Category Archives: Bojutsu Kata Series

Tsuken Uēkata Seisoku

In the previous article, I wrote about Tsuken no Kon. This kata is said to be one of the oldest bōjutsu of Okinawa, dating back to a certain Tsuken Uēkata Seisoku. According to historian Majikina Ankō (1923), Tsuken Uēkata Seisoku … Continue reading

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Kihon created from Kata – Shiromatsu no Kon

A new playlist on my channel sports “Kihon created from Kata.” There I present various ideas and suggestions of how to use techniques and combinations from kata as kihon routines. The second installment features combos from Shiromatsu no Kon, which … Continue reading

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Kihon created from Kata – Shushi no Kon

A new playlist on my channel sports “Kihon created from Kata.” There I present various ideas and suggestions of how to use techniques and combinations from kata as kihon routines. The first installment features combos from Shushi no Kon Sho, … Continue reading

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Gedan-uke, Mamori, Hikkake, Gedan-barai, etc.pp. – Variations in Bojutsu techniques

When looking at old footage, or if you have practical experience, you know there are several variations in the performance and characteristics of the same movement in different schools. Also, from written descriptions, there are different names used by different … Continue reading

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Kushaku-bō or 9-foot-staff of Taira Shinken

In the bōjutsu tradition of Taira Shinken, we find a rarely seen pole weapon: the Kushaku-bō or 9-foot-staff. I have laid out all primary sources known to me before, here and here. To finalize the matter, and as another instance … Continue reading

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Chatan Yara no Kon w/paddle

As I wrote in 2015, Chatan Yara no Kon can be performed with an Uēku (paddle) without any adaption to the gripping and hand changing methods. I wonder whether there was a unilateral or a mutual influence with Tsuken Sunakake … Continue reading

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Chōun no Kon, or Shōun no Bo?

There was a discussion on social media about the spelling of a kata. In the Taira lineage, the kata is generally known as Chōun no Kon. However, in a bilangual work of 1987, there is the description of “Chōun no … Continue reading

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The 9-foot-staff in Okinawa bōjutsu

I have written about the 9-foot-staff before. In the bōjutsu tradition of Taira Shinken, it is called the kushaku-bō. This staff is about ca. 273 cm long. I want to recapitulate on what I have established before and extend it … Continue reading

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Ishigaki Bojutsu

Bōjutsu performed by male members of the Shiraho Youth Association of Ishigaki Island presented at Ishigaki City Citizens’ Center on November 20, 2010. While “bōjutsu” literally means “staff art,” it traditionally also included all sorts of plunt pole-like weapons of … Continue reading

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砂掛けの棍

「砂掛けの棍」という型に関する貴重な歴史的・技術的資料があります。 村上勝美氏が演じたこの型は、1974 年の古い初版で一度だけ発表され、何十年も絶版になっています。 後の版では、この型は含まれていませんでした。 問題の本は、井上元勝氏の大作『琉球古武道』(1974年)の第3巻。 この型は過去と繋がるのかもしれません。 それは、三木二三郎氏と高田(のちに陸奥)瑞穂氏が『拳法概説』(1930 年)に出版した沖縄の棒形の最初のリストに記載があります。 そこでは、当時すでに「砂掛けの棍」には2つのバージョンが存在していたと言われています。 『空手道大観』(1938年)では平信賢氏も言及されています。 したがって、「砂掛けの棍」は沖縄棒術原型の名の一つです。 村上氏の 1974 年で『砂掛けの棍』の演武は、写真付きで彼のテクニックを初めて説明したものです。 それ以外の場合、その型、またはそのバージョンは、沖縄松源流範士十段の前田清正氏が YouTube で公開した 2010 年代になって初めて登場しました。 まったく同じ型ではありませんが、類似点が圧倒的に多く、両型が共通の起源を持っていることにほとんど疑いの余地はありません。 井上氏の1974 年の初版にはこう書いてあります。 参考型についてこの三つの型(多和田の釵 • 松村の釵 • 砂掛けの棍)は、当会九州地区本部長の村上勝美氏が保存研究した型でありますので、参考型としてここに掲載しました。演武者は村上勝美氏。 以下の説明は研究のみを目的としています。 砂掛けの棍 0*礼。*用意。 1 *左方に押さえ受け。 2 *砂掛け。 3 *横打ち構え。 4 *横打ち。 5 *右方に押さえ受け。 … Continue reading

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