One of the performing arts of Taketomi Town is the “Arm stick” (udibō), a dance that includes the use of arms and forearms like a bō, i.e., a weapon. It is performed by women of Nakasuji hamlet. The performing arts of Taketomi have been handed down for more than 600 years, a history that is proven with certainty, and they have been designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset of Japan on May 17, 1977.
While these performing arts are used as prayers for a bountiful growth of crops, the origin of some of its dance elements might be jūjutsu-like self-defense techniques. In the performance, accompanied by shouts of encouragement (yagui), both the attacking and defending part are performed twice by each person A and person B. There is an interesting move where persons A and B place their two palms on the ground. This could indicate a method used in wrestling in which the fighters rub their hands with sand to achieve a better grip while wrestling. You see this still today in the wrestling of Senegal, which is done on sand. In between the techniques, there is also a posture and gesture that might indicate running away.
It is easy to imagine that even within a close island community of historical Taketomi, it might have been important for women to know a trick or two to get rid of an overly intrusive admirer. However, the techniques might as well be an embodiment of fighting misfortune related to agriculture and fishing.
As regards their attire, they are wearing a white headband (hachimaki) tied in the rear, a traditional kimono made of banana-fibre cloth (bashofu), a tasuki cord to tuck up the sleeves and a waistband both made of straw, and go barefoot.
Full description of Arm stick” (udibō)
Entrance
- To the rhythm of gong and drums, ten female dancers enter the venue in a single-file column, raising their front knee with every step, their left fist at their left hip, and their right first raised.
- With the rhythm of gong and drums getting faster, they trot to the end of the venue turn 180°, trot toward the entrance, and turn 180° again while splitting into two files of five dancers each.
- They assume a right posture and gesture with the right arm stretch forward high, and the left arm stretch backward low, and shout “Hyō!”, switch to left posture and gesture and shout “Hyō!”, switch to right posture and gesture and shout “Hyō!”
- On the signal of the trumpet shell, they turn towards each other, thus establishing five pairs.
- They assume a wrestler’s stance, with both fists positioned at the waists, and twice drop their stance and shout “Hyō!”
- Then they start to perform the first technique.
Technique 1
- Both A and B stand with the left foot forward.
- Person A steps forward with the right foot and makes an uppercut, Person B steps forward with the right foot and deflects and controls it with the front hand.
- Person A steps forward with the left foot and makes an uppercut, Person B steps backward with the right foot and deflects and controls it with the front hand.
- They switch roles, and do the same again, with B as the attacker and A as the defender.
- Both A and B disengage and jump back.
- Both A and B raise both hands then bend forward and down and place their two palms on the ground.
Technique 2
- Both A and B assume position and raise their right fist, with their left fist at the left hip.
- Person A steps forward with the right foot, Person B steps forward with the right foot. They slam their raised forearms against each other’s. With the forearms interlocked, they take two large steps circling around each other, then push and pull each other’s forearms back and forth, open their hands and grip each other’s arm with a hooking motion and throw each other away to disangage.
- Both A and B assume a right posture and gesture with the right arm stretch forward high, and the left arm stretch backward low, and shout “Hyō!”, switch to left posture and gesture and shout “Hyō!”, switch to right posture and gesture and shout “Hyō!”
- On the signal of the trumpet shell, they turn towards one another again.
- They assume a wrestler’s stance, with both fists positioned at the waists, and twice drop their stance and shout “Hyō!”
Technique 3
- Person A jumps forward with the right foot and tries to grab or strike or bear hug B with both arms on the middle level. Person B jumps forward with the right foot and deflects with a double outward sweep with both forearms. Both disengage and jump back, positioning both fists at the waists again.
- Person A jumps forward again with the right foot and tries to grab or strike or bear hug B with both arms on the middle level. Person B jumps forward with the right foot and deflects with a double outward sweep with both forearms. Both disengage and jump back, positioning both fists at the waists again.
- They switch roles, and do the same again, with B as the attacker and A as the defender.
- Both A and B disengage and jump back.
- Both A and B raise both hands then bend forward and down and place their two palms on the ground.
Technique 4
It is the same as technique 2.
Interlude
- On the signal of gong and drum, all jump to center, forming a single-file column again, with the right fist raised and the left fist positioned at the left waist.
- To the rhythm of gong, drums, and trumpet shell, the dancers start trotting a single-file column, raising their front knee with every step, forming a counterclockwise circle. After one full rotation, the dancers split at the front to the left and right, turn 180°, trot toward the entrance in two files, turn 180° again and trot toward the end of the venue again, and position themselves in two files of five dancers each again.
- They assume a right posture and gesture with the right arm stretch forward high, and the left arm stretch backward low, and shout “Hyō!”, switch to left posture and gesture and shout “Hyō!”, switch to right posture and gesture and shout “Hyō!”
- On the signal of the trumpet shell, they turn towards each other, thus establishing five pairs again.
- They assume a wrestler’s stance, with both fists positioned at the waists, and twice drop their stance and shout “Hyō!”
Techniques 1 to 4
- Then they start to perform the same techniques in the same order as previously.
Exit
- On the signal of gong and drum, all jump to center, forming a single-file column again, with the right fist raised and the left fist positioned at the left waist.
- To the rhythm of gong, drums, and trumpet shell, the dancers start trotting a single-file column, raising their front knee with every step, turn 180° counterclockwise, trot toward the entrance, and exit the venue.
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