KIKOTSU

Concept of Kikotsu was found by Hemin (Heimin), class of feudal Japan. They were low society people as peasants, artisans, craftsmen and merchants. These had own heritage of fighting also with philosophical aspect – Kikotsu, which had not less value as ethics of samurai called Bushido. The origin of fighting as art is connected with the Buddhist commandment of respect for life and forbids killing any being. It was already developed by monks in temples of ancient China before Japanese warriors started to form Bujutsu. A high spiritual value was combined with body outwork to rich enlighten in their monastery way of life.
Many from Chinese culture as philosophy of Confucianism, later Buddhism, arts and science had been imported to Japan. As the samurai were loyal to Bushido, Hemin were loyal to Kikotsu. These ethical codes for warriors had a moral value and linked closely with Buddhism.

The first culture of Japan is based on a tribal warrior aristocracy and militant ideas of ownership and territoriality. This system gave rise to the Yamato clan imperial line, later believed to be descended from Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess. During the centuries the Yamato clan, stabilized the country. However in 10th century AD, rival clans began request to shares of power. Many of local wars finally created a National war which started in 1467. During this period a warrior class raised on top of the society. A military government was formed and Tokugawa Ieyasu consolidated almost all governmental power in the hands of the military government of Japan known as the Shogun ate. Shogun became a supreme ruler of all aspects of Japanese life. Since 1588 only samurai were allowed to carry a weapon and even long time before had the right to kill person of Hemin class without warning and without fear of indictment. In better way if he found him guilty or not respecting him enough. This rule was a way to secure their position at the top of society. A warrior ethic, code of honor was established and developed as well to control samurai. Bushido was integrated to their daily lives and Bujutsu (martial techniques styles) flourished for centuries. Such as law caused that Hemin were fears of them. However a fear was the wind which caused the peasants uprisings as the waves in ocean to break the solid rock…

Feudal Japan economy was established on agrarian base thus had also a confrontation between government against the craftsmen and merchants. This led them to stay more on peasants’ side. To resist government system the peasants and townspeople frequently formed Ikki (leagues). Ikki were often under the tutelage of Ronin (master less samurai). Such as way farm instruments and tools of everyday use became mortal weapons (Kobujutsu). Later Ikki’s gathered together to force local Daimyo and samurai to submit to their needs. The weapons used in Kobujutsu were a harvest and threshing tools, sticks, handles, rods, chains, and connected sticks. In larger towns and cities craftsmen (Chonin) formed rebellious groups as well, known as Kyokaku (Hosts of heroism). They were organized like militia. The Kyokaku and Ikki were principally defensive organizations. Third was an Otokodate, society of fighters, which was a response to the brutality of samurai, especially those who made a point of harassing artisans and merchants. They were more offensive and well organized. In paradox Shogun himself hired them as defenders when traveling through their lands. Other paradox, one such group was even elevated to the rank of samurai. These people used empty hand techniques and tools as iron fan (tessan, tessen), smoking pipe (kiseru), sticks with chains and other items. It is another origin of Tessen jutsu, used by samurai as well (Daito ryu Aiki jutsu).

By the beginning of the Meiji period samurai lost their importance in new society. Many of their combative techniques styles were transferred to arts. Martial techniques of Hemin class got also a chance transform to Do, arts system. In this way Kikotsu still play an important role nowadays in modern martial arts. Sports as physical activity has a Physical and Physiological/Mental aspects. Still the Social is not there. Look at the world contests. How sportsmen cheats others by using a doping...  Budo is not only a simple exercise and comparing with sports it has more value. Social aspect of it is: improving in communication and interpersonal relations, violence and aggression neutralization, rediscovering of humanity, crime prevention , establishing of the peaceful environment. About the Physical and Mental/Physiological aspect you can read in chapter Medical science & Budo.

BUSHIDO

War played very important role in the history of Japan.  The reason is that only 20% of Japan territory is suitable for farming.  The culture call Yayoi which appeared about 200 B.C. was farmers. The struggle for land gave rise to Warring clans to control much of the country. The clan chiefs were the ancestors of Japan aristocrats, Emperors and Shogun-s (in translation mean "Barbarian-subduing General).

Japan took its present shape as a string of islands about 20 000 years ago. In ancient history land was mainly inhabited by fisherman and hunters came from many parts of Asia. Caucasian race called the Ainu came probably from Siberia and still exist today, mostly in Hokkaido. These early inhabitants known by their stone implements such as pointed knives, blade flakes, scrapers, hand axes and so on. Around 5 000 B.C. (some sources much before) inhabitants started to use pottery. The early culture was known as Jomon, which means “rope marked or cord pattern”. The next culture has again name according the pottery of its creators. It is called Yayoi, after the district of Tokyo where this plain regular type of pot was first found in 1884. The passage of Chinese history from 300 A.D. mentioned that Yayoi warriors developed spears, shields, wooden bows made with short lower part and long upper part. Their bamboo arrows are sometimes tipped with iron or bone...  Later they established a code that became the centerpiece for the Samurai – servant. The code came from the Chinese concept of the Virtues of warriors and it called Bushido "Way of the warrior". The philosophy of it is "Freedom from fear." It meant that the samurai transcended his fear of death and found the peace with power to serve his master faithfully and loyally and die well if necessary. Such as duty as a service is a primary philosophy of the Samurai codex.

End of 4th century horses were introduced to Japan and samurai became an expert in fighting from horseback. The early samurai emphasized fighting with the bow and arrow. Kyuba no michi, "The Way of Horse and Bow" was probably earlier what we can say Codex of samurai. Between 9th and 12th centuries samurai became a class unto themselves.  Some of them were related to the ruling class. Others were hired as Ronin - master less samurai. Bushi – employed samurai gave complete loyalty to their Daimyo (feudal landlord, warlord) and received land with position in return. Battles with the Mongols in 13th century led to a change in the samurai's fighting style. Sword started to be used more and more for close-in combat and beheading their enemies.  Yari and Naginata jutsu developed as well. Samurai slowly came down from horseback and started to develop on foot Bujutsu. This was an important step to rise up unarmed martial arts in Japan.

Way of the warrior – Bushido has become a way of self-perfection rather than of actual warfare. It developed to stage where a need to master a multitude of weapons is no longer. Deep study of one Way became a fashion. Such as philosophy went further and good sample of it was Miyamoto Musashi (1650), Japan's most famous swordsman. He begun Musha-shugyo (Warrior pilgrimage). Musashi fought and won more than 60 sword fights before the age of 30. History says that he was defeated only once by famous Muso Gonosuke .At the age of 60, Musashi wrote Gorin No Sho (The Book of Five Spheres), the most famous writing about the Japanese Sword arts. There are some more historical writes related to Bushido. In 1615 Tokugawa Ieyasu drew up the "Buke Sho Hatto" (Rules for Martial families). It gave samurai 13 guides to living as a warrior during peace time. In Meiji period 1868 A.D. Emperor introduced the "Five Articles Oath" which began the dismantling of Samurai class and Bushido with it. Later in 1876 Emperor declared a new law that ended the wearing of swords. Samurai had lost their right to wear it on public and their identity, after almost a thousand years.

BUDDHISM IN JAPAN

Indian prince Guatama Sidhardtha ( about 500 BC) is a founder of philosophical concept of Buddhism.  Almost disappeared in India, it sprat to east-south Asia and developed in neighboring countries to many branches. In Buddha concept the human plane is not only the plane or state of existence onto which spirits are transfers when beings are born. Theory of rebirth or reincarnation is based in believe that spirit has a chance to develop in many form of existence and it is depend on it, how as being will act in the Universe. One of the form or Way is a Human way...

Buddhism was sent to Japan in 552 AD by one king of small kingdom in Korea who appealed to the Yamato Court to help to fight his enemies. He sent cooper and gold image of Buddha and other religious items. In accompanying letter he warmly commended Buddhism. Japanese already had their own concept of philosophy as religion called Kami no michi (the Way of the gods), or Shinto. The head of the imperial family in Yamato claimed direct descend from the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami. For an agricultural people of ancient time such a role of emperor was very important. Sun as the source of live was glorified in many culture. For example in ancient Egypt, in  south American where Inca-s claimed the same  as Japanese emperors as well. Concept of Kami includes everything in Nature. In ancient usage, anything whatsoever which was outside the ordinary and which possessed a superior power was called Kami. From the standard point of common people is not surprised that they called emperor also Kami. This is a reason way imperial institution survived throughout the centuries in Japan.

However the gift from Korea was accepted and by centuries both religion blend together, developing a unique form of life style, culture discipline, which has many admirers world wide. In Heian period two Buddhist sect dominated religion of Japan. One called Tendai and other Shingon.

WORK IN PROGRESS

FIGHT WITHOUT FIGHTS

Originally the purpose of any martial strategy, techniques is a preparation for actual warfare. Phenomenon of kill many, not one, than you’ll be a conqueror and not a murder often seen in the history of human. Alexander the Great, Persian Empire, Roman Empire, Ginghiskhan, Crusaders, all these events and individuals has worldwide admirers. Where this way or stage of human conscious came from?

In Japan Bu jutsu – martial method of fighting or killing was highly developed and individuals often attempted to master the use of as many weapons as possible. According a legend Jimmu Tenno known as "The Divine Warrior" became head of a confederation of warlike clans and ascended the throne as first Emperor of Japan on 11th February 660 B.C. It is believed that he led his people from Kyushu to conquer Kinki region, settled in the area of Yamato and set up the ruling Yamato state. This eventually gave rise to the Yamato dynasty .The Yamato clan conducted many military campaigns on Japan  mainland and also as far as Mimana in southern Korea. According Chinese reports Japanese in the mid-third century still lived in more than one hundred small communities and not in one single state. Anyway, by time Yamato state developed economically and politically and their dynasty became recognized in Korea and China. Their territory was about 3/5 of Japan. Later Yamato state adopted system of Chinese governmental institution to bring the country more securely under the control of the Emperor. During Yamato dynasty Bujutsu developed as well.

Around 500 A.D. Buddhism arrived in Japan and became a powerful philosophy for rulers and warriors. Concept of Buddhism express of emptiness, non-attachment to worldly concerns, a desirable frame of mind for self-defense and for life in general. In another sense, however, it is quite literal and refers to defending oneself without the use of any weapons other than one's own body. The philosophy of preserving life very strongly influenced to martial arts concept. It came from Shaolin box (Bodhidarma) and sprat around Asia. This is a reason why monks developed sticks fighting methods rather than swords, that did not necessarily involve the death of an enemy, as it was against their Buddhist concept. Hemin class of feudal Japan had no choice, used their own body in self-defense and made their limbs as knives and spears. Karate had developed in this way.

Practicing a one art is as walking on one Way which can miss the target. Practicing a more martial arts could limit you to reach the target. If you focus on Way you can miss the Target…if you focus in Target you can miss the Way.  Where is the way and where is the target? There is no Way and no Target…no Martial arts? #II.1

                                             drawing in progress