Example research essay topic: Martial Arts Tokugawa Period - 1,258 words

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In Japan, especially during the earlier periods of Japanese history such as the Tokugawa, physical adeptness was much revered and valued. This was mainly because of the fact that these strengths were the basis on which much of the population depended upon for survival during these fairly turbulent periods. Throughout time, Japan has been a very organized and scrupulous society, and even its style of physical combat has been sorted into specific categories according to what particular method is being used or referred to. These ways of fighting, primitive in the fact that they do not use automated weapons, are generally called Martial Arts and include the following categories: Kenjutsu, which uses swords, Kyudo, which is archery, and unarmed forms of combat such as Jujutsu, Sumai, and Karate, which are the major techniques. The Martial Arts of Japan, especially during the Tokugawa period, was very relevant to the society and played, and still plays, an important role in Japanese culture. The history and evolution, use in everyday life, and specific characteristics of these Japanese Martial Arts will be thoroughly explored during the course of this paper.

Martial Arts, as defined by The Oxford English Dictionary, are Any of various sports or skills, mainly of Japanese origin, which originated as forms of self-defense or attack, such as Judo, Karate, and Kendo. As stated by this excerpt, Martial arts did originate in East Asia, and the forms most commonly practiced during the Tokugawa period were Kenjutsu, Kyudo, Jujutsu, Sumai, and Karate. Kenjutsu is also referred to as Japanese Fencing and is Japanese for art of the sword. It originated in Japan and is very ancient, although it is not apparent when exactly it started, only that it has been included in Japanese culture for many, many years.

It was used in mortal combat by Japanese Samurai, and has evolved into the more modern form of Kendo. Kyudo, which refers to the sport of Archery, was very widely used throughout the Tokugawa period and also as long as the Samurai have existed. It uses bamboo to form its bows and arrows and was most commonly practiced on horseback, the skill of being able to shoot well and ride at the same time was very well revered at the time of the Samurai because it was not an easy task, a samurai who had mastered these skills had a very large advantage over a less experienced Samurai who was not skilled enough to ride and shoot at once. Jujutsu, Japanese for art of gentleness, is a method that uses holds, chokes, throws, trips, joint-locks, and some kicks and strikes. Its origins are lost, but experts conclude that it began in the 15 th or 16 th century and was used during the Tokugawa period, especially by the Samurai warriors. Sumai, meaning struggle, is an ancient type of wrestling which is dated from 23 BC.

Sumai uses pushing, pulling, slapping, throwing, and grappling. Karate, Japanese for empty hand, is an unarmed method of self-defense that uses punches, strikes, kicks, or blocks. Karate originated in the 1500 s and is very widely practiced, it is the most popular method of Japanese unarmed combat today. The Martial Arts originated in East Asia, but their beginnings are very much myth and legend, and therefore it is impossible to establish their exact history. However, it is known that the martial arts stated before were, in fact, practiced during the Tokugawa period, mainly by the infamous group of Japanese warriors called Samurai. The Samurai were very much like the knights of Europe, a prominent similarity between the Tokugawa period in Japan and Medieval western Europe was that during the Tokugawa period in Japan and the Medieval Period in western Europe the two societies were organized around a Feudal system of government.

This feudal arrangement allowed these Japanese soldiers, Samurai, to thrive. Obviously, because no automated weapons were used, physical ability was very important, if not obligatory, considering the life of the Samurai was continually at stake during many fierce battles they took part in in their carriers. Instead of just having each Samurai try to learn his own style to physical combat, the Japanese leaders decided to form specific ways for the Samurai to fight. These were the styles of combat explained before. These ways of warfare taught the Samurai forms of self discipline, meditation and, in the case of the Samurai especially, a way of self defense. These Martial Arts were very important to the lives of the warriors and others during the Tokugawa period.

The style of Martial Arts themselves have evolved over the course of time, Kenjutsu became Kendo, Jujutsu became Judo and Sumai became Sumo. Even though all of the Arts went through minor changes in style and practice, they remain essentially the same, as a form of self-defense that requires skill and ability, but is none the less very useful. During the Tokugawa period the Samurai were the main users of the Martial Arts. Ordinary inhabitants of Japan, however, also often practiced these forms of combat, mainly because they helped to protect ones self or belongings during this tumultuous period. Also, these forms of self-defense required very little in supplies because many effective styles were used without weapons. Therefore, the ordinary peasant, by replicating the Samurais movements and techniques, was able to devise for him / herself a ways of defense.

I emphasize the fact that it was, in fact, him / herself and that women were encouraged to be able to fend for themselves and not be too needy, because of this many found it useful to learn some basic Martial Arts skills. Practicing Martial Arts has been shown to improve coordination as well as self discipline, the study of the arts is often repetitive and slow, and takes a large amount of concentration on behalf of the student. For these reasons the Martial Arts seem to have a pleasing meditative effect over people, it is usually a calming sport, except during the actual battles, in which the arts are not so meditative but more exciting. The Martial Arts are a tradition of the Japanese and are therefore taken very seriously, the offshoots of each specific branch are recorded and each style has a whole panel of experts who teaches the young novices. In fact, this was very much the way it was back in the Tokugawa period, except for the fact that the differing styles were more simplified and they were regarded more as a necessary skill rather than an optional sport. Martial Arts played a large role in the Japanese inhabitants during the Tokugawa period because they were so essential in the survival of both the Samurai and the ordinary peasant.

In conclusion, Martial Arts were very important to the lives of the inhabitants of Japan during the Tokugawa period because they allowed them and outlet for physical exercise in addition to teaching them forms of self-discipline, mediation and a way of self-defense, these all being skills relevant to the culture and atmosphere of the time. The Martial Arts have evolved into an important as well as characteristic part of Japanese culture, one that is now a traditional aspect of the society that has now spread beyond the borders of Japan into many other countries, forming an international endeavor into the ways of Martial Arts. The Martial Arts of Japan, mainly Kenjutsu, Kyudo, Jujutsu, Sumai, and Karate, were a fundamental part of that interesting culture because they played such a vital role in the everyday lives of the citizens. 311

Research essay sample on Martial Arts Tokugawa Period