Category Archives: Book Reviews

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

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.

Was Matsumura a student of Sakugawa?

In Okinawa karate theory and history, there is a train of thought that connects the persons Kūsankū, Sakugawa, and Matsumura Sōkon in sense of an unbroken personal tradition of skill, or of a teacher-student relationship. Like this, you will find … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off on Was Matsumura a student of Sakugawa?

The Mice Athletic Meet – Reality Check on Okinawa Karate Anecdotes

This is about a story from Kinjo Sensei’s last book. It is a rich book with lots of great insights, theories, technical descriptions, thoughts, attempts at classification, personal experiences and so forth. I particularly liked a story from Kinjo’s youth … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, Translations | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Mice Athletic Meet – Reality Check on Okinawa Karate Anecdotes

The 9-foot-staff and spearmanship in Ryūkyū

Recently I wrote about the 9-foot-staff as used in Okinawan bōjutsu. While sources are scarce and fragmentary, there are a number of traditions using a 9-foot-staff. In written sources it appears first in the 1960s. However, when looking at the … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off on The 9-foot-staff and spearmanship in Ryūkyū

Excommunication and School Name

A recent seminar announcement introduced a certain Tamaki Kazuo as an 8th Dan representant and teacher of Motobu Udundī. The reason is that Okinawan masters often know each other from school or elsewhere. Okinawa karate and kobudō is largely based … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off on Excommunication and School Name

Third installation on Ufutun Bō

After a first and a second article, and a bunch of feedback by experts of the style, lets get back to basics. To do so, let me shortly recapitulate some infos gathered so far: In 1961, Shiroma Taisai performed Ufutun … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off on Third installation on Ufutun Bō

Kata opening in Gōjū-ryū

In Gōjū-ryū, there are basically two ways of opening at the beginning of the kata: Method 1 a. Stand in Musubi-dachi, with open hands crossed in front of the tanden. b. Open stance to Heikō-dachi while closing the fists and … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off on Kata opening in Gōjū-ryū

On the establishment of dan and kyu grading regulations in Okinawa

1882: Establishment of the Kōdōkan by Kanō Jigorō. 1895: Establishment of the Dai Nippon Butokukai. Titles Hanshi, Kyōshi, Renshi. Seirinsho certificates. 1919: The Dai Nippon Butokukai renames bujutsu to budō. 1920: Kōdōkan Judō announces the dan kyū regulation. 1933/12/8: Dai … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off on On the establishment of dan and kyu grading regulations in Okinawa

Okinawa Karate Exam

Issue 1: In 1960, the first dan and kyu grading regulation of Okinawa karate circles was implemented by the Okinawa Karate-do Renmei. 25 people graded 3rd dan, 23 people graded 2nd dan, and 40 people graded 1st dan.TASK: Name an … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off on Okinawa Karate Exam

A 1976 booklet by the Ryūkyū Kobudō Hozon Shinkōkai

In 1976, the Ryūkyū Kobudō Hozon Shinkōkai published a memorial booklet. In it is found the organization and members of the association, a biography of Taira Shinken, the kobudo genealogy of the association, and list of kata handed down in … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off on A 1976 booklet by the Ryūkyū Kobudō Hozon Shinkōkai