Kobudo Class Kata

Kobudo Class Kata 

Kobudo History:

Kobudo古武道 is the art of weapons, which include bo, sai, tonfa, kama, nunchaku, tekko, and eku as being some of the basic and more common weapons. In addition, there are however still many other weapons which are not as populare. Kobudo first gained its prominence around the year 1314 AD (the 4th year of showa), when the Japanese Government passed the first of its laws to ban the possession of all weapons on the island of Okinawan. The second banned took place in the 1600's, were karate and kobudo took more of a stronger hold in the society of the Okinawan's. The Okinawan weapons (kobudo 古武道 literately old martial way) was developed by the population of Okinawa, which suffered under the Japanese occupying forces very much. The weapons served for self-defense against the Japanese Samurai. In addition, the systems which are practiced in the kobudo today are influenced very differently. On Okinawa exists only one old book with the name Omorososhi which documents the early martial. It contains about 1500 long and short poems, written in Ryukyu-dialect of the 13. and 17. century. The poems describe the culture, the politics and aspects of the daily life on Okinawa. Several of this were translated of Kenzaburo Torikoshi. They also contain sections about helmet, armour, sword and bend. The concepts Sai or Bo are missing. The only Kobudo weapon which is mentioned in the Omorososhi is the Jo.

Bo (Kon, Kun) 棒

 (棒: ぼう) or kon, is a long staff, usually made of tapered hard wood, for example white oak, bamboo and in some cases for training purposes, rattan. Sometimes it is made of metal or plated with metal for extra strength; also, a full-size bo is sometimes called a rokushakubo (六尺棒: ろくしゃくぼう). This name derives from the Japanese words roku (六ろく), meaning 6, shaku (尺: しゃく) a Japanese measurement equivalent to about .994 ft and bo. The rokushaku-bo refers to a staff about 6 feet long. The bo is typically 1 inch thick, sometimes gradually tapering from the middle to 0.8 inch at both ends. This thickness allows the user to make a tight fist around it in order to block and counter an attack. The most common shape, maru-bo, is a round staff, while kaku-bo (four-sided staff), rokkaku-bo (six-sided staff), hakkaku-bo (eight-sided staff) also exist. Other types of bo range from heavy to light, from rigid to highly flexible, and from simply a piece of wood picked up off the side of the road to ornately decorated works of art.

Bo (Kon) Kata

1. Shihonuke No Kon

2. Choun No Kon

3. Suiyoshi No Kon Ichi

4. Ten Ryu No Kon

5. Shushi No Kon Sho

6. Shushi No Kon Dai

7. Soeishi No Kon

8. Yonegawa No Kon

9. Shuji No Kon

10. Ryubi No Kon

11. Arakaki No Kon

12. Oshiro No Kon

Sai 釵

The Sai is a short medal weapon with three sharp edges. Usually two or three Sais were used at the same time; their purpose was to block the opponent’s weapon, while their sharp tips were used to strike powerful and swift penetrating blows. It is difficult to trace the exact origin of the Sai- but it closely resembles a tool once used in China.

A third Sai could often be seen hanging from one’s belt behind one’s back; this was used to replace one of the other two Sais, in case it fell off one’s hand.

Another type of weapon similar to the Sai is the nunti sai or manji sai; its distinctive feature is that one of its edges points towards the opposite direction that the other two. It was often placed on a Bo (Nunti-Bo) and it is believed to have been used as a fishing tool.

Sai Katas:
1. Nakamura No Sai 

2. Odo No Sai Ichi

3. Odo No Sai Ni
4. Chatanyara No Sai Dai

5. Chatanyara No Sai Sho

6. Tsuken Shitahaku no Sai

7. Tawada No Sai

8. Hama Higa No Sai

9. Sai Jitsu Kihon Kata Ichi

10. Jigen No Manji Sai

Tonfa 柺

The tonfa (tuifa) was originated from a farming implement.  It was a handle that was used to turn a millstone in order to mill grain.

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Tonfa Katas:
1. Ode No Tonfa Ichi

2. Ode No Tonfa Ni
3. Hama Higa No Tonfa

4. Yaragara No Tonfa

5. Chikina no Tonfa

6. Ufushiku No Tonfa 

7. Matsu Higa No Tonfa

Kama 鎌

Kama are Okinawa and Japanese traditional farming implements similar to a sickle used for reaping crops and also employed as a weapon. Before being used in martial arts, the kama was widely used throughout Asia to cut crops, mostly rice. The kama is usually used in a set of 2 called nicho gama.

Kama Katas:
1. Odo No NNicho Gama Ichi  

2. Kanegawa No Nicho Gama
3. Tozan No Nicho Gama

4. Hamahiga No Nicho Gama

Nunchaku 双節棍 

 (Short sticks with string), was a horses bridle called a mugo, typical stick part  are about 12 inches long. Nunchaku have no official kata, but over the years some of the major organizations have created there own

Nunchuku Katas:
1. Odo No Nunchaku Ichi
2. Maezato No Nunchaku

3. Sosetsu Kon No Kata

Eku エーク

Eku bo (Eiku, Eku, Ueku, Ieku) is a boat oar, commonly used by fishermen to defend themselves. The overall length is about 5 foot 3 inches. The use is similar to the bo there are some additional movements like scooping up sand and throwing it.

Eku Katas:

1. Tsuken Akachu No Eku

  

Tekko(horse shoe) -horse stirrup, punching weapon, pointed short stick (Teko -Punching weapon, pointed short stick) 

1. Maezato No Tekko Ichi

2. Miyazato No Tekko Ni 

Suruchin

Hanbo

Jo-jitsu

Tsukizue

Suigetsu

Hissage

Shamen

Sakan

Monomi

Kasumi

Tachiotoshi

Raiuchi

Seigan

Midaredome

Ranai

Iaido

 Seitei Ryu

1. Mae

2. Ushiro

3. Uke-nagashi

4. Tsuka-ate

5. Kesa-giri

6. Morote-zuki

7. Sampo-giri

8. Gammen-ate

9. Soete-tsuki

10. Shiho-giri

11. Sou-giri

12. Nuki-uchi

Omori Ryu
1. Shohatto

2. Satto

3. Uto tari-to

4. Inyoshintai

5. Ryuto

6. Junto

7. Gyakuto

8. Seichuto

9. Koranto

10. Gyakute

11. Inyoshintai

12. Batto

Toyama Ryu

1. Ippon Me

2. Nihon Me

3. Sanbon Me

4. Yonhon Me

5. Gohon Me

6. Roppon Me

7. Nanahon Me

8. Happon Me