JUDO - "the gentle way"
The modern form of Judo was developed in the end of the 19th century from the ancient martial art jujutsu by Prof. Jigoro Kano.
In Judo, the aim is not only winning fights but also the training of one's body and spirit. The literal translation of Judo is "the gentle way": softness exceeds hardness in Judo, and techniques are more important than stamina.
KARATE - "the way of the empty hand"
In karate one is defending him/herself with fists, elbows and feet. Karate is related to the Chinese Kung-fu and the Korean Taekwondo. Karate-do means "the way of the empty hand" since usually no weapons are used.
Two basic kinds of traditional karate performances are:
Kata:
One fighter or a group performs his/her skills in front of judges. Precision, technique, and posture are the criteria.
Kumite:
A fight between two karate fighters in which they do not really hit each other but stop their movements right before the opponent's body. A potential KO-kick ends the fight.
KENDO, (Japanese fencing) - "the way of the sword"
Kendo is Japanese fencing. It means "the way of the sword". Swords used to be a main weapon in Japanese warfare for many centuries. They continued to be the symbol of the samurai into the 19th century.
The participants in modern kendo are well protected and use bamboo swords. As in all the Japanese martial arts, the training of one's mind is essential also in kendo.
KYUDO, (Japanese archery) - "the way of the bow"
Kyudo is the martial art of Japanese archery, literally meaning "the way of the bow". The bow had been used in Japanese warfare for many centuries. It also served as a hunting tool.
Kyudo is a relatively popular recreational activity, practiced in kyudojo, special kyudo facilities found in schools, culture centers and the like. The bow used for kyudo is about two meters long, and stationary targets are located in a distance of either 28 or 60 meters.
An important part of kyudo is the ritual preparation of each shot. As in all the Japanese martial arts, the training of one's mind is essential in kyudo.
AIKIDO, "the way of harmony of the spirit"
Aikido is a Japanese martial art. With aikido techniques one can overpower an opponent without much strength.
As in all the Japanese martial arts, the training of the mind is absolutely essential also in aikido. Students of aikido try to achieve harmony of their spirits.
SUMO, Sumo wrestling
Sumo is a Japanese kind of wrestling and Japan's national sport. It originated in ancient times as religious performances to the Shinto gods. Nowadays, still many rituals are followed.
The basic rules of sumo are simple: The wrestler who either first touches the floor with something else than his sole or leaves the ring before his opponent, loses. The fights themselves usually last only a few seconds and in rare cases up to one minute or more.
Kokugikan, the sumo stadium in Tokyo Ryogoku
Six tournaments are held every year. Each one lasts 15 days. Three of the tournaments are held in Tokyo, and one each in Fukuoka, Osaka and Nagoya.
At the top of the sumo wrestlers' hierarchy stands the yokozuna. At the moment, there is only one yokozuna, Asashoryu from Mongolia. Once a wrestler reached the rank of yokozuna, he cannot lose it anymore. However, he is expected to retire as soon as his results are starting to worsen.
Most elite wrestlers are highly trained athletes and between about 20 to 35 years old. Besides working out, the wrestlers are eating large amounts of food and go to bed right after eating in order to gain mass. The wrestlers are living in special sumo stables where the rules are very strict, especially for beginners.
JAPANESE SWORDS
The Japanese sword (nihonto) has been internationally known for its sharpness and beauty since feudal times. The sword used to be the distinguishing mark of the samurai.
Since swords are dangerous weapons, a permit is required to own one in Japan today.
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