martial arts are practiced as sports. The
sport called kendo developed from the
fighting methods of the samurai. Opponents
in kendo use wooden swords for
attack and defense. Kendo means “the
way of the sword.” Kyudo is a tradi-
T’ai Chi ch’uan, or T’ai Chi for short, is a
slow-moving, graceful type of martial art.
64 Martial Art BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
tional form of archery that is common
in Japan.
Unarmed Martial Arts
Karate is a very popular martial art that
started in Japan. The word karate means
“empty hand” in Japanese. Karate was
probably developed by people who were
forbidden to carry weapons. Karate
opponents use their arms and legs for
punching, kicking, and defending themselves.
They try to focus the entire
body’s power into the hand, foot, or
other body part used for striking. A
karate expert can break thick boards
with a quick strike from a bare hand or
foot.
Tae kwon do is a Korean martial art.
The name means “art of kicking and
punching.” Tae kwon do blends karate
and an earlier form of Korean selfdefense.
It includes standing kicks, jump
kicks, and punches.
Judo is another Japanese martial art.
Judo opponents usually do not attack
each other directly. Instead they try to
turn their opponent’s power to their
own advantage. They use quick moves
to try to make each other fall. This is
called throwing the opponent. They also
try to pin each other to the ground.
Sometimes they cause the opponent to
give up by applying pressure to arm
joints or to the neck.
Kung fu is a martial art that began in
China. Kung fu means “skill.” Many
kung fu movements imitate the fighting
styles of animals. There are hundreds of
forms of kung fu. Most forms are
unarmed, but some use swords or other
weapons.
T’ai Chi ch’uan is an ancient Chinese
martial art similar to kung fu. It is often
called T’ai Chi for short. T’ai Chi is a
popular form of exercise. The slow, flowing
movements used in T’ai Chi can
help to reduce stress.
Other unarmed martial arts include
aikido, jujitsu, and Thai boxing. Aikido
and jujitsu are Japanese. Thai boxing is
the national sport of Thailand.
#More to explore
Buddhism • Samurai
Martinique
Martinique is an oval-shaped island in
the Caribbean Sea. It is an overseas
department (a type of province) of
France. Fort-de-France is Martinique’s
capital and largest city.
Three boys practice karate. Karate is one of
the most popular martial arts.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Martinique 65
Geography
Martinique is part of the group of
islands called the West Indies. Its
nearest neighbors are Dominica, to the
north, and Saint Lucia, to the south.
The island is mostly mountainous.
Short rivers flow down from the island’s
mountains. Martinique’s highest peak is
Mount Pelee, an active volcano.
Martinique has a warm, humid climate
with one rainy season each year.
Hurricanes sometimes hit the island.
Plants and Animals
Forests cover almost half of Martinique.
Palm, rosewood, white gum, and
mahogany trees are common. Ferns and
orchids grow in the lowlands. The
southern coast has mangrove swamps.
Martinique’s few animals include mongooses,
snakes, rabbits, and birds.
People
Most of the people of Martinique have a
mixture of black, white, and Asian
ancestors. There are small groups of
French whites and East Indians. French
and a local version of French are the
main languages. Most people follow
Roman Catholicism. Almost all the
people live in cities or towns.
Economy
Tourism is the most important part of
Martinique’s economy. Factories make
petroleum (oil) products, cement, sugar,
and rum. The island’s main crops are
sugarcane and bananas. Martinique also
depends heavily on aid from France.
History
Arawak Indians were Martinique’s first
settlers. The Carib Indians eventually
drove the Arawak Indians off the island.
Christopher Columbus visited
Martinique in 1502. France established
a colony on the island in 1635. The
French brought people from Africa to
work as slaves in the colony’s sugarcane
fields. Slavery finally ended in 1848.
In 1946 Martinique became a French
overseas department. Since then some
of the island’s people have called for
independence. France has responded by
giving the island more control over its
own affairs. Martinique elects
representatives to its own legislature. It
also sends representatives to the
legislature in France.
#More to explore
Caribbean Sea • France •West Indies
A cathedral, or large church, stands in Fortde-
France, the capital of Martinique.
66 Martinique BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Martyr
A martyr is someone who is willing to
die for his or her religious beliefs. Martyrs
are important in Christianity, Judaism,
and Islam.
The ancient Romans sometimes killed
Christians who refused to give up their
religion. The apostles Peter and Paul
were martyrs of this time. Many Christian
martyrs became saints.
Jewish martyrs include members of a
family known as the Maccabees, who
died long ago in a fight to keep their
religion. The Jewish holiday Hanukkah
is based on the story of the Maccabees.
Most Muslims agree that there are two
groups of martyrs: those killed in jihad,
or holy war, and those killed unjustly
