Category Archives: Terminology

Sanchin, and the “Framework of 14 Kata”

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Andreas Quast

I met Tōme San in 2012 at a larger martial arts demonstration meet held at the Prefectural Budōkan in Naha. I had met him before at the dōjō of Senaga Yoshitsune Sensei of Uechi-ryū. At the time of the martial … Continue reading →

Posted in Dojo, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, The Technique of Okinawa Karate and Kobudo, UNESCO Karate | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sanchin, and the “Framework of 14 Kata”

At Attention! – The short story of ki o tsuke.

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Andreas Quast

Edo era gunner (artillerist) Takashima Shūhan (1798–1866) learned the Dutch language and Western-style gunnery through the Dutch stationed at Dejima, Nagasaki. Abe Masahiro, chief senior councilor during the final years of the Tokugawa shogunate, praised Takashima as the “Founder of … Continue reading →

Posted in Okinawa Peace Theory, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, UNESCO Karate | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on At Attention! – The short story of ki o tsuke.

A characteristic combination in old-style Sakugawa no Kon

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Andreas Quast

In the late 1920s, Miki Jisaburō of the Karate Club of Tokyo Imperial University travelled to Okinawa to meet the then-current masters and to research and record the techniques of original karate and kobudō. He published his findings in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Bojutsu Kata Series, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, The Technique of Okinawa Karate and Kobudo, Translations | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on A characteristic combination in old-style Sakugawa no Kon

The invention of kobudo terminology

Posted on March 25, 2024 by Andreas Quast

In Ryukyu Kobudo the technique of “hiding behind the bō” is found in most of the bōjutsu Kata, including Yonegawa, Tsuken-bō, Chōun, Chatan Yara, Sakugawa Chū Shō and Dai, Urasoe, Sesoko, Kongō and others.In Ryukyu Kobudo of the Taira lineage, … Continue reading →

Posted in Terminology | Comments Off on The invention of kobudo terminology

Performance of the bo accompanied by Kajadifū

Posted on February 24, 2024 by Andreas Quast

Martial arts bōjutsu and traditional bō performing arts have a long history of co-existence and cross fertilization. Traditional bō performing arts entered martial arts dōjō, and martial arts kata enter traditional bō performing arts. The most visible differences are in … Continue reading →

Posted in Publications, Terminology | Comments Off on Performance of the bo accompanied by Kajadifū

NEW RELEASE: Bo – Techniques, Forms, and Partner Practices of Ancient Okinawan Fighting Traditions. Volume 1: Bo-odori.

Posted on February 20, 2024 by Andreas Quast

Softcover edition: US | UK | DE | FR | ES | IT | NL | JP | AU | BR | CA | MX | SE | IN | PL Bo Techniques, Forms, and Partner Practices of Ancient Okinawan … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, kobudo, kumibo, Performing Arts, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Publications, Terminology, The Technique of Okinawa Karate and Kobudo, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, Tsuken | Comments Off on NEW RELEASE: Bo – Techniques, Forms, and Partner Practices of Ancient Okinawan Fighting Traditions. Volume 1: Bo-odori.

A Revival of Kongo no Kon

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Andreas Quast

It was just one or two weeks ago that Mr. X asked if I knew something about a certain bō-kata, or made a movie about it etc. I immediately knew what was going on and had a guess which dōjō … Continue reading →

Posted in Bojutsu Kata Series, Terminology | Comments Off on A Revival of Kongo no Kon

Taketomi’s “Arm Stick” – Ancient Jūjutsu-like techniques embodied in a harvest dance

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Andreas Quast

One of the performing arts of Taketomi Town is the “Arm stick” (udibō), a dance that includes the use of arms and forearms like a bō, i.e., a weapon. It is performed by women of Nakasuji hamlet. The performing arts … Continue reading →

Posted in Jujutsu, New Developments, Shima Society, Terminology, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, Unknown Ryukyu | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Taketomi’s “Arm Stick” – Ancient Jūjutsu-like techniques embodied in a harvest dance

The creation of sai choreographies – Hints on example of Yāka no Sai

Posted on December 10, 2023 by Andreas Quast

I have previously noted about Yakā no Sai, explaining the meaning of the word yāka and so forth. In the meantime, I stumbled upon the oldest reference I could find so far explaining the meaning of yāka (guardian) as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Comparative Analyses, kobudo, Saijutsu, Terminology, The Technique of Okinawa Karate and Kobudo, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The creation of sai choreographies – Hints on example of Yāka no Sai

Is Namihira-bō the original Tsuken-bō?

Posted on December 9, 2023 by Andreas Quast

As part of my ongoing research into village staff fencing (mura-bō), I stumbled upon this this performance, which took place in Hawaii. I posted about it on Facebook in January 2104. Back then, the following information came to light. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in kobudo, kumibo, Terminology, The Technique of Okinawa Karate and Kobudo, Tsuken | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Is Namihira-bō the original Tsuken-bō?