Kobudo
As long as humans have had conflict they have sought to dominate their enemies and gain the upper hand or simply to protect themselves. Kobudo translates to old martial way or art, in particular using weapons. The prohibition of metal weapons put in place in 1477 by King Sho Shin on Okinawa was later reinstated during the invasion of the Satsuma clan in 1609. This ban on weapons played a significant role in the development of Okinawan martial arts like tode later know as karate in Japan, Not being able to use weapons created the search for knowledge of empty handed arts. The use of farm tools or ordinary objects for weapons made it easy to hide in plain sight the true reason for carrying them. Kobudo is and extension of the empty hand and therefore is beneficial in both learning it new or improving the empty hand understanding through weapons training.
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPEMENT
The use of weapons is as old as time. Whether it was a sharp rock attached to a stick or a farm implement. It gave people the advantage they needed to survive. Having skill with a weapon was as important as having one. Villages or clans or family units gave people more strength and safety by being in groups. These groups needed to know and study what was discovered to work in combat and be able to use it. Training and simulated combat became the way to passing knowledge on through routines and simulations, now known as Kata. As many people were illiterate and or didn't want to tip of their adversary of what they knew by putting it in writing knowledge was passed mostly by word of mouth. This was a slow process and often filled with errors or interpretation mistakes by the facilitator of the information. The use of patterns and drills became important in the transmission of knowledge. The progression of Kobudo stalled with the invention of gunpowder as an untrained assailant could overcome any amount of knowledge and training . in the modern times the training changed to be more of an art form and the urgency of protecting ones life was no longer the main purpose of the Kobudo training.
Instructors in our lineage
Example of Kobudo Weapons
Although there are many examples of ancient weapons used in the defence of Ancient people these pictured below are the majority of weapons trained int the art of Ryukyu Kobudo. In places where these are illegal other weapons will be included. Weapons are only offered to students who have shown a mature and proper attitude.
Bo
common weapon made from bamboo or whatever material was available. Several different lengths.
Nunchaku or Muge
two sticks tied together used for striking or strangling. Used to deflail rice and muge was a horse bridal
Sai
Metal fork like weapon
Tonfa
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Kama
used in the cutting of rice in the patties
Tekko
Eku Bo
a paddle type weapon used in okinawa by fishermen
Rochin and Tinbe
Surugin