The Samurai

The samurai (or bushi) were the famous warriors of Japan. They later made up the ruling military class that eventually became the highest ranking social caste of the Edo period(1603-1867). Samurai used a range of weapons such as bows, swords, guns, and physical combat to kill their enemies. Samurai were supposed to live their lives according to the ethic code of bushido ("the way of the warrior"). They were strictly Confucian in nature and bushido stressed concepts such as loyalty to one's master, self discipline, respect, and ethical behavior. Many samurai were also drawn to the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism. But one of the most famous practices of the Samurai was hat of Seppuku. Seppuku was the practice of committing suicide before failure. If a Samurai knew he was going to fail or be captured he would cut his stomach with his sword. One thing not really known about the Samurai however is that they were the original creators of jiu jitsu. It was designed to protect the warriors and give them an edge in guerilla warfare. Whether it was clashing swords or hand to hand combat, the Samurai were the elite warriors of the time. They could eliminate their threats standing up or on the ground. They worked on being the best in every area of combat instead of just one. For more info you should visit this page. 

Okinawa Part 2

Okinawa has a very diverse history of martial arts. They are most known for their weapons or Kobudo designed to protect themselves. One thing that is important to know about the time period when Okinawa weapons came about, is that the Okinawan natives were being oppressed, were under forced labour, and martial arts was illegal. So in order to continue their love and desire for martial arts they hid it in their daily lives. They converted all their daily tools into weapons. Kamas were used to cut plants and plow small areas. The bow staff was used to carry buckets of water on the shoulders of the carrier. The nunchaku were used as horse bits. These are just a few examples of how weapons were hidden in daily tools. It allowed the native people of Okinawa to carry on tradition and protect themselves from harm. For more information and explanation on weapons from Okinawa you should visit this site.

Okinawa Part 1

In the 11th century, castles began sprouting all over Okinawa, Japan.  This was a period of struggles among the emerging rulers. In the late 12th Century, one of the petty rulers founded the Shunten Dynasty (1187-1259). It was followed by the Eiso Dynasty (1260-1349), the Satto Dynasty (1350-1405), the First Sho Dynasty (1406-1469), and the Second Sho Dynasty (1470-1879). The last dynasty was replaced by Okinawa governors appointed by Tokyo officials until 1945. During the 27 year American interlude from 1945 to 1972, Okinawa was under the U.S. military government.

The first three dynasties exercised their control probably only in their adjacent areas. But King Satto is known for establishing tributary relationships with China in 1372. This relationship with China greatly accelerated Ryukyu's cultural and political development. The First Sho Dynasty achieved the political unification of Okinawa in 1422.

Okinawa has had a broad history and is rich when it comes to martial arts. I will talk more about the weapons and style of the Okinawan people next week because that is where it gets interesting. If you are interested in learning about their culture I would suggest this site for more history.