Monthly Archives: February 2022

Sakugawa no Kon Dai

In Taira lineage kobudō exist a Shō and a Dai version of Sakugawa no Kon. These versions came via Chinen Sanra (Yamane-ryū)→Yabiku Mōden→Taira Shinken. Taira’s student Inoue also maintains a Sakugawa no Kon Chū, which derived from an older version. … Continue reading

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Shirotaru no Kon by Horikawa Hisami

Below is a video of “Shirotaru no Kon” performed by Horikawa Hisami of Ryukyu Kobudo Seiryukan 琉球古武道清流館 at the “1st Okinawa Karate World Tournament 2018” in Naha, Okinawa. Shirotaru no Kon is a 5th Dan level kata of Ryukyu Kobudo … Continue reading

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Shushi no Kon (old-style) 3 – Nejiru

This is about Shushi no Kon (old-style) as I have described here in text and illustration as well as in video here. In his 1930 description, which is the earliest description of a Bō kata, Miki uses the term nejiru on … Continue reading

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Shushi no Kon (old-style) 2 – A Video of the Kata

This is the video of Shushi no Kon (old-style) as I have described here. I have learned this kata from various sources. First of all, I have learned it as “Koryū Shūshi no Kon” from Akamine Hiroshi Sensei of Shimbukan … Continue reading

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Shushi no Kon (old-style) 1 – The 1930 Description by Miki Jisaburō

This post is my 2009 translation of “Shūshi no Kon” as published in 1930 by Miki Jisaburō. Miki had learned it from Ōshiro Chōjo in 1929. I have shortened, simplified and renumbered the description to make it easier to follow … Continue reading

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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

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Yamanni-ryu – Is the founder’s name Sanrā, Sanda, Masanrā, or Saburō?

Chinen Masami (1898–1976) was an Okinawan bōjutsu expert. He taught privately at his home in Shuri Tōbaru, Okinawa. He named his style Yamannī-ryū after his grandfather Chinen Sanrā 知念三良 (1842–1925). There is some confusion about the first name of Chinen Sanrā. For instance, various … Continue reading

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