Читать книгу Modern Hand to Hand Combat. Ancient Samurai Techniques on the Battlefield and in the Street (Downloadable Audio Included) онлайн

18 страница из 24

In regards to most of the systems that originated in Japan, which are either taught in America or are the foundation of American systems, their origins probably reach back to the start of the peaceful era of Japan’s history: the Edo Era, which began around 1603. This eventually transitioned into the peaceful era known as the Meiji restoration, which started in 1868. Most martial art systems studied today originated during the Meiji restoration. Martial arts born during this period were called budo (“martial way/path”), but are now called gendai budo (“modern martial way/path”). Because they were spawned during peace, these martial arts focused more on the inner aspects of the practitioner than they did on battlefield preparedness and application. Thus, these arts— though tested in competitions and in other fashions—were not necessarily tested on the battlefield. Some of the martial arts born during the Meiji Era include judo, kendo, iaido, aikido, and kempo.

Before this peaceful era, there was a definitive militaristic interest placed on martial systems. Because the periods before the Edo Era and Meiji Era were riddled with war, the emphasis on battlefield combat was of utmost importance. The period that spawned the creation of many of these battlefield systems was called the Sengoku Jidai (Period of the Warring States), which lasted approximately from the mid-1400s to 1573. These systems are known today as koryu bujutsu (old tradition martial techniques). However, during the Warring State Period they were simply called bujutsu (martial techniques).