Category Archives: Comparative Analyses

Kobudo, entertainment art, or both?

Posted on August 19, 2023 by Andreas Quast

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 →

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Chōun no Kon, or Shōun no Bo?

Posted on August 19, 2023 by Andreas Quast

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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Example of Association Rules in Okinawa

Posted on August 5, 2023 by Andreas Quast

How are Okinawan karate kobudo associations organized? What distinguishes them from associations in other countries? What are the exact rules? Over years, karate kobudo practitioners around the world have asked these and similar questions. Therefore, to give you a reliable … Continue reading →

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

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Andreas Quast

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 →

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“Torisashi no Kon” und die Handlungsanweisung in der Form “Text plus Bild”

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Andreas Quast

Wie in meinem kürzlichen Artikel beschrieben, entstammt Torisashi Ume no Kon der okinawanischen Tradition eines gewissen Kina Masanobu. Zu dem Zeitpunkt, als ich den Artikel schrieb, lagen mir nur sehr wenige Informationen vor. Zuerst hatte ich über eine weitere Person … 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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Kuwae no Kon (a.k.a. Torisashi Umē no Kon)

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Andreas Quast

Yesterday, I received note about a rare bō kata of Okinawa. It is almost unknown in both name and technique, let alone its history. Almost. Names The name of the kata is Kuwae no Kon, and it is also known … Continue reading →

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In 1939, Okinawan young men excel at bayonet fencing

Posted on October 5, 2022 by Andreas Quast

In 1938, a physical strength department was newly established in the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and a “physical strength proficiency test” as well as a “national physical strength law” were enacted to improve the citizens’ physical strength. The “physical … Continue reading →

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Taira Shinken 1964 copied from Yun Heui-byeong 1948

Posted on August 20, 2022 by Andreas Quast

Taira Shinken’s Ryūkyū Kobudō Taikan (1964) is considered the first monography on Okinawan weapon’s arts. In it, he included a chapter called “The History of Ryūkyū Kobudō” with descriptions of various masters from the past. However, more than fifteen years … Continue reading →

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Jiganemaru @50th anniversary of the return of Okinawa

Posted on May 15, 2022 by Andreas Quast

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the return of Okinawa, the special exhibition “Ryukyu”, which reveals the history and culture of Ryukyu with more than 700 exhibit items, has opened at the Tokyo National Museum. The exhibition runs from May … Continue reading →

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