Category Archives: Bojutsu Kata Series

Posted on December 29, 2022 by Andreas Quast

This is a short Soeishi-inspired combo. In mainland Taira lineage, there are two kinds of Soeishi no Kon, namely a Sho and a Dai version. Maybe Taira used different techniques at different times, so students decided they had to create … 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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Kuwae no Kon (continued)

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Andreas Quast

Previously on this blog, I have written about a rare kata called Kuwae no Kon, otherwise also known as Torisashi Umē no Kon. Since my blog is widely read internationally, and since I have come to know many people from … 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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The History and Contents of Matayoshi Kobudo as of 1999

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Andreas Quast

Grandfather Shinkō was born on May 18, 1888, in Kakinohana Town, Naha City as the third son of great-grandfather, Shinchin. Raised in Senbaru, Chatan Village, he learned kenpō (empty-handed martial arts) and bukijutsu (martial arts with weaponry) handed down as … Continue reading →

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How “Tsuken Hanta-gwā no Kon” became “Urasoe no Kon”

Posted on August 20, 2022 by Andreas Quast

Urasoe no Kon is a kata name that first appeared in the postwar era. That is, none of the kata lists presented by Miki (1930) and Taira (1938) included the name Urasoe no Kon, nor does it appear elsewhere. While … Continue reading →

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Taira Shinken 1964 also copied designs from Yun Heui-byeong 1948

Posted on August 20, 2022 by Andreas Quast

In the last article, I notified that Taira Shinken copied important parts of text from Yun’s research published in 1948. Besides text, Taira also copied designs from Yun. Here I would like to particularly point out the makiwara design. The … 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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Soeishi no Kon

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Andreas Quast

This is an excerpt of “Soeshi no Kon” of Okinawan Taira-lineage. It is a rare kata and hitherto it is unknown if it is an original tradition, where Taira had it from, if Taira just used a fragment he came … Continue reading →

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