and methods differ somewhat by school and region and are not standardized.

The naginata is a long spear that was a powerful force on the battlefield until the 15th century. During the Edo Period, when battlefield use was less important, the onna-naginata, or “women’s spear” was developed. This martial art is strongly associated with female competitors, but there are also male competitors as well.