The term Kobudō, more exactly Okinawa Kobudō 沖縄古武道 means “Ancient Okinawan martial art”. It refers to the handling of weapons from the current Japanese island of Okinawa, known as the ancient Ryūkyū Kingdom. It is characterized by the use of many traditional weapons, mostly of peasant origin or coming from local fishermen. The natives of Okinawa were pushed to perfect the use of a large number of common work tools due to the ban on the use of weapons imposed by the Japanese samurai who had conquered the island in 1609. Among the weapons in this repertoire, our academy focuses in particular on those of the Matayoshi school, or on 17 different traditional weapons, each of which is studied through fundamental exercises (hojo undo), forms (kata) and techniques (waza) applied in a free fighting (jiyu kumite), preordered etc.
»Read-more The 17 weapons studied in the Matayoshi school are: Bō, the stick about 6 feet long. Tunquwa or Tonfa, the batons with the “T” handle. Sai, the metal tridents to use in pairs. Matayoshi Sai, similar to sais but with one hilt opposite the other. Nunti or Manji Sai with two tips. Nunti Bō or Nunti fixed on a stick of 6 feet like a harpoon. Nunchaku or flagellum made up of two pieces of wood joined by a rope. Sansetsukon, a 3-section Nunchaku. Eku, a wooden oar. Chogama, the long scythe. Kuruman Bō or Nuchaku with one of the two sticks much longer than the other. Surujin, two bound stones held by rope or chain. Kama, pair of sickles. Tinbei, shield used in conjunction with a machete (Banto). Kuwa, hoe. Teccho, metal brass knuckles with bracket. Tecchu, needle-like metal brass knuckles. »Read-less
