YKKF-India Weapons

Yudansha Kobujitsu Karate-doh Federation

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KOBUDO is an Okinawan Martial Art utilizing weapons, most of which are farming or fishing implements. The word kobudo is made up of the words "koryo" which means ancient, and "budo", which means "martial art", but in the specific sense of an art that is studied for personal betterment (unlike "bujutsu", which also means martial art, but in the sense of the training of a soldier to be used in the military). So, kobudo basically means, "ancient martial art".

BO an implement said to be derived from the tenbin, which was a wooden staff that was slung across the shoulders in order to transport buckets of water on each end. The most popular type of bo is the rokushaku, which measures 6 feet in length and 1 1/4 inches thick at the center, tapering down to 3/4 inch at the ends. Other types of bo range in length from four to nine feet, and can be round (maru-bo), four-sided (kaku-bo), sixsided (rokkaku-bo), or eight-sided (hakkakubo). The bo is considered the 'king' of the Okinawa weapons. The bo is the earliest of all Okinawa weapons and effective weapons in the form of a basic staff, and is traditionally made from red or white oak.

The bo, along with shorter variations such as the JO and HANBO could also have been developed from walking sticks used by travellers, especially monks. The Jo, a four foot staff Japanese in heritage. May be applied like a katana, although there is a separate Japanese art called jojutsu.

EKU, or IEKU, a common boat oar manipulated similar to the bo. As Kobudo was derived from farming and fishing tools, the eku was and is a popular weapon. One of the hojoundo (basic moves) for this weapon utilizes the fact that a fisherman fighting on the beach would be able to fling sand at an opponent. While not having the length, and therefore reach, of the bo, the rather sharp edges can inflict more penetrating damage when wielded properly.

NUNTI (fishing spear) is used in a similar fashion to the Bo. The 15" central staff has two prongs, One facing away and one facing toward the opponent. It can be used to spear, strike, or hook the opponent with the backward prong. The nunti is comprised of a bo with a manji sai mounted on the end. A nunti can be seen in the movie Karate Kid 2 being wielded by Mr Miyagi's opponent.

KUWA is a weapon unique to Matayoshi Kobudo. A four foot garden hoe, the kuwa is manipulated similar to the Bo. In Okinawa, the kuwa has been also used as a weapon for as long as there have been farmers. Compared to garden-variety hoes, the handle tends to be thicker and usually shorter, both due to Okinawan stature, and the fact that much of the agriculture takes place on hillsides where long handles would be a hindrance. A classic shape of blade is a simple rectangle of steel with a sharp leading edge, but may also be forked with tines.

NUNCHAKU is a weapon made from a horse bridle strap and a tool that was used to pound grain or rice. In the Matayoshi system, the most common types of nunchaku have octagonal (hakkakukei) or round (maru-gata) wooden handles of equal length connected by a length of rope or chain. There is much controversy over its origins: some say it was originally a Chinese weapon, others say it evolved from a threshing flail, while one theory purports that it was developed from a horse's bit. Chinese nunchaku tend to be rounded, whereas Japanese are octagonal, and they were originally linked by horse hair. There are many variations on the nunchaku, ranging from the three sectional staff (san-setsu-kon nunchaku), to smaller multi-section nunchaku. The nunchaku was popularized by Bruce Lee in a number of films, made in both Hollywood and Hong Kong.

SANSHAKU is a sister weapon of the Nunchaku. Three equal lengths instead of two gives the weapon more reach and options for defense and offence.

SANSETSUKON or three sectional staff can be used as a long ranged weapon and swung freely or a short lunge weapon when two sections are held and used to strike or parry.

KAMA or sickle was used to harvest rice. The kama can be employed to slash, hook, stick, stab, block and deflect. It is the traditional farming sickle, and considered one of the hardest to learn due to the inherent danger in practicing with such a weapon. The point at which the blade and handle join in the "weapon" model normally has a nook with which a bo can be trapped, although this joint proved to be a weak point in the design, and modern day examples tend to have a shorter handle with a blade that begins following the line of the handle and then bends, though to a lesser degree; this form of the kama is known as the natagama. The edge of a traditional rice sickle, such as one would purchase from a Japanese hardware store, continues to the handle without a notch, as this is unneeded for its intended use.

TONKUA a wooden implement that played an important role in the history of kobudo, tools such as the tonfa (tuifa, ), which were used as grist mill handles, served as effective weapons. The TONFA is more readily recognized by its modern development in the form of the police nightstick, although its usage differs. It supposedly originated as the handle of a millstone used for grinding grain. The tonfa is traditionally made from red oak, and can be gripped by the short perpendicular handle or by the longer main shaft. As with all Okinawan weapons, many of the forms are reflective of "empty hand" techniques

SAI, which is a three-pronged metal truncheon, were often used in sets of two or three for the purpose of entrapping an attacker's weapon and using the pronged ends in a jabbing, puncturing strike. Although the exact origin of the sai is obscure, it closely resembles an instrument that was used in China, and is also believed to have been derived from a farming implement that was used for digging furrows in the ground for planting seeds. Sai are traditionally carried in threes, two are used in combat and the third sai was often carried behind the back in the belt sash (obi) as a replacement for a hand-held sai that was thrown. The weapon is metal and of the truncheon class with its length dependent upon the forearm of the user. The sai originally reached Japan in the form of the jitte or jutte, which has only a single prong. Sai were thought to be given to those in Okinawan society that the Japanese could trust to maintain order. There are many other variations on the sai with varying prongs for trapping and blocking, and the monouchi, or shaft, can be round or octagonal. Sai were also used as handcuffs and were a symbol of authority in Okinawa.

MANJI SAI or NUNTI SAI is similar to the sai with one prong facing in the opponents direction. Can be used in close quarters or for throwing.

SHINAI - Kendo (Japanese fencing) sword, four foot bamboo sword.

TINBEI - ROCHIN : Sword or spear and shield. This weapon combination has Chinese roots. The Tinbe (Shield) can be made of various materials but is commonly found in vine or cane, metal, or archetypically, from a turtle shell (historically, the Ryukyu Islands' primary source of food, fishing, provided a reliable supply of turtle shells). The shield size is generally about 45 cm long and 38 cm wide. The Rochin (Short spear) is cut with the length of the shaft being the same distance as the forearm to the elbow if it is being held in the hand. The spearhead then protrudes from the shaft and can be found in many differing designs varying from spears to short swords and machete-style implements.

The Japanese Samarai Sword or KATANA is the famous weapon of the Japanese samarai. The art of the sword is called Iado.

SURUJIN consists of a weighted chain or leather cord and can be found in two kinds: 'Tan Surujin' (short) and 'Naga Surujin' (long). The lengths are about 150-152 cm and 230-240 cm respectively. It is a weapon which can be easily hidden prior to use, and due to this fact can be devastatingly effective. In the modern era, found with a bladed instrument at one end and a weight at the other, the Surujin techniques are very similar to those of the Nunchaku. Leather cords are used for practice or kumite, whereas chains are favoured for demonstration, but rope was the original material used.

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