Okinawan kobudō
Okinawan kobudo (less commonly Ryūkyū Kobujutsu) is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa". It generally refers to the classical weapon traditions of Okinawa, most notably the rokushakubo (six foot staff, known as the "Bō"), sai (short unsharpened dagger), tonfa (handled club), kama (sickle), and nunchaku (nunchucks), but also the Tekko (knuckledusters), Tinbe-Rochin (Shield and Spear), and Surujin (Weighted Chain). Less common Okinawan weapons include a short staff and the eku, a boat oar of traditional Okinawan design. It is a common misperception that Kobudo weapons means only the Bo, sai, tonfa, nunchuck, and kama. Most if not all of the Kobudo weapons such as the sai and kama have Chinese equivalents. Many believe that the five better-known weapons trace back to fishing or farming traditions as classical implements used in these trades.
Kobudo traditions were shaped by indigenous Okinawan techniques that arose within the Aji, or noble class, and by imported methods from China. The majority of modern kobudo traditions that survived the difficult times during and following World War II were preserved and handed down by Taira Shinken and Kenwa Mabuni, and developed into a practical system by Motokatsu Inoue in conjunction with Taira Shinken. Other noted masters who have kobudo kata named after them include Chotoku Kyan, Shigeru Nakamura, and Shinko Matayoshi.
Kobudo arts are thought by some to be the forerunner of karate, and several styles of that art include some degree of kobudo training as part of their curriculum. Similarly, it is not uncommon to see an occasional kick or other empty-hand technique in a kobudo kata. The techniques of the two arts are closely related in some styles, evidenced by the empty-hand and weapon variants of certain kata: for example, Kanku-dai and Kanku-sai, and Gojushiho and Gojushiho-no-sai, although these are examples of Kobudo Kata which have been developed from Karate Kata and are not traditional Kobudo forms. Other more authentic kobudo kata demonstrate elements of empty hand techniques as is shown in older forms such as Soeishi No Dai, a Bo form which is one of the few authentic Kobudo kata to make use of a kick as the penultimate technique. Kobudo and Kobujutsu are older and have undergone less "modern development" than Karate and still retain much more of the original elements, reflections of which can be seen in more modern karate kata. The connection between empty hand and weapon methods can be directly related in systems such as that formulated in order to preserve both arts such as Inoue/Taira's Ryūkyū Kobujutsu Hozon Shinko Kai and Motokatsu Inoue's Yuishinkai Karate Jutsu. M.Inoue draws direct comparisons between the use of certain weapons and various elements of empty hand technique such as sai mirroring haito/shuto waza, tonfa reflecting that of urkaken and hijiate, and kama of kurite and kakete, as examples. The footwork in both methods is interchangeable.
Kobudo kata
Okinawan Kobudo was at its zenith some 200-400 years ago and of all the authentic kobudo kata practiced at this time, only relatively few by comparison remain extant. Between the 1700s - early 1900s a decline in the study of Ryūkyū Kobujutsu (as it was known then) meant that the future of this martial tradition was in danger. During the Taisho period some martial arts exponents such as Yabiku Moden made great inroads in securing the future of Ryūkyū Kobujutsu A large amount of those forms which are still known are due to the efforts of Taira Shinken who travelled around the Ryukyu Islands in the early part of the 20th century and compiled 42 existing kata, covering 8 types of Okinawan weapon. Whilst Taira Shinken may not have been able to collect all extant kobudo kata, those he did manage to preserve are listed here. They do not include all those from the Matayoshi, Uhuchiku and Yamanni streams however.
- Shuji No Kon Sho, Shuji No Kon Dai, Koshiki No Shuji, Shu shi no Kon
- Sakugawa No Kon Sho, Sakugawa No Kon Dai, Sakugawa No Kon Chu
- Soeshi No Kon Sho, Soeshi No Kon Dai, Sueyoshi No Kon, Kongō No Kon (Taira Shinken's Bo Kata)
- Shirotaru No Kon Sho, Shirotaru No Kon Dai
- Sesoko No Kon, Yonekawa No Kon, Tsukenbo, Chinenchichanaka, Chatanyara, Choun, Urasoe, Tsukensunakake
- Tokubetsu-Bo: Kyu Shaku Bo, San Shaku Bo
- Matsu Higa no kon, Ten U no kon, Chatan Yara no kon
- Matayoshi Kobudo Bo Kata: Shushi Nu Kun, Choun Nu Kun, Cho Un No Kon, Sakugawa Nu Kun, Chikin (Tsuken) Nu Kun, and Shiishi Nu Kun
- Isshinryu Bo kata : Tokomine No Kon,Urashi No kon,Shishi No Kon No Dai
- Tsukenshitahaku no Sai, Hamahiga no Sai, Yaka no Sai, Hantaguwa, Kojo, Tawata, Chatanyara no Sai, Manji no Sai, Jigen no Sai, Aragaki no sai
- Matayoshi Kobudo Sai Kata: Nicho Sai(also called as Ni Cho Zai, Sancho Sai(also called as San Cho Zai) and Shinbaro No Sai (also called as Matayoshi no Sai)
- Isshinryu Sai kata : Kusanku no Sai,Chatanyara no Sai
- Hamahiga no Tonfa, Yaraguwa, Matsu Higa no tonfa
- Matayoshi kobudo Tonkua kata : Tonkua Kata Dai Ichi,Tonkua Kata Dai Ni
- Nunchaku no Sho, Nunchaku no Dai, San Bon Nunchaku
- Matayoshi Kobudo Nunchaku kata:Kohbu Nunchaku kata Ichi,Nunchaku Kata sandan
- Tozan, Kanigawa no Sho, Kanigawa no Dai
- Matayoshi Kobudo Kama Kata : Kohbu Nicho Gama(also called as Tairaguwa Gushikawa No Kama No Kata Ichi)
- Maezato (From Taira Shinken)
- Kanigawa no Tinbe
Surujin
- Nagai Kusari, Mijikai Kusari
See also
External links
- Information about Kobudo weapons from a website of the Okinawa Prefectural Government
- History of Kobudo (Note link to budo and kobudo masters)
- International Okinawan Kobudo Association