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Japan is a country whose society is rooted in spirituality, ethics, and etiquette. So it comes as no surprise that much of the sports and leisure activities are present in these facets as well. The other day I travelled to Kyoto to view a popular meditation practice called Kendo. Kendo is a form of martial arts that resembles fencing with wooden swords. Basically the goal is to hit your opponent in one of the four areas that qualify as a point while calling it. The first to two points wins the match. I was suprised to see this meditation practice, because it seemed more like a sport when I saw it. There is a lot of posing and attacking, and very interactive. I held a real steel sword that was used before the bamboo sword was introduced, and it was incredibly heavy. It would take a lot of strength to constantly hold it up. After the match, I found out that it was popularized as a major sport in Japan after World War II, and now has spread globally as well. Kendo has even become a big part of Japan's physical education. There are clubs present from elementary until high school levels. Many of the practitioners that I saw were past school level, and chose Kendo as a way of life. I think that Kendo is a good example of sports in Japan because not only does it represent their dedication to physical activity, but also their strong ties to spirituality.
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1 comment:
Nice subject for our theme of sports this week. I'd like to read more of your experiences and observations during your visit.
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