Category Archives: kobudo

Okinawan “Colonist Samurai”

Okinawan peace theory is a difficult topic, most of all for Okinawans themselves. Often, the era of the 15 Years War and Okinawan participation in “the system” is categorically marginalized, denied, and not addressed. The reasons for this are varied, … Continue reading

Posted in kobudo, Okinawa Peace Theory | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Okinawan “Colonist Samurai”

An incomplete chronology of the nunchaku

The oldest source on the nunchaku so far seems to be by William Henry Furness III (1866–1920), American physician, ethnographer and author, who visited Okinawa from March 13 to 26, 1896, saying, Non-shaku [nunchaku] is played with a stick about … Continue reading

Posted in kobudo | Tagged | Comments Off on An incomplete chronology of the nunchaku

Getting a grip: Positioning of the Tinbē

Before I talked about the disadvantages of the single grip of the Taira tinbe. To give you an impression, I assumed a two-sided lever with the formula F1 · l1 = F2 · l2. As a comparison, the punching forces … Continue reading

Posted in kobudo, Postwar Okinawa Karate | Tagged , | Comments Off on Getting a grip: Positioning of the Tinbē

When was Kanegawa no Tinbē created?

Yesterday, David Hansen of Isshin-ryū posted a good question on Facebook. It is as follows. This photo shows Shinken Sensei to be holding more of a machete than short spear.  What year did this lineage change to short spear and … Continue reading

Posted in kobudo, Terminology | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on When was Kanegawa no Tinbē created?

Kobudo kata list – then and now

There has always been some confusion as to why the Taira-Inoue lineage of Kobudo practices more kata than the Taira-Akamine lineage, this even more since a comprehensive kata list written by Akamine Eisuke is found hanging at the Shimbukan that … Continue reading

Posted in Fundstücke, kobudo, Misc, New Developments, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Terminology | Comments Off on Kobudo kata list – then and now

Kobudo, entertainment art, or both?

It is sometimes hard to distinguish if an old photo or a demonstration on film is actually a martial art or something else. Like this, there was a question in social media about a number of sketches from the 19th … Continue reading

Posted in Comparative Analyses, kobudo, kumibo, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Kobudo, entertainment art, or both?

1964: An Entry about Kenshin-ryū, ancient martial art of Okinawa

[The following is a translation of a short entry from 1964 about the Kenshin-ryū school of kobudō established by Hayashi Teruo] Born in Kumejima, Okinawa Prefecture, [Mr. Taira Shinken] trained karate under Funakoshi Gichin Sensei and kobudō under Yabiku Mōden … Continue reading

Posted in kobudo, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Translations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 1964: An Entry about Kenshin-ryū, ancient martial art of Okinawa

Example of Examination Regulations in Okinawa

Previously I presented an Example of Association Rules in Okinawa. It describes the exact rules and how Okinawan karate kobudo associations are organized. From it, it can also be seen what distinguishes Okinawan associations from associations in other countries. Over … Continue reading

Posted in kobudo, New Developments, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Translations | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Example of Examination Regulations in Okinawa

About Ryūkyū / Okinawa Kobudō / Kobujutsu / Bugei / Bujutsu etc.pp., or in short: Have a salad!

Where does the word kobudō in relation to Okinawa or Ryūkyū originate from? Ryūkyū Kobudō is distinguished from Nihon Kobudō, but when was it defined and classified as a composite word and category of Japanese budō? First of all, kobudō … Continue reading

Posted in Comparative Analyses, kobudo, Matayoshi Kobudo, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on About Ryūkyū / Okinawa Kobudō / Kobujutsu / Bugei / Bujutsu etc.pp., or in short: Have a salad!

Kaneshima Shinsuke’s Martial Curriculum Vitae

In September 1969, Kaneshima Shinsuke together with Nagamine Shoshin apperad in an Okinawa Times article about the “model demonstrations” to be held at Okinawa Times Hall on September 25th, and in preparation of demonstrations at Nippon Budokan on October 10. … Continue reading

Posted in Fundstücke, kobudo, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Kaneshima Shinsuke’s Martial Curriculum Vitae