How long have unarmed combat martial arts been practiced in Japan?

Answer 1

According to Legend, Japan's very first emperor won the throne through a victory in a Sumo match, that would entail almost since before recorded Japanese history. The true origins of Sumo, archaeologists have discovered, in fact date to the time of the Jomon and the Ainu, and Sumo, is in fact derived from Ainu folk Wrestling. The Ainu practice a form of wrestling that is similar to Sumo, and they used it, to settle disputes between tribes, it was their version of single combat. In other words, there is no martial art more Japanese, than Sumo. Actually, the form of wrestling itself, is in fact a little more Japanese than the Japanese themselves, as it was practiced by the Ainu since even before Korean Yayoi arrived in Japan. If this is true, then Sumo is likely the oldest continually practiced form of wrestling on earth.

I know, although not 100% sure, that what few cave paintings atributed to the Ainu, that have been found in Japan, many tend to depict wrestling matches that ressemble Sumo. Now, let me make a disclaimer, there is absolutely no concrete proof, that Sumo comes from Ainu folk wrestling NEVERTHELESS, the Ainu people are short, large boned, and stockily built, in fact many Ainu, what few full blooded remain, have a body structure similar to European Neanderthals. Genetically they are Asian, but they are built like Neanderthals; short, stocky, very large bones (9 inch circumference wrists not unknown among the men), and yes muscular. In other words the Ainu are built for Sumo, they DO have the body structure for it, many are also very strong they posses natural, "god given" physical strength. Sumo is a form of wrestling that you can only practice if you are strong; if you can not AT LEAST bench press 400lbs, don't even CONSIDER doing Sumo, you will get destroyed. Legend has it, some Ainu Sumo wrestlers were so powerful physically, they could uproot small trees. The reason the people of Japan run the gamut between "pathetically skinny" and "frighteningly tough" has to do with what part of their genetic background is favored. The Japanese are a mixture of Jomon, Ainu, and Yayoi, of those three, the Yayoi people, tended to be tall and slender, much like the people of Korea. Because mendelian inheritance issues come into play here; if you have a tall skinny man mix with a short stocky woman, their children could come out either way. Now, mind, both Jomon and Ainu, where short and sturdily built, the only difference was skin color; whereas Ainu tended to have light, even pale skin, the Jomon had a deeper skin tone. That is why modern Japanese run the gamut; some are very light, while others are dark, it depends whether the Ainu, Jomon or Yayoi in them is favored or not.

Its not wise to stereotype; some Japanese men, like for example, Masahiko Kimura, are TOUGH AS NAILS, a far cry from the "effeminate Asian man" stereotype. Another example is Antonio Enoki, and of course Sunny Chiba of Karate movie fame. Masahiko Kimura, is a good example of a Japanese, whose Ainu blood is very strong; the majority of Ainu men, were often built like him. In the northernmost Japanese island where the Ainu now live, you won't find any "skinny wimps" I will guarantee that much.

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