EVERYTHING MARTIAL ARTS: Sh** I learned this week _THE JAPAN EDITION PART 1

Phoenix Carnevale in Tokyo, Japan  Photo by Danny McDermott

 EVERYTHING MARTIAL ARTS BLOG:

 SH** I LEARNED THIS WEEK: THE JAPAN EDITION: 

I am not sure when exactly it happened but at some point early on in my childhood I became obsessed with Japanese culture.  It’s safe to assume it started with my love of comic books.  

X-Men Wolverine Vs Silver Samurai 

Wolverine went to Japan and fought Silver Samurai and became best friends with a female ninja.  It coulda been Wolverine, It coulda been action movies…It coulda been a past life…! Whatever the catalyst might have been, I just knew I loved Japan.  I started Martial Arts in my 20's. My first art was karate under Kaicho Nakamura.  Kaicho and I became very close.  He often cooked a traditional Japanese lunch for himself and his head instructors.  I cleaned the dojo and did the dishes in exchange for tuition. I will never forget our conversations over tea in the middle of the day.  Our dojo was a spiritual place surrounded by all things Japanese.  

Kaicho was proud of his culture and he was happy to share it with this 20-something year old over zealous-American-wise-ass.  Besides just the physical art of Karate, Kaicho taught me the spiritual side.  We focused on Zen Buddhism and the samurai code known as Bushido. We spoke deeply about life and the true meaning of Karate. I try to take these lessons with me in everything that I do.  I consider myself both a fighter and a Martial Artist.  For the spiritual lessons I learned from Karate, I am eternally grateful. 

This Blog is called: Sh** I learned this week.  I will admit that a lot of these facts are things I may have already known but there are so many things I am still learning about Japan and it’s amazing culture. The world is limitless and has so much to inspire you. This blog was inspired by my short trip to Japan.  My favorite comedian, Louis CK has a quote “How can you ever be bored? There’s a big world out there that you’ve seen none percent of”.  I found this so funny and so true. Japan enticed me and left me wanting more. 3 days in Tokyo was not enough. I can’t wait to go back. 

Here are some fun facts about Japan I hope you enjoy. 

The greater Tokyo area is the largest metropolitan area in the world with over 35 million people. Tokyo city has 13 million people in it.

The term karaoke means "empty orchestra" in Japanese. “Kara” meaning empty like Karate “empty hand”.  Kara- empty and Te- Hand. 

A traditional Japanese breakfast consists of rice topped with natto (fermented soy beans).  I love it. 

In Japan, My Cab Driver Hiro told me he was a descendant of the Samurai

Most people think of the Samurai as a small rare group of elite forces like The NAVY SEALS but in reality they were an actual entire social class.  Originally Samurai meant “those who serve in close attendance to nobility.  In time the term evolved to associate with the BUSHI (upper tier warrior class).  In fact at the peak of their power 10 percent of Japan’s population were Samurai. Because of history’s large numbers it is said that every single Japanese person living today has a drop of Samurai blood in them. 

Bushido is a samurai religion based off Buddhism, Taoism and Confuciusism consisting of 7 virtues: Morality, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honor and Loyalty.   Bushido dictates that a samurai must strive to better him or herself in a multitude of ways including those unrelated to combat. 

Bushido- the samurai code dictates that the soul of a samurai lay in his sword.

Phoenix looking at swords in Asakusa Tokyo

Historian’s say that the top not was created out of necessity.  The shaved forehead made it easier to don a helmet…

FEMALE “SAMURAI” were called Onna-Bugeisha.   Most history books do not highlight these female warriors but recent research indicates that Japanese women did compete in battle alongside their male counterparts.  DNA found at the sight of the 1580’s Battle of Senbon Matsubaru found that 35 out of 105 bodies were in fact female.   (Coolest fact I’ve read in a long time) 

The naginata is a long rod with a curved blade at the tip. The word "naginata" means, "mowing down sword" or "reaping sword". Because of its versatility and convention, more women have been

Shi by David Mack photo from www.davidmackguide.com
David is Phoenix's favorite artist

attracted to its use. It offers a wide variety of long ranged techniques because of its length. It also proved to be very efficient against marauders who often attacked on horseback. Through its use by many legendary samurai women, the naginata has been propelled as the iconic image of a woman warrior.

Darth Vader’s design was highly influenced by the Samurai helmet. Many helmets also featured ornaments that were attachable pieces, including a mustachioed demonic mengu mask that’s sole purpose was to frighten the enemy.  Samurai armor was designed for mobility.  The armor had lacquered plates of either leather or metal and was carefully bound together. (I think it’s safe to assume Batman stole some ideas from the Samurai as well.) 

The Hidden Fortress directed by Akira Kurosawa

The Japanese movie The Hidden Fortress was the basis for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

Shuriken, more commonly known as throwing stars - were also designed to hit the opponent then bounce away out of sight. This way a ninja could fool an unsuspecting guard or sentry into believing he had been cut by an invisible swordsmen.(One of

I bought some Shuriken home from my trip.
Looks good next to the nunchakus. 

many mental tricks) Another tool used by the ninja was a simple box of crickets. They would carry with them a small box of crickets to cover up any small sounds made by the ninja as he quietly advances on his target. The noise made by the crickets was not uncommon, so they samurai thought nothing of hearing them. 

Stephen K. Hayes told me this awesome fact as well as many other really great facts about Ninja.  Stephen K. Hayes is described by Black Belt Magazine as one of the top 10 living most influential 

The complete Ninja Collection by Stephen K. Hayes

martial artists in the world.  Stephen was one of the first westerners to train in the art of Ninjutsu.  In the 1970s Hayes traveled to Japan to seek out authentic ninja masters. He met and began training under Masaaki Hatsumi, Stephen has written several books on the ninja and spirituality.  It's been an honor getting to know him.  


Women played a very important roll in the ninja clans of the past. Known as Kunoichi, the female ninja could often use their own femininity to get very close to the enemy. Using psychological warfare and mind manipulation as weapons. ( Sounds just like dating..lol )

Kunoichi were trained in a variety of weapons, similar to the ninja, but because of the different situations they would face some smaller close range weapons were used more often. Weapons like blinding powders; poisons, daggers, rope and even the fan were often carried because they could be used at close range.

CHECK BACK FOR PART TWO ...MORE ABOUT JAPAN.