Nationalism of the Roundhouse Kick: Traditional Japanese Martial Arts

There are many aspects of Nipponese culture and society that make it unmatched of the most well-liked countries in the world today, at least according 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 foreign 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, yet 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 sense of pride within the population militant arts. It is important not only to look at the physical aspects of these martial arts tradition, but the mental ones as well. Through the historical background of types of Japanese martial arts such as karate-do, jujutsu, aikido, and kenjutsu, the progressio n of the arts and a break from their origins, and eventually their place in Japanese sports and society today (karate, judo, kendo, and sumo), we get out see how Japanese martial arts shifted back and forth between military and physical philosophy, and pacifist and social disease-like philosophy.To begin, it is generally difficult to pinpoint a consensus appointment 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 round agreed upon that all of the Oriental martial arts have 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 Martial 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 Sha mbhala, 1989.Skidmore, Max J. Oriental Contributions to Western democratic Culture The Martial Arts, Journal of favourite 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 Sport and Social Issues 26, no. 2 (2004) 169-192, doi 10.1177/0193723504264772.World Karate Federation. 20th World Karate Federation Championship Results. http//www.wkf.net/index.php? option=com_wrapper& hatful=wrapper&Itemid=58, (assessed April 3, 2012).