Nationalism of the Roundhouse Kick: Traditional Japanese Martial Arts

There are many aspects of japanese culture and society that organize it one of the most well-liked countries in the world today, at least harmonize to the Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index. The technological innovations stemming from the country and the reputation of companies such as Honda, Toyota, Nintendo, and Sony make for an international focus on Japans industrial prowess. Added to that is the ever-rising popularity of manga and anime, and altogether, they form a strong nationalist feeling in Japan, provided entirely different from the nationalism of the wartime period. However, there is another facet of Japanese culture rooted in historical significance that evokes an alternate gumption of pride within the population martial humanistic discipline. It is important not alone to look at the physical aspects of these martial arts tradition, but the intellectual ones as well. Through the historical background of types of Japanese martial arts such as karate-do, jujutsu, ai kido, and kenjutsu, the progression of the arts and a break from their origins, and in the end their place in Japanese sports and society today (karate, judo, kendo, and sumo), we will knock against how Japanese martial arts shifted back and forth between soldiers and physical philosophy, and pacifist and Zen-like philosophy.To begin, it is generally difficult to pinpoint a consensus visualise for the commencement of a martial arts tradition in Japan because the learning of these arts was mostly done orally and through practice. It is by and large agreed upon that all of the Oriental martial arts view their roots in China, from the founder of Zen Buddhism, the Indian monk Bodhidarma (Daruma for the Japanese), in the 6th century. The principles of Zen Buddhism would later be reflected in most of the ph... ...sian warriorlike Arts 3, no. 4 (1994) 63-75.Official Website of the Olympic Movement. Athletes. http//www.olympic.org/athletes, (assessed April 3, 2012).Saotome Mitsugi. The Princples of Aikido. Boston Shambhala, 1989.Skidmore, max J. Oriental Contributions to Western usual Culture The Martial Arts, Journal of Popular Culture 25, no. 1 (1991) 129-148.Sumo. Japan Guide. http//www.japan-guide.com/e/e2080.html, (assessed April 3, 2012).Suzuki Tatsuo, Karate-Do. New York Perigee Books, 1984.Tan, Kevin S. Y. Constructing a Martial Tradition Rethinking a Popular History of Karaet-dou. Journal of run around and Social Issues 26, no. 2 (2004) 169-192, doi 10.1177/0193723504264772. military personnel Karate Federation. 20th World Karate Federation Championship Results. http//www.wkf.net/index.php? option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=58, (assessed April 3, 2012).