Kobudo
Kobudo History
Formerly it was known as Ryukyu Kobujutsu although now the term used is kobudo (ko for old or ancient, bu for weapon or warrior and do path or spiritual path) (The ancient path of weapons or the warrior).
Different accounts show that in the 20th century, Master Shinken Taira traveled throughout Okinawa and its islands, studying the different forms and practicing what would come to be called the Ryukyu Kobudo style.
In addition to Master Taira, it is known that together with Master Shinko Matayoshi, one of the best known masters of Okinawa kobudo and who throughout his life made several trips between his native island and China, acquiring various knowledge of martial arts.
Currently there are numerous kobudo organizations in Okinawa and most are just branches and variants of the two main schools, one being the Ryukyu Kobudo founded by Master Shinken Taira, and the Matayoshi kobudo spread by the Zen Okinawa Kobudō Renmei (All Kobudo Federation). Okinawa) and the other is the Ryukyu Kobujutsu KenkyuKai, created by Modem Yabiku.
Our line was founded by master Anthony Marquez, who was a direct disciple of Kina Masanobu, the nephew of the legendary Kina Shosei, Kanei Katsuyoshi, founder of the Jinbukan, and Isa Kaisho, inheritor of the Ufuchiku-Den Kobujutsu system. https://www.tmai-honbu.com/
Among the main weapons used by the TMAI and Tamashintai school we have the following:
Bo:
Bo (staff), bong (Korean), pang (Cantonese), bàng (Mandarin), kun (Okinawa) is a staff weapon used in Okinawa. Bo are typically around 1.8 m (71 in) long and are used in Okinawan martial arts, while they are adopted in Japanese arts such as bojutsu in particular.
Tonfa:
The tonfa, also known as tuifa, tunka or tonkawa, is a weapon originating in China and Okinawa.
Sai:
The sai is a weapon of Asian origin but preserved in its handling in Okinawan. It is believed that it was an agricultural tool that became a weapon, but it is also claimed that it evolved from the beginning as a weapon. Its basic form is that of a dagger without edge but with a sharp point, with two long side protections ('handguards' or tsuba in Japanese) also pointed, attached to the hilt. The sai are built in various ways, in some, the central point is round and smooth, while others are octagonal. The tsuba is traditionally symmetrical, with both ends pointing forward, however there are some variations of the Sai. In the Manji Sai design developed by Taira Shinken the points are opposite, that is, one point towards the front and the other towards the back.
Nunchaku:
It is one of the traditional weapons of Asian martial arts basically made up of two short sticks, generally between 30 and 60 cm long, joined at their ends by a rope or chain. The nunchaku is mainly used in striking and blocking actions; however, it can be used as a complement to various sweeping, trapping, disarming, dislocation and strangulation techniques.
Jo:
The jo known as a medium staff, or short spear of approximately 1.3 to 1.5 m; The hambo, approximately 90 cm long, and the short stick or tambo, approximately 35 to 45 cm long, are also used as weapons in other traditional Japanese martial arts such as: jujutsu, aikido, kobudo, jodo and ninjutsu.
Eku:
It is an ancient weapon that originated from an oar, approximately 160 cm long. It was traditionally adopted for use as a personal defense weapon by fishermen against enemies armed with more conventional weapons.
Kama:
It is a weapon from the island of Okinawa used in the martial art of weapons or Japanese Kobudo of peasant origin. It is a long-handled sickle that was used to harvest cereals; the difference with the western sickle is the curvature of the kama, which starts at the handle. When the kama carries a rope with a weight, it is called a kusarikama or kusarigama.