Category Archives: New Developments

Appropriation of Aphorisms etc.

Posted on May 28, 2023 by Andreas Quast

Japanese calligraphy sometimes uses four-character idiomatic phrases (yojijukugo 四字熟語). These are compound phrases consisting of four kanji used for idiomatic expressions the meaning of which are usually not directly inferred from the individual characters used. A few examples appropriated into … Continue reading →

Posted in Comparative Analyses, Misc, New Developments, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Terminology | Comments Off on Appropriation of Aphorisms etc.

The story of “Maezato no Nunchaku Dai” and “Akamine no Nunchaku”

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Andreas Quast

In connection with Okinawa karate and kobudō, questions often remain answered unsatisfactorily, or unanswered at all. This may have different reasons. For example, people have long since forgotten what exactly happened several years or decades ago, or they were not … Continue reading →

Posted in kobudo, New Developments, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The story of “Maezato no Nunchaku Dai” and “Akamine no Nunchaku”

Shitsuden and Shinden

Posted on October 30, 2022 by Andreas Quast

The term shitsuden 失伝 means disruption; interruption; non-continuation; to fall into desuetude; the loss of a tradition, a practice, a custom, etc. It can mean the loss of a full tradition, such as a complete school or style (ryūha), or … Continue reading →

Posted in Comparative Analyses, kobudo, kumibo, Matayoshi Kobudo, New Developments, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Shitsuden and Shinden

The History and Contents of Matayoshi Kobudo as of 1999

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Andreas Quast

Grandfather Shinkō was born on May 18, 1888, in Kakinohana Town, Naha City as the third son of great-grandfather, Shinchin. Raised in Senbaru, Chatan Village, he learned kenpō (empty-handed martial arts) and bukijutsu (martial arts with weaponry) handed down as … Continue reading →

Posted in Bojutsu Kata Series, kobudo, Matayoshi Karate Kobudo - Written sources translated, Matayoshi Kobudo, New Developments, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, Translations | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The History and Contents of Matayoshi Kobudo as of 1999

Taira Shinken 1964 also copied designs from Yun Heui-byeong 1948

Posted on August 20, 2022 by Andreas Quast

In the last article, I notified that Taira Shinken copied important parts of text from Yun’s research published in 1948. Besides text, Taira also copied designs from Yun. Here I would like to particularly point out the makiwara design. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Bojutsu Kata Series, Equipment, kobudo, New Developments, Postwar Okinawa Karate | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Taira Shinken 1964 also copied designs from Yun Heui-byeong 1948

Maintaining the Unaltered Technique

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Andreas Quast

In today’s Okinawa Times is an article on Mr. Nakazato Takeshi, 2nd generation Sōke of Shōrinji-ryū and Chairman of Zen Okinawa Shōrinji-ryū Karatedo Kyōkai. I would like to shortly share some parts of it. As for the context, the founder … Continue reading →

Posted in New Developments, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, Translations | Comments Off on Maintaining the Unaltered Technique

Sai, Tinbe and the “Expedition to the Southern Islands” 1893

Posted on April 10, 2022 by Andreas Quast

As previously mentioned, in 2021, a list of “100 Footprints of Modern Karate” was published in the Okinawa Times. I have already written about Footprint No. 1 and Footprint No. 2 and today will turn to Footprint No. 3. Footprint … Continue reading →

Posted in Comparative Analyses, Equipment, Fundstücke, kobudo, New Developments, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, Unknown Ryukyu | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sai, Tinbe and the “Expedition to the Southern Islands” 1893

Tode, Karate in the Tafaku 1867

Posted on April 10, 2022 by Andreas Quast

Yesterday I wrote about the written notation of tōde 唐手 as found in the play Nizan Waboku (The Reconciliation of Nanzan and Hokuzan) in 1867 and 1891. While it used the same original notation as karate / tōde, it turned … Continue reading →

Posted in Comparative Analyses, kobudo, Misc, New Developments, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, Unknown Ryukyu | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tode, Karate in the Tafaku 1867

Karate, Tōde, and “The Reconciliation of Nanzan and Hokuzan”

Posted on April 9, 2022 by Andreas Quast

As mentioned previously, in 2021, a list of “100 Footprints of Modern Karate” were published in the Okinawa Times. Of course, “Modern Karate” here refers to the period since the establishment of Okinawa Prefecture in 1879. In this list, footprint … Continue reading →

Posted in kobudo, New Developments, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, Translations, Unknown Ryukyu | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Karate, Tōde, and “The Reconciliation of Nanzan and Hokuzan”

Okinawa Kenpo – Viewed from a different angle

Posted on December 23, 2021 by Andreas Quast

Jūjutsu and jūjutsu-like systems were known since feudal times in Japan under a multitude of names. The two most common of which were yawara and jūjutsu. Others were: kenpō, hakuda, hade, shubaku torite, taijutsu, kumiuchi, kogusoku, koshi no mawari, wajutsu, aikijūjutsu, aiki no jutsu, aikijutsu … Continue reading →

Posted in Fundstücke, Jujutsu, New Developments, Ōshima Hikki, Terminology, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, Translations, Unknown Ryukyu | Comments Off on Okinawa Kenpo – Viewed from a different angle