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Weapons
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The bo is a six-foot staff, sometimes tapered at
either end. It was perhaps developed from a farming tool called a
tenbin: a stick placed across the shoulders with baskets or sacks hanging
from either end. The bo was also possibly used as the handle to a rake or
a shovel. The bo, along with shorter variations such as the jo and
hanbo could also have been developed from walking sticks used by
travelers, especially monks. The bo is considered the 'king' of the
Okinawa weapons, as all others exploit its weaknesses in fighting it,
whereas when it is fighting them it is using its strengths against
them. The bo is the earliest of all Okinawa weapons (and effectively
one of the earliest of all weapons in the form of a basic staff), and is
traditionally made from red or white oak.
There are sixteen bo kata in the formal
curriculum of Ryukyu Kobudo Shinko Kai. |
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Bo / Kon |
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The
sai is sometimes mistakenly believed to be a variation on a tool used to
create furrows in the ground, however this is highly unlikely as metal on
Okinawa was in short supply at the time and a stick would have served
this purpose more satisfactorily for a poor commoner. The sai appears
similar to a short sword, but is not bladed and the end is traditionally
blunt. Records from China prove its original existence although in a much
more elongated form where it was known as Tsai and was used purely as a
weapon. The weapon is metal and of the truncheon class with its
length dependent upon the forearm of the user. The two shorter prongs on
either side of the main shaft are used for trapping other weapons such as
a sword or bo. The sai originally reached Japan in the form of the
jitte or jutte, which has only a single prong. Both are
truncheon-like weapons, used for striking and bludgeoning. Sai were
thought to be given to those in Okinawan society that the Japanese could
trust to maintain order.
Sai are traditionally carried in threes,
two are used in combat and the third is used as either a precursor to the
actual fight and is thrown at the enemy, or as a spare in the event that
one is knocked from the hand. 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. A form known as manji sai has the
two shorter prongs pointed in opposite directions, with another monouchi
instead of a grip.
There are seven sai kata in the formal curriculum of Ryukyu
Kobudo Shinko Kai.
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| Sai / Manji Sai (centre) |
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Niccho
Kon are two sticks, each typically two feet in length and one inch in
diameter. Techniques practiced with niccho kon include blocking,
striking and thrusting. Both single and double stick techniques are
taught, with an emphasis on defense against the bo. Practice with
niccho kon often draws comparisons to the Filipino martial art of Modern
Arnis.
The single niccho kon kata in the formal curriculum of Ryukyu
Kobudo Shinko Kai was developed by Minowa Sensei, and is called "Minowa
no Niccho Kon". |
| Niccho Kon |
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Ticchu
are part of the formal curriculum of Ryukyu Kobudo Shinko kai (Taira
--> Akamine line), and are practiced by students of Minowa Katsuhiko
(also a student of Taira). Ticchu is one of the few hand held
weapons used in Ryukyu Kobudo which can be concealed, easily carried and
used to devasting effect on an opponent (punching, raking, slashing and
stabbing). Ticchu is a primitive hand held weapon, which is usually
made of wood and is held inside the hand. The ticchu fits inside a
closed fist and extends some what out each side of the fist. From this
pole, another pointed pole projects at 90 degrees through the index and
middle fingers, providing an atemi point which is supported by the fist.
The single ticchu kata in the formal curriculum of Ryukyu
Kobudo Shinko Kai was developed by Minowa Sensei, and is called "Minowa
no Ticchu". |
| Ticchu |
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A
nunchaku is two sections of wood (or metal in modern incarnations)
connected by a cord 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.
There are three nunchaku kata in the formal curriculum of
Ryukyu Kobudo Shinko Kai. |
| Nunchaku |
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The
sansetsu kon is similar to a nunchaku, but has three sections of wood (or
metal in modern incarnations) connected by a cord or chain, with each
section being somewhat smaller than those of the nunchaku.
There are two sansetsu kon kata in the formal curriculum of
Ryukyu Kobudo Shinko Kai. Both were developed by Sensei Minowa
Katsuhiko. They are "Minowa no Sansetsu Kon Sho" and
"Dai". |
| Sansetsu Kon |
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The
tikko is a form of knuckleduster thought to have been developed from
horseshoes or saddle stirrups. They primarily take their main form
of usage from that of empty-hand technique, whilst also introducing
slashing movements. The tikko is usually made to the width of the hand
with anything between one and four protruding points on the knuckle front
with protruding points at the top and the bottom of the knuckle. They can
be made of any hard material but are predominantly found in aluminium,
iron or steel. Tikko is another of the few hand held weapons used in
Ryukyu Kobudo which can be concealed. It is generally argued that
the Tekko evolved from the horse and / or stirrups of the saddle.
The single tikko kata in the formal curriculum of Ryukyu
Kobudo Shinko Kai is "Maezato no Tikko", which was created by
and named after Taira Shinken. |
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Tikko |
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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 are a unique weapon of the Ryukyu Islands, which are not found in
the weapon traditions of Japan proper. 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.
There are two tonfa kata in the formal curriculum of Ryukyu
Kobudo Shinko Kai: "Hamahiga no Tonfa" and "Yaragwa no
Tonfa". |
| Tonfa |
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The
tinbe-rochin is one of the least known of the Ryūkyū system and
exudes a feeling of history long gone. The usage is, at first glance,
visually reminiscent of a combination of Zulu fighting and European sword
and small shield fighting, and weapons of this nature can be found in most
cultures throughout the world. 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.
When fighting an opponent, the shield is held in the left hand for
defense, and with the short blade halberd in the right. The spear is
typically about 50cm in length, and is used for both offense and defence.
Only one kata, the "Kanegawa no Tinbé" kata, has survived and
been passed down. |
| Rochin and Tinbe |
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