Japanese close quarters fighting techniques

Japan is the origin of a large number of specialized Japanese close quarters fighting techniques, including the unarmed techniques: judo and jui jutsu, aikido and kenpo. Japan went through a centuries long period when Japanese emporers exerted very limited authority, and each local administrators kept their own local armies, warriors developed martial arts for every weapon in their arsenal. Ken jutsu was the most well known body of techniques or weilding a sword, but there were others, including one body of techniques concerned solely with mastering the best way to draw a sword.

Japan underwent a rapid cultural and technological change, in the 19th century, and one consequence of this was deprecating the fole of traditional warriors, and their deadly fighting techniques. The name of almost every traditional deadly fighting technique ended in the suffix "jutsu", roughly translated as "practice". During the more peaceful period parallel bodies of techniques were developed, with the suffix "do", roughly translated as "sport". So, students of judo, studied for sport competitions, for learning Japanese traditions, for learning discipline, not to use to kill or disable opponents. There is a similar association between Kenjutsu and kendo.

Aikido, like jujutsu, judo and kenpo, includes grappling, throws, joint locks, holds, and choke holds. Like judo, it is a distinctly different synthesis of techniques from the many earlier branches of jujutsu.

Karate, although widely considered a Japanese close quarters fighting technique, originated in Okinawa. While Okinawa was incorporated in Japan around 1900, Japan ruled it as an occupied colony, for hundreds of years. Karate was unknown to the Japanese until Okinawans were made citizens of Japan, and Okinawan youth were conscripted into the Japanese army. It became obvious to close quarters instructors in the Japanese army that some of the recruits had already mastered a martial art.