| Japanese martial arts refers to the enormous variety | | | | historical origin, one will find various types of martial |
| of martial arts native to Japan. | | | | arts (such as jujutsu, kenjutsu, or naginatajutsu) on |
| History | | | | both sides of the divide. |
| The historical origin of Japanese martial arts can be | | | | A note on the organization of this article; it would be |
| found in the warrior traditions of the samurai and the | | | | impossible to discuss Japanese martial arts in terms |
| caste system that restricted the use of weapons by | | | | of the thousands of individual schools or styles, such |
| members of the non-warrior classes. Originally, | | | | as Itto-ryu, Daito-ryu or Tenshin Shoden Katori |
| samurai were expected to be proficient in many | | | | Shinto-ryu. Instead, major sections are divided based |
| weapons, as well as unarmed combat, and attain the | | | | on when the art originated (regardless of whether it |
| highest possible mastery of combat skills, for the | | | | is still practiced), and subsections are dedicated to |
| purpose of glorifying either themselves or their liege. | | | | the root type of martial art, such as jujutsu (the art |
| Over time, this purpose gave way to a philosophy of | | | | of empty-handed combat through use of indirect |
| achieving spiritual goals by striving to perfect their | | | | application of force) or kendo (Japanese sport |
| martial skills. | | | | fencing), wherein notable styles or major differences |
| Ordinarily, the development of combative techniques | | | | between styles may be discussed. |
| is intertwined with the tools used to execute those | | | | Koryu, meaning traditional school, or old school, refers |
| techniques. In a rapidly changing world, those tools | | | | specifically to schools of martial arts, originating in |
| are constantly being improved upon, requiring the | | | | Japan, either prior to the beginning of the Meiji |
| techniques to use them to be continuously | | | | Restoration in 1866, or the Haitorei edict in 1876. The |
| reinvented. The history of Japan is somewhat unique | | | | term also is used generally to indicate that a particular |
| in its relative isolation. Compared with the rest of the | | | | style or art is "traditional", rather than "modern". |
| world, the Japanese tools of war evolved slowly. | | | | However, what it means for an art to be either |
| Many people believe that this afforded the warrior | | | | "traditional" or "modern" is subject to some debate. |
| class the opportunity to study their weapons with | | | | As a general rule of thumb, the primary purpose of a |
| greater depth than other cultures. Nevertheless, the | | | | koryu martial art was for use in war. These martial |
| teaching and training of these martial arts did evolve, | | | | arts were developed for use in war, and were |
| first with conditions on the battlefield (archery giving | | | | tested (either intentionally or incidentally) by the |
| way to the sword; glaive giving way to spear), then | | | | scientific method over centuries of time. The most |
| through a long period of peace, and finally into | | | | extreme example of a koryu school is one that |
| modern times. Over time two trends defined the arts | | | | preserves its traditional, and often ancient, martial |
| - first there was increasing specialization, and second, | | | | practices even in the absence of continuing wars in |
| many of the arts took on trappings of budo which | | | | which to test them. Other koryu schools may have |
| implies a higher purpose than just the mastering of | | | | made modifications to their practices that reflect the |
| arms. | | | | passage of time (which may or may not have |
| The martial arts developed or originating in Japan are | | | | resulted in the loss of "koryu" status in the eyes of |
| extraordinarily diverse, with vast differences in | | | | its peers). This is as opposed to "modern" martial |
| training tools, methods, and philosophy across | | | | arts, whose primary focus is generally upon the |
| innumerable schools and styles. That said, Japanese | | | | self-improvement (mental, physical, or spiritual) of the |
| martial arts may generally be divided into koryu and | | | | individual practitioner, with varying degrees of |
| gendai budo based on whether the existed prior to | | | | emphasis on the practical application of the martial art |
| or after the Meiji Restoration, respectively. Since | | | | for either sport or self defense purposes. |
| gendai budo and koryu often share the same | | | | |