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File:Anbo-jytsu arena.jpg

An anbo-jyutsu arena aboard the Enterprise

Anbo-jyutsu was a type of Human martial arts.

It took place in a circular arena, where two opponents would compete against each other. Both competitors wore light protective armor and a helmet that had a solid visor, which effectively blinded the competitor. A staff was used as a weapon, with a proximity sensor on one end and a small spherical cushion on the other. With the help of the proximity sensor, a player could detect, by means of an audio signal, where his/her adversary was.

Commander William Riker used this game in 2365 as a means to settle long-held grudges against his father, Kyle. (TNG: "The Icarus Factor")

Kyle Riker considered anbo-jyutsu to be the ultimate form of Human martial arts.

According to the script of "Lower Decks", Sam Lavelle kept an anbo-jyutsu stick and a soccer ball in his quarters. The ball is clearly visible, but the stick can't be seen.

Appendices

Background

The writing on the ring and armor are references to Japanese culture.

One reference is to the animated series Urusei Yatsura, which name is also used as the name of the SS Urusei Yatsura. The large character in the center, 星 ('Hoshi / sei', star), is used in the title. The words next to 星, in katakana are ラム ('ramu') and アタル ('ataru'), names of the main characters. The phrases 'Urusai' (うるさい, loud/obnoxious) and 'Yatsura' (やつら, people) are written on the back corner, which are what the title is said to come from.

Another is probably to The Book of Five Rings, a classic martial arts text. On the front of both armors, 地 ('chi', ground), 水 ('mizu', water), and 火 ('hi', fire) are written. On the back of Kyle's helmet, 空 ('sora', sky) 水 and 火 are also on the ringside. These are names of four of the five chapters of the book (the missing one is 風 ('kaze', wind)).

The word ユリ ('yuri', lily) is also written on the ringside, which may possibly be a reference to 百合 ('yuri'), the genre involving love between women, as seen in manga, anime, and related Japanese media.

The Japanese spoken by the Rikers during their fight in this ring is somewhat poorly pronounced. What they were trying to say from the text in the script was "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu" (which is a standard "first meeting" phrase in Japanese which literally means "please treat me gently") which, in this situation could be taken to mean "Well met, please do your best." When knocked to the ground the competitors would shout "Matte!" which means "Wait!"

It could be theorized that this sport is derived from Japanese martial arts, since competitors speak Japanese phrases before, during, and after a match.

Apocrypha

Anbo-jyutsu has popped up in a few instances in Star Trek literature: Will Riker spars with Christine Vale in A Time to Love, and B'Elanna Torres with Kes in Distant Shores.

External link

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