Japanese Culture

Japanese Martial Arts

　　A lot of foreigners interested in Japanese martial arts, but they don’t have a way to know well. So I want to introduce the Japanese culture, martial arts. I’m a member of Kyudo club in my university, so I know some information about Japanese martial arts. They are generally called “budo” in Japanese. For example, the famous Japanese martial arts are Judo, Karate, Kendo, Aikido, Kyudo. This website will provide imformation in more details. All of them have a formal wear like a “hakama“(loose-legged pleated trousers) and strict manners during play it in an exercise hall.
　　Today, some Japanese martial arts are adopted as the Olympic Games, like Judo. And many students in Japan play martial arts as their school’s club activities. They play for their nation or school in competition, and decide a winner. So most of the foreigner may feel Japanese martial arts are played as sports. But strictly speaking, they are not sports. Of course making progress is also important for Japanese martial arts, however, the most important goal is not that point. Japanese martial art’s original goal is brushing up our own spirits through the efforts for making progress. We can see the reason why Japanese martial arts have strict manners from this point.