Category Archives: Terminology

Original Karate mentioned in 1873. No, wait: 1850!

Posted on June 17, 2023 by Andreas Quast

Ernest Mason Satow (1843–1929) was a British diplomat, scholar, Japanologist and a key figure in Anglo-Japanese relations. He is best known in Japan as Satō Ainosuke (佐藤/薩道愛之助). As many people from Okinawa karate circles might know, Satow published his “Notes on … Continue reading →

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Kensei

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Andreas Quast

Kensei refers to a kendō practitioner who was called “Saint of the Sword” (kensei 剣聖) during the Shōwa period (1926–1989). However, it is not an official title established by the Dai Nippon Butokukai or the All Japan Kendo Federation. It … Continue reading →

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Two wheels of a cart

Posted on June 6, 2023 by Andreas Quast

Japan has a unique culture called budō, that is, martial arts with distinctive characteristics rooted in Japanese history, including methods, concepts, and terminology.   Today I read about a phrase in WEB HIDEN and thought, “Oh, I have heard this … Continue reading →

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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 →

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Lax Character, Lifestyle, Superpower: What is Tēgē テーゲー?

Posted on April 9, 2023 by Andreas Quast

I recently spoke with an expert about the Japan-Okinawa relationship, and why Japanese budōka sometimes despise Okinawa. As a possible reason was quoted the generally lax character of the Okinawans, which is ridiculed as tēgē (テーゲー = lax character) or … Continue reading →

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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 →

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Form Follows Fiction

Posted on February 11, 2023 by Andreas Quast

“Form follows function,” an old concept borrowed from architecture is the congenial didactic behind karate kata, or so we were told. It can be. However, it can also be that – by and large – what teachers actually use as … Continue reading →

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Fourth Installation on Ufutun Bō

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Andreas Quast

The following info is found in literature: Ufutun no Bō (aka Mēkata no Bō) In today’s Yaese Town Ufutun (the former Gushichan Ufutun). When and where performed: During Abushibarē in the 4th month of the old lunar calendar. This bōjutsu … Continue reading →

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Follow-up on Ufutun Bō

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Andreas Quast

Previously I wrote about Ufutun Bō. As is often the case, there were no tangible answers or new informations shared by even the most authorative persons. In Okinawan martial arts, there are official narratives and these are strictly to be … Continue reading →

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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 →

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