Japanese martial arts

Japanese martial arts refer to the variety of martial arts native to the country of Japan in.

Overview
For a relatively small island nation, Japan has lots of Martial Arts engraved in it's culture. It's almost like a Martial Arts heaven for any pro fighter. Many exotic weapons such as Katanas, Shuriken, Naginatas, Kusari-gama, and so on all come out of Japan, and were developed from agricultural tools because due to the strict weapons law enforced.

Most Japanese people will claim that Sumo is the oldest of their Martial Arts practiced in Japan. While there is some truth to this, the oldest is actually called "Tegoi" (Pray with Hands) to pray to the 8 million Kami for power. The Arts started with two wrestlers in the Feudal Japan, but the stories also say that the winner kicked the loser to death. Tegoi was an all-purpose style, and allegedly, a master could kill a man in armor with one strike.

Deadly moves usually consist of (thrust, kick, punch), these were forbidden under the new laws, and then Sumo became the art of grappling, although their Ram can be quite deadly as well. Sumo is the national sport of Japan in the modern day. The deadlier Martial Arts retreated into the shadows, and were called "Koppo." This was used by the secretive Ninja clans that would work under the Shoguns. The Ninjas, with their exotic weapons, used Ninjustu-Koppo, and Kenkagei-Koppo, with bare hands. Both were kept secret until the 20th century.

From the 12th all the way to the 16th century, in the Warring States Period, quite a few other styles grew in the political chaos. Aikido and Judo were developed for self-defense purposes. This is where weapon oriented styles grew as well, but were not established as formal Budo until the 1600s. These included Kendo, Kyudo, Shuriken-justu, Sojutsu, and etc.

Before the 1600s, Okinawa was a different kingdom, with its own language and culture. The Okinawan people imported Martial Arts from China, and then developed Te from the Chinese arts. Te was then brought to Japan, and the Japanese developed Karate from Te. Some sub-styles are Southern, and others are from the Northern. These are only the beginning point; the Styles have been spread and have evolved throughout the entire world. The two streams unify at the Master level. Beginners tend to focus on the stressed techniques of each style, but the Masters use both Southern power and Northern power balance for incredible effects.

Japan has many more styles, however they are not as common and were more local inventions. Others will also follow the same steps as other styles of martial Arts with slight differences. Finally styles, depending on family, will have different practices of sets making them unique.

Te
This is a Martial Art from the islands of Okinawa in southern Japan. It is also known as "Ryukyu (Okinawa) Karate." Unlike Karate, Te uses some rather esoteric weapons.

Sumo
The 'big-man" wrestling of Japan. It is one of the most popular sports in Japan, where they fight in a dirt ring called a "dohyo:' There are Power Slaps (punches), but Grappling and Throwing are the main techniques of Sumo. Also, it has the unique Ram Key Attack This is also very popular among the Samoans and Hawaiians, who have achieved fame in Japan as Sumo wrestlers. Mongolia also has a version of Sumo.

Koppo
The full name for this style is Kenkagei-Koppo. It is the urban style of the all-purpose Ninjutsu-Koppo. The founder of this we liked Ninjutsu, but realized that the huge number of Key Actions made it difficult to learn, so be streamlined it down, and wade the main attack a Slap/Knife hand and Grapple combination.

Ninjutsu
The full name for this Style is Ninjutsu-Koppo. This is one of the oldest Styles in Japan. The Old Ninja clans used this Koppo, but with the rise of Kenkagei-Koppo, this is referred to just as Ninjutsu. This is a very all purpose style, with many Key Actions, so it is very hard to learn. Also, most Masters are hard to find and are unwilling to teach. Only members of a clan are permitted to learn this style.

Shinobi
Ninja, Kusa, Kage, Rappa, Suppa, Shinobi, all of these are the same idea in Japanese, that is "to conceal oneself." Primarily the art of a Ninja, which relies on being a good spy and assassin. Theoretically, they are masters of all of these, however the reality of it, in the Ninja clans, it was said you must advance your forte, and support the rest, such as the spies, Oni, and fellow clan members. The Shinobi is known to be a clear assassin. A Ninja; these are ancestral clans, that were once Samurai families that became spies for their leaders and would sabotage the opposing samurai lords. Some of these clans hid in the mountainous regions of Japan for the last 1,000 years, only responding to the orders from the Noble clans.

Nindo
This is the combat sense of the Shinobi; it means "Shadow Clan Code." This includes the ways of Shinobi and secret killing styles of their clan. All Shinobis are proud of their Nindo.

Shinobis use almost anything to complete their mission, excluding cyber. If the cyber is absolutely necessary for the mission, they11 unwillingly have it installed and reject it right after the mission or commit seppuku. They're very proud of the Nindo. Nindo is acquired in the course of severe practice. They regard the cybered as scum, because cyber is considered the easy way out.

Tatsujin
The Tatsujin ("Master") is truly the Martial Artist worthy of the name. This is the "duelist" of the Pacific Rim. It is a Japanese concept representing a fully self actualized human being, or a complete person. It is a higher state of consciousness, that is uninhibited by the weaknesses in our personality that make us inherently human.