What is the difference between traditional Japanese culture “Budo” and “Sports”?

Jūdō, kendō, sumo, etc. are lumped together under the term “budō” (martial arts), whereas other athletic disciplines are called “sports. While many people may have a sense that “budo” comes from the traditional Japanese martial arts, not many can clearly answer the difference between “budo” and “sports. Here, we will go back to the roots of “budo” and “sports” and explain the distinct differences between the two.

■ What is traditional Japanese “Budo”?

Traditional Japanese “budo” includes kendo, judo, karate, and sumo, all of which include the word “dou”. The word “way” refers to a process, a way of life. It can also be translated as a way of life. In other words, Budo is about discovering and practicing one's own way of life as well as aiming for mastery of techniques.

What is the meaning of the word “budō” ?

The word “budo” comes from the Edo period (1603-1868), when the word “bushido” was first coined to describe the way of the samurai. Bushido refers to “samurai ideology,” or the so-called samurai spirit, and is one of the moral ideas that expresses the strength to face one's own mind. The emphasis is not on overpowering others and showing off one's strength with the power and techniques acquired through practice, but rather on honing one's inner self.

After the Meiji Restoration, budo was developed from kobujutsu. Kobujutsu refers to ancient Japanese swordsmanship, jujutsu, sumo, etc. The Meiji government considered making traditional Japanese martial arts a compulsory subject in schools. In doing so, the idea of Bushido was added, which is to hone one's inner self and develop one's character through the acquisition of skills by practicing the martial arts.

It is important to pursue the art of art and the spirit

The most important aspect of martial arts is the unity of mind, technique, and body. To hone one's martial arts skills is to hone one's mind as well as one's body. Budo is about refining the mind, improving morality, and cultivating an attitude of respect for civility. That is why all of the ancient Japanese arts, such as Sumo, Kendo, Judo, Naginata, etc., begin and end with “Rei” .

■ What is the difference between “Budo”and sports?

The most obvious difference between martial arts and sports is the emotional expression of victory or defeat. Unlike soccer and basketball, where players embrace each other and burst with joy every time they score a point, in kendo and judo, even the posture after scoring an ippon is questioned, and can determine the outcome of a win or loss. The root of this difference lies in their roots. Martial arts have their roots in the profession and work of the samurai, while sports began as play.

“Budo”and sports have opposite roots

Budo began with bushido, the samurai's view of their profession. Samurai, who were allowed to carry swords, were what we now call riot police or police. Whenever there was a dispute, the samurai would rush to the scene, draw their swords, and either eliminate the offenders or bring the matter to a close. Because they risked their lives by cutting and being cut, they could not wield their swords carelessly. It is only natural that a high spirit of self-discipline was required. The samurai's discipline of self-discipline is Bushido, which has been handed down to the martial arts.

In contrast, the word “sport” comes from the Latin word “deportare,” meaning “away from work. In other words, sport means to get away from work, to enjoy one's leisure time, and to play. Although martial arts and sports are very similar, they have their roots in work and play, which are complete opposites. The difference in emotional expression in terms of scores and victory or defeat may also stem from this.

The presence or absence of a residual heart is also a factor that makes a difference.

In Budo, there is a word called “zanshin” . It means that even after you have scored a great strike, you should not let your mind wander and be ready for the next attack. You do not rejoice with the spectators as you do in soccer, baseball, basketball, and other sports. This is a big difference between martial arts and sports.

It is a remnant of Bushido, which has passed through the battlefield of life and death, that we are required to always maintain a calm demeanor, and to be moderate in our attitude, neither flattering ourselves with victory nor being resigned to defeat. It is a sign of respect for the opponent who fought fairly and squarely. In kendo, in particular, there is a strict rule that an ippon without zanshin (a strike without zanshin) will be canceled.

■ Types of traditional Japanese martial arts called “Budo“

The nine traditional Japanese athletic cultures known as budo are kendo, judo, kyudo, sumo, naginata, karate, shorinji kenpo, aikido, and bayonet. In each discipline, the training of mind, technique, and body is considered as one thing. In other words, honing one's technique and honing one's mind are synonymous, and are a path of character building that enhances one's moral compass and cultivates an attitude of respect for civility.

Here, we will introduce two of the nine martial arts, Judo and Kendo.

About “Budo” in Judo

Judo is a budo that developed from jujutsu as an ancient martial art. The winner is determined by competing against each other in throwing, pinning, and striking techniques. In judo, there are times when a smaller fighter and a larger fighter compete against each other, and the smaller fighter may win by skillfully utilizing the strength of the larger fighter. The phrase used in such cases is “softly conquers stiffly. Strength that does not rely on strength alone is necessary. This is the budo of judo.

About “Budo” in Kendo

Originally, kendo was a way for warriors to learn the rules of swordsmanship on their own. Kendo was then systematized and became an athletic sport in which players wore protective gear and used shinai (bamboo swords) to fight. One of the most prominent examples of the spirit of budo in kendo is the cancellation of the judgment of ippon based on the presence or absence of zanshin.

■ Summary

We have explained the difference between “budo” and “sports” by tracing back to their etymology and roots. It goes without saying that in “sports” other than “budo,” character is formed through the process of training. However, Budo adds spirituality to the process and takes it to a higher level beyond winning and losing. The beautiful gestures that do not unnecessarily show emotion are unique to “budo” .