Foundations 3 - The False Prohibition of Budo after the War
This research challenges the commonly accepted narrative that Japanese martial arts, or budō , were completely banned by the Allied forces during the post-war occupation of Japan. Through an analysis of primary sources, historical documents and direct testimonies, the study reveals a more nuanced reality. Although there were temporary restrictions on some martial organisations-such as the dissolution of the Dai Nippon Butokukai , an institution that became militarised during the war-there was no absolute ban on martial practices. New disciplines such as Taihōjutsu and Shōrinji Kenpō even emerged during the occupation, demonstrating that martial practices continued to evolve. Misinterpretations and distorted representations by prominent figures, such as Moshe Feldenkrais, contributed to the myth of total prohibition, an idea that was propagated through repetitions of unverified claims in martial arts literature. By addressing these ‘falsehoods’ and placing the issue in the cultural an...
