Ryukyu-Kobujutsu.org

琉球古武術

Ryukyu Kobujutsu

Ryukyu Kobujutsu is a Budo martial art with classical weapons originating from the Ryukyu Islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu, Japan, to Taiwan. It includes the effective use of Bo, Sai, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Kama, Tekko, Tinbe & Rochin, and Surujin. Ryukyu Kobujutsu has its beginning about 700 years ago. The purpose of this website is to promote and support the practicing with these classical weapons.

棒

Bo

The Bō (or 棒 in Japanese) is a wooden fighting staff. Its length is expressed in shaku (or 尺 in Japanese), that is, in the Japanese foot, which is slightly shorter than the English foot, namely 11.9 inches long (instead of 12 inches in 1 English foot). The size of 1 shaku is standardized as 10/33 meter. Since the Bo measures six shaku (that is 182 cm or 71.6 inches), it is formally referred to as the Roku Shaku Bo ( 六尺棒 ), as roku (or 六 in Japanese) means ‘six’. In transcribed Okinawan, it is called Kon (also spelled as Kun). The Bo is the first weapon the Kobujutsuka learns to use.

The advanced Kobujutsuka also practices with wooden fighting staffs of other lengths, such as the Sanjakubo ( 三尺棒 ; San Shaku Bō), having a length of three ( 三 ; san) shaku (that is, 91 cm or 35.8 inches, also known as the Hanbō ( 半棒 ), meaning ‘Half-Bo’), or with the Kyushakubo ( 九尺棒 ; Kyu Shaku Bō), having a length of nine ( 九 ; kyu) shaku (that is 273 cm or 107.4 inches). Furthermore, there are also the Tanbō ( 短棒 ; a short stick), the Jō ( 杖 ; a medium-sized staff), and the Eiku ( エイク ; a traditional wooden boat oar).

釵

Sai

The Sai (or 釵 in Japanese) is a pair of metal trident daggers. It is the second weapon the Kobujutsuka learns to use. For the regular Sai (as depicted above), referred to as the Tsujo Sai, both side parts point forward. The Manji Sai has instead a half reversed tang looking much like a Swastika ( 卍 ; also pronounced ‘manji’ in Japanese), and it has a pointed pommel end, better suited for stabbing than smashing.

トンファー

Tonfa

The Tonfa (or トンファー in Japanese) is a pair of wooden T-batons. It is the third weapon the Kobujutsuka learns to use.

ヌンチャク

Nunchaku

The Nunchaku (or ヌンチャク in Japanese) is a dual-section hardwood stick. The origin of this Japanese name is probably Ni Shaku ( 二尺), that is, two ( 二 ; Ni) sticks of one Japanese foot length connected by a rope or chain. This weapon is also called ‘nunchuks’ in English. The Nunchaku is the fourth weapon the Kobujutsuka learns to use. Since the wooden Nunchaku is a prohibited weapon in many countries, training is done with a practice Nunchaku, having a solid polyester core and an outer layer of shock-absorbing foam.

鎌

Kama

The Kama (or 鎌 in Japanese) is a pair of oriental sickles, billhooks, or mini scythes. In Japanese, this pair is formally named 二丁鎌 : Ni chō Gama (as a contraction of 二 (Ni, meaning ‘two’), 丁 (chō, a counter), and 鎌 (Gama, as a variation of Kama because of the pronunciation of this contraction). The Kama is the fifth weapon the Kobujutsuka learns to use.

鉄甲

Tekko

The Tekkō (or 鉄甲 in Japanese) is a pair of Oriental brass knuckles. The Tekko is the sixth weapon the Kobujutsuka learns to use. The handling of this weapon shows clear similarities with general techniques of Karatedo, such as punching and blocking.

ティンベーローチン

Tinbe & Rochin

The Tinbe (or ティンベー in Japanese) is a shield, while the Rochin (or ローチン in Japanese ) is a short spear. The Tinbe can be made of various materials, but is commonly found in vine or cane, metal, or archetypically, from a turtle shell. The Rochin is made of wood, with a metal tip. The Tinbe plus Rochin is the seventh type of weapon the Kobujutsuka learns to use.

スルジン

Surujin

The Surujin (or スルジン in Japanese) with a metal chain that has a weight attached to one end, and a short sharp weapon at the other. The weight is used for twining, and the sharp weapon for thrusting and stabbing. The Surujin is the eighth and final type of weapon the Kobujutsuka learns to use. The length of the regular (or short) Surujin corresponds to the wingspan of the outspread arms (which is about 1½ meters or 5 feet). The long Surujin can measure up to twice this regular length.

Bo	Kihon	Kumite	Kata
Sai	Kihon	Kumite	Kata
Tonfa	Kihon	Kumite	Kata
Nunchaku	Kihon	Kumite	Kata
Kama	Kihon	Kumite	Kata
Tekko	Kihon	Kumite	Kata
Tinbe & Rochin	Kihon	Kumite	Kata
Surujin	Kihon	Kumite	Kata

The Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozon Shinko Kai (or 琉球古武術保存振興会 in Japanese) registers the inherited 42 Weapon Kata which were compiled from Shinken Taira (1897 – 1970). In 1968, Motokatsu Inoue (1918 – 1993; also known as Gansho Inoue) became the head of this organization. In 1993, his son Kisho Inoue (1954) succeeded him.

Since 2008, Wim van de Leur (1944), at the time the Branch Chief of the Netherlands within the Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozon Shinko Kai, developed a new Budo discipline as an extension beyond the regular curriculum of Ryukyu Kobujutsu. He named it Shin Hanbo Jutsu ( 新半棒術 ). In this new Budo discipline of Shin Hanbo Jutsu, four other weapons are used in addition to the Bo, namely the Hanbo, the Tanbo, the Tanto, and the Tenouchi, as well as unarmed self-defense against these weapons. On this website, Shin Hanbo Jutsu is seen as a specialization from Ryukyu Kobujutsu. That is why the curriculum of Shin Hanbo Jutsu is also included here.

半棒

Hanbo

The Hanbo (or 半棒 in Japanese) is a fighting stick that is half as long as the Bo. The regular length of the Hanbo corresponds to three (san) sizes of the Japanese foot ( 尺 shaku), which is why it is also referred to as the Sanshakubo (usually written as Sanjakubo). With a regular length of 90.9 centimeters, the length of the Hanbo in practice often varies between 90 and 100 centimeters.

短棒

Tanbo

The Tanbo (or 短棒 in Japanese) is a short fighting stick that is slightly longer than the own forearm when held at one end. As a result, the length of the Tanbo often varies between 40 and 60 centimeters.

短刀

Tanto

The Tanto (or 短刀 in Japanese) is a Japanese knife, often with a hardwood handle and provided with a hardwood sheath. The length of the blade usually varies between 15 and 30 centimeters. Literally, the term Tanto means ‘short sword’ (that is, a short Katana).

手の内

Tenouchi

The term Tenouchi (or 手の内 in Japanese) means ‘inside the hand’. This Te-no-Uchi refers to something that is held inside the hand ( 手 te), to strike ( 内 uchi) with it. For example, this could be a short stick that is slightly longer than the width of the palm. If a loop of cord is attached to it (in the middle) through which the fingers can pass, so that it cannot slip out of the hand (as in the image above), it is also called a Koppo.

Hanbo	Kihon	Kumite	Kata
Tanbo	Kihon	Kumite	Kata
Tanto	Kihon	Kumite	Kata
Tenouchi	Kihon	Kumite	Kata

NOW AVAILABLE: Online Training Program in Ryukyu Kobujutsu

✉ : info@Ryukyu-Kobujutsu.org

The purpose of this independent website is to promote and support the practice of Ryukyu Kobujutsu with the underlying ambition to contribute to a global reunification of this noble Budo art. This Ryukyu-Kobujutsu.org website is not affiliated with any national or international association or federation, and aims to be a neutral, unifying organization itself.

琉 球 古 武 術