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Dear Language Enthusiast,
Welcome to the Japanese Monthly, the
Internet newsletter from Transparent Language. In this
issue, we look at the exciting world of sports.
Examining the traditions and pageantry surrounding
competitive sports offers a fascinating window into
the very soul of a culture. Even if you are not a
sports fanatic, I'm sure you'll find this month's
article both intriguing and helpful in building your
language skills.
Sincerely,
Transparent Language
www.transparent.com
In English:
Martial Arts (Budo)
Free associate with the words "sports" and "Japan" and
you are likely to think "sumo" and maybe "judo" or
"karate" next, each of these martial arts having
achieved international acclaim in the world of
athletic competition. Martial arts originated in Asia,
probably in China, hundreds of years ago. It's
generally believed that Buddhist monks developed
martial arts, possibly 2000 years ago, as a means of
defending themselves without weapons. Today
enthusiasts study martial arts all over the globe, and
the choices are numerous: Korean Tae Kwon Do, Thai
Kickboxing, Filipino Kali, Chinese Kung Fu, and
Chinese Tai Chi, to name a few. In addition to judo
and karate, currently popular Japanese martial arts
include aikido and kendo. Sumo, although popular in
the West as a spectator sport, has attracted only a
few practitioners outside of Japan, grand champion
Akebono of Hawaii being one of the notable
exceptions. (See the Current Events Newsletter of
August 1999 for information about sumo.)
Practically speaking, martial arts are methods of
self-defense; however, traditional Japanese martial
arts value the philosophy of the sport as much as
physical prowess. In fact, the term do (pronounced
"dough" as in bread dough) means "path" or "way" and
is often affixed to martial arts terms such as aiki or
karate or ju. It implies a commitment to discipline of
the spirit as well as the body. Another way of
explaining do is to say that inner strength is as
important as physical strength. In this sense, do is a
kind of morality, a code of ethics and behavior.
If you want to learn a martial art, begin by
researching your choices. The most common include
Judo, The Gentle Way; Karatedo, The Empty Hand Way,
Aikido, The Way of Harmony with Ki (a vital life
force); Kendo, the Way of the Sword; and Kyudo, The
Way of the Bow (and Arrow). Once you've made your
choice, identify a school where you can study and an
instructor (sensei) who will teach you. Instructors
hold classes in a dojo, a practice hall. Today, all of
these sports are available to men and women of all
ages who compete for various ranks (kyu and dan),
often indicated by the color of the belt worn around
one's gi, a jacket-like garment worn on the upper body
while practicing. Various websites link you to
worldwide locations where instructors give lessons.
Once you identify a school you'd like to join, you
become a student of that martial art, for example, a
judoka or an aikidoka, and among other things, you
will learn reishiki, appropriate etiquette or conduct
during practice.
Aikido
Founded by Morihei Ueshiba in 1942, Aikido currently
enjoys considerable popularity. Ueshiba wanted to
train the mind and the body in ways that would refine
the inner force called ki, the essential life force
within us, the source of mental and spiritual energy.
Aikido uses techniques from jujitsu and sword
fighting. It does not support tournaments or contests
in the way judo and karate do. Ueshiba believed aikido
should be a mastery of oneself, not mastery of
opponents.
Judo
Judo first gained international attention in 1964 at
the Tokyo Olympic Games. Competing with other judo
students locally, regionally, nationally, and
internationally is an important part of judo. In 1882
Dr. Jogoro Kano studied Jujutsu, an ancient martial
art, and distilled what he considered its best
techniques into contemporary judo. Like most martial
arts, a rigid set of rules governs the game. Two
opponents meet, show their respect with a bow (rei),
and then begin to compete through a series of throwing
techniques, choking techniques, or floor techniques
similar to wrestling.
Karate
Karate, meaning "empty (kara) hand (te)," suggests the
absence of a weapon to defend oneself. Like most
martial arts, karatedo relies on one's body, mind and
spirit to achieve harmony and humility within,
following many principles of Zen Buddhism. Central to
karate are kata, the blocking techniques and combative
patterns involving the hands, arms, legs, and feet.
Karate has numerous branches and schools throughout
the world; many are connected to Okinawa, where karate
first gained world attention.
Kendo
Unlike judo, karate, or aikido, kendo uses a weapon.
In fact, kendo is one part of Japanese sword fighting.
If you've watched samurai movies, you've seen iaido:
the samurai draws the sword, delivers a single, lethal
blow to his adversary, removes the blood from the
sword, and puts the sword back into the scabbard.
Kendo is the part of iaido when the sword is out of
the scabbard. Immensely popular in Japan, especially
with young boys but also young girls, kendo teaches
students to fight with bamboo sticks not swords, for
obvious reasons. During practice, students wear
protective gear. Kendo has been compared to Western
fencing.
Kyudo
Kyudo is Japanese archery, and like archery in other
parts of the world, it originated as a hunting skill
and a weapon of war. In times of peace and prosperity,
kyudo became a game and a courtly sport. Like the
other martial arts, kyudo values grace under pressure.
Since the archer's opponent is a motionless bull's eye
target, the kyudoka aspires to physical, moral, and
spiritual development. For an interesting and detailed
explanation of kyudo, read Zen in the Art of Archery
by Eugen Herrigel.
Sources and links:
Martial Arts: http://dir.hotbot.lycos.com/Sports/Martial_Arts/
Aikido: http://www.aikiweb.com
Judo: http://judoinfo.com
Karate: http://www.ryu.com/karate.html
http://www.ska.org
Kendo: http://www.mindspring.com
Kyudo: http://www.kyudo.com
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