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Japan, like many other far eastern countries, has a rich martial history. Although primarily an Isolationist country for much of that history, a great deal of influence, especially in the realms of religion and martial arts, was felt from China. In Chinese kung fu, fighting techniques were divided into three basic parameters; striking attacks such as punching and kicking, throwing attacks, and what is called chin na,' or the art of grappling and joint locking; each of which inevitably found its way separately into Japanese culture to form an independent art.

Unlike other countries at the time, Japan favored practicality over intricacy. Styles making their way to the island nation were almost completely stripped of traditionalism and frivolity. The Japanese sought to strip away the art' behind the martial arts and instead created what they came to term Martial Science.'

Of course, the most well known of these creations is Karate. Meaning literally empty hand,' karate was actually born in Okinawa, outside of what was then Japan. This fighting style was born as a means for weaponless peasants to oppose armed Japanese samurai who frequently attacked and raided the island. After conquering Okinawa, Japan's samurai were so impressed with the effectiveness of karate that they took it as their own. It is currently perhaps the most widely practiced martial art in the world.

The art of throwing, Judo, was the preferred hand-to-hand technique before the adoption of karate. Developed by samurai to use against one another, judo utilized an enemy's own weight and momentum against him. As samurai on the battlefield were usually decked out in full armor, this style was perfectly suited for use against heavily laden opponents. Also, once thrown, it was very hard for the armored samurai to stand, thus leaving him vulnerable to further attack, usually by sword or dirk.

Jujitsu is a style primarily concerned with grip locking and grappling. Created with the principles of Chinese chin na' in mind, jujitsu was developed to counter the very same vulnerability an armored samurai suffered while on his back. Modern jujitsu, divided between Japanese and Brazilian due to the advent of the Gracie family in Brazil, is primarily seen as a ground fighting technique. Of all the martial arts in the world, it is unique in that it is the only one where the person with his back to the ground has the advantage.

There is also Sumo to consider. Whereas sumo is largely viewed jokingly in the west,

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