The Samurai of Japan, compared to the medieval knights of Europe, were a dominating military force reputed to drive fear into the hearts of their enemies. This statement can much be attributed to the various and exceptional martial arts, weaponry, and armor that were key to combat success for the samurai. Samurai are usually synonymous with the katana (sword) and heavy, intricate armor –while this may be true – samurai weaponry had a broader range. In fact, the yumi (bow) and the yari (spear) preceded the katana as the primary military weapon for the samurai. Ultimately, martial art was the key factor in the utilizations of these powerful weapons.
