We have stressed the similarity between bujutsu in the literal sense of the word because kobudo, from a historical point of view, kobudo today is the name given to styles of martial arts weapons of Okinawa (although, in recent times, the title has kobudo sometimes accompanied schools arms classical Japanese). Okinawa island is the main one of the Ryukyu, placed between China and Japan (300 miles south of Japan and 400 east of China) and wet South Chinese Sea. As such, the island culture of the place was always greatly influenced by those countries and domains Chinese and Japanese continued long succession to the command of okinawense people, a wonderful people who have always been able to join a great sweetness Mr combative spirit.
The result is a culture that unique blend harmoniously special autochthonous typical of China and Japan. So the karate comes from Chinese kung fu and the history of the arts armed Ryukyu follows exactly the same phylogeny: the island is, since ancient times, many of the weapons that already exist in China, sometimes used in styles and how the place, plus unique items islands. Many of these weapons are also common in Japan, but the so-called missing weapons "noble" as swords and spears, which does not fall within the concept official kobudo of Okinawa.
Especially because of the common people, as early as the Japanese, was at one point imposed a ban on carrying weapons; this prohibition was first promulgated in the years'80,'400, by King Sho Shin and then, in 1609, the Japanese conqueror Shimazu, the clan of Satsuma (this is also the cause of substantial lack of written documentation on the arts of the past). Then remain popular items and farmers, in which the corresponding classes, like Japanese colleagues, defended themselves against coercion of local samurai, pirates of Mari (waka) and various overbearing. These tools gave rise to more than 15 weapons:
-- Rokushaku bo: the first weapon of kobudo, according to some sources widespread in Okinawa over to-de (the ancestor of karate); is a long stick on average 6 shaku, or approximately 1.80 metres. Similar to rokushaku bo, but longer are hashaku bo (m 2.43) and kushaku bo (m 2.74) as you can see, all'ideogramma b or not you add that the number of the shaku measuring stick. -- As with other clubs, the type of wood can go from rattan red oak, trying to prioritise the hardness but flexible fiber. Some theories are derived from the rokushaku bo tenbin, the stick used by the people of Okinawa to transport, appendendoli in pairs at both ends, mo 'of bilancere, buckets and other containers, but the use of the stick martial, in its various measures , is as old as the apes. Often, models today have closer ends of the central body, a special feature of kobudo of Okinawa.
For the modern practitioners bo, as well as enable them to combatter with a readily available, it offers the possibility to influence the upper body and develop balance.
• Yonshaku bo: 4 shaku long stick.
• Hanbo: weapon became famous for the use of that election in Okinawa became the bodyguards of the emperor. We handed that the same soldiers have encrypted the kata, some of which survived until today. The hanbo revealed all its versalità especially in the confined spaces of homes.
• Tanbo or nitanbo: long sticks from 70 to 91.5 cm. Used mainly in pairs.
• Sosetsu kon or nunchaku: flexible weapon consisting of two sticks of about 30 cm, joined together by a chain, horsehair or a simple rope. Tradition has it that it was originally used by farmers as a scourge to beat rice, while recent studies have suggested its derivation from a cord for horses, which initially had curved sticks. And 'one of the weapons of kobudo whose riding comes closest to the movements of karate. The nunchaku is used not only turning vorticosamente and percuotendo with ends, but it is equally effective, taking contested two hands, taken, blocks, twisting and fixed assets, as well as close shots. In this way, the weapon can be useful both to the media that short distance. Contrary to what his current fame can leave believe, the nunchaku was not one of the primary weapons of okinawense people, which found tonfa know and more effective to fight against swords and other weapons white classic. Some cite as further proof of this, the substantial lack of classical forms of nunchaku. The advantage in the nunchaku is quite able to keep at bay various opponents. This kind is widespread, and, as usual in China, including in Indonesia and Philippines are undeniable and reciprocal influences between these countries.
• Sai is the Japanese jutte; knives a trident, with an auction long and two shorter rebbi that are also guard / paramano. Since the Okinawa know were taught in a very confidential, their origin is rather nebulous: according to some, they derive from the tip of harpoons used by fishermen, but the second most followed the theory, was born with you know who made use Police said that both Japanese okinawense. The police used this quality above all in pairs, but also in Japan alone. I know are good for the parare coups sword, as well as for intrappolarne the blade, and if expert horsemanship, spezzarla through twisted the weapon. Sometimes you know a third was brought stuck nell'obi, intended to replace the one that was launched against the opposition. Probably, this was the sole purpose of distracting the enemy, because analyzing old models know came up to us, we understand how they were never weapons launch, not having the proper balancing. The handling of know enables the practitioner also modern packaging wrists, forearms and shoulders.
• Nunte or manji know: when and in the form similar to know, but with two seats short branches mirror, a face in one direction, the other in the other.
• Nunte bo: a long stick with a fixed nunte tip probably comes from harpoons used by fishermen islanders. Not to be confused with a spear, although it shares the focus on precision movements and the predilection for small circular techniques. The place at nunte also allows uncinare and trapping weapons or parts of one's body.
• Martin bo: yari similarly to the Japanese, consists of a blade or a touch applied to a long stick, which measures from 213 to 305 cm., Which combines the advantages of the stick with the spear.
• Tonfa, or tunfa: also generally used in pairs, originally were tools for making holes in the soil in which to plant potatoes or other seeds, or to beat the rice (and use similar tools were found in the past between the paddies North Italy), tonfa must be longer than the elbow of practicing at least two fingers and when it is held along the forearm, the wood must faithfully follow the line, adhering perfectly for this must be taken sull'impugnatura is steadfast. A less conventional use the weapon, difficult to observe, consists nell'impugnarla branch at the base of the long and parare strike or even with the brief, which usually serves as a handle.
• Kama: falcetto, generally used in pairs; virtually every culture has used this subject, especially for pruning and harvesting. One of the most fearsome weapons, as with blade. As customary in Japan, in Okinawa also made their appearance models with a chain attached at the neck, resulting in patterns similar to kusari range.
• Eiku, eku bo or Jju the oar with which, on boats Okinawa, remava or maintained route. His riding, and especially use in kata, it seems perfectly exemplify, on the one hand the concealment techniques in martial simple gestures, the other the adoption of natural movements in combat. Indeed, in the form of eiku are many repeated movements of remata. While adopting the common features, some techniques bo, the long, wide blade of the oar terminal gives rise to particular strategies. The kata authentic eiku are not many (known master Odo Seikichi supports one or two), where many ignorant modern practitioners use instead the oar like a simple bo.
• Tinbei or tinbe: a kind of shield made with big and hard shell of a turtle; used in combination with a weapon, usually a rochin (a short stick to one armed with a tip or a blade) or a banto (a type of machete).
• Kuwa: rare weapon that derives from a simple hoe.
• Tekkos or teko: in practice a sort of "tirapugni, wood or metal, which armavano hands, which is said to be derived from iron horse; could bear near the knuckles spikes or even short blades and their riding, in addition to similarities with the techniques fist, included sferzate and fendenti; suited to combat the short distance, were mostly used in pairs. There is a closer version of this, which is called ticchu.

There have been included in the weapons derived from the Chinese and Japanese experiences, some schools, such as Matayoshi Shinpo, son of the famous master Matayoshi Shinko (1888-1947) and recently deceased include in practice. Among them sansetsu kon (bendy stick to three sections), the axe hoko, naginata or gekiguan (sticks with chains and weights).
The Zen of Okinawa budo renmei Shinpo is famous throughout the world and Italy is represented by Andrea Guarelli Verona. Another expert kobudo of Okinawa, Tamano Toshio teacher was a pupil of Shinpo Matayoshi, as well as Akamine Eisuke. Tamano shihan codified a system of teaching kobudo called shorei Jju (school respect and courtesy), with the intention to facilitate the learning of even non owns karate bases. The teaching of the master came to Italy in 1975, thanks to pioneer Roberto Fassi.
Another teacher who had a very important role in dissemination of kobudo was Shinken Taira (1902-1970), founder of the Ryukyu kobudo hozon shin Jju kio. Both Matayoshi Shinko Shinken seem to confirm that in recent times the root source of kobudo of Okinawa by Chinese arts, as both spent long periods of study on the continent. The same had done their illustrious ancestors. But Shinko also has the merit of having big laborious searches made in the same Okinawa, collecting valuable information from the old masters with whom came into contact. In addition to the aforementioned schools, and although several families okinawensi have developed variations in their own style, now you know at least 4 other systems kobudo more. With regard to the use of weapons, although some have similarities between them, each of them has its own peculiarities, which affect its use. In general, we can make a very broad distinction between long and short weapons: in the first we must exploit the length by sliding the weapon in his hands and taking the opponent so far. Conversely, the court must close weapons as soon as possible the distance with the enemy, especially if these weapons handling longest, whose benefits should be invalidated.
In the tradition of Okinawa learning begins with simple techniques of defence and attack (or hojundo dose kihon), and then switch to kata, and then at various stages of their application (kumiwaza, oyo and bunkai). In some schools are also practical yakusoku kumite, combat predetermined. In the past Okinawa seems that, as the Chinese tradition, kata with weapons were not very numerous. Au pair of Chinese tradition, kata were widespread in Okinawa, but they were much less in Japanese bujutsu, who preferred training in pairs (exception, even in ancient schools, the practice of iai jutsu, the art of fulmineamente extract and strike with the sword).
However, the sense of precision and love of tradition for which the Japanese are known led, even in times when the gorgeous modern world seems to have upset their civilization, preserving many treasures of the ancient martial schools. Today, therefore, can still attend demonstrations very valid from a historical point of view and convenient. Some schools kobudo of Okinawa have learned the same way keep alive the tradition. In parallel, however, are practitioners of iaido who do not know even contest effectively a sword, as well as reproductions of antique weapons, not respecting the correct weights, measures and balances, they distort the use and above all applications. There are cases where its use of real objects was virtually lost. A teacher told me - I never had the opportunity to verify the information - that one of the most famous of the so-called advisers "ninjutsu" modern mistook for a long time the picks (kasugai, sort of "crowbars") for weapons launch.
So, more or less vague classical techniques (an example for all the techniques included in the various koryu kata) have been added in recent times new ones, often with only the result of watering and overturn the practice of this ancient, used with the necessary effectiveness weapons today for the most part fallen into disuse. I remember well that years ago an expert in combat with real weapons of kobudo, complaining certainly a misuse of kata, showed me some pictures in action of a teacher considered among the best in the world, then, according to him, if he had actually used portrayed the weapon, as illustrated that the photograph was at least broken forearm.
And 'the usual problem: the lack of realism, or even just a sense of reality that too often afflicts the contemporary practice of ancient martial arts, when the transmission has been kept pure.
For several years some associations, such as kyoshi Bruce Heilman, have also tried to introduce the free combat sports with weapons of kobudo, ingegnandosi to design protections for body and the weapons themselves, a practice that enable more secure. The hope is that people seek and maintain, as it is now up to us, the use of traditional and effective weapons in question; without venturing into guazzabugli movements confused and imprecise that already characterize many of the martial arts fighting with bare hands .


Examples of kata charged by schools contemporary kobudo of Okinawa

• Kata of bo: Sunakake no kon; shushi no kon; soeshi no kon; chuon no kon.
• Kata of tonfa: renshin no tonfa; yara gua no tonfa.
• Kata of eku: tsuken no eku.
• Kata of kama: kanegawa no nichogama; no kama you.
• Kata to know: chatenyara know; chatan yara not know sho; hanta-gau not know; tawada not know; hamaiga not know.
• Kata of nunte bo: tsuken no nunte bo.
• Kata of timbei: kanegawa no timbei
Stefano Pernatsch
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This article was translated by a machine translation software and not by one person.