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it has been the national sport of Japan for many hundreds of years. A form of wrestling, sumo practitioners are seen as national heroes and have long been afforded celebrity status. Contrary to western belief, it takes more than fat to become a sumo practitioner. These men possess a closely controlled balance of both fat and muscle. Sumo practitioners commonly undergo intense exercise for five hours every morning before breakfast, consuming, when they do eat, large amounts of protein rather than actual fatty foods. Due to this balance, most sumo practitioners may be technically overweight, but are otherwise in fantastic health and peak fighting condition.

Of course, of all the Japanese martial sciences Ninjitsu is perhaps the least understood. There is much controversy as to the actual origins of the Art of the Ninja, which is fitting being that the style itself is rooted in deception. It is widely believed that ninjitsu grew out of the techniques taught to peasant farmers by Buddhist monks when they came to Japan. Since the monks were sworn never to inflict harm, they taught their martial secrets to the farmers to serve as a form of protectors for the temples.

Whether or not this is true, it is known that ninjitsu grew out of the regions of Iga and Koga respectively. These two tribes, often bitter enemies, came to serve as thieves and assassins to those who engaged their services. When Ieyasu Tokugawa took control of Japan, instead of living in fear of the ninja as a threat, he decided to employ them as a personal guard within Edo Castle itself. Disguised as common servants, they were the perfect defense against outside assassination attempts while at the same time keeping the shogun informed of any plots going on within the palace itself.

Today it is believed that true ninjas no longer exist in Japan since the death of the last Iga family member. Because ninjitsu was only taught within a particular bloodline, the art of the ninja is now only known to a select few. Though ninja compounds dedicated to preserving the art are still in existence, admittance is only by special invitation.

Aside from these, there are also the Japanese weapons forms. Unlike other martial arts where both hand and weapon techniques are grouped together, in Japan weapons stand apart as having their own distinctive arts.

Kendo, the art of the Japanese sword, was traditionally practiced by all samurai. The katana, or long sword, was essential to the samurai armory and as such was widely

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