Shuji no Kon Sho

周氏の棍小

Shuji no Kon Sho (or 周氏の棍小 in Japanese) is a Ryukyu Kobujutsu Bo Kata. The first part of its name – Shuji ( 周氏 ; also transcribed as ‘Shūshi’) – literaly means ‘Mr. Shū’. Therefore ‘Shūshi no Kon’ means “the techniques of staff (or Bō) fencing of Mr. Shū ”. According to tradition, the Bō-Jutsu Master Shū from Shanghai lived around the year 1831 at the rear of the Sōgenji in Okinawa, Naha, Asato. This version of this Bo Kata coming from him is named ‘Sho’ (or 小 in Japanese), which means ‘small’. In the video embedded below (recorded on 24 April 2023), budoka Johan Oldenkamp, a former national champion from the Netherlands, performs this ‘small version Mr. Shū’s Bo Kata’.

In the next video (recorded on 21 October 2024), budoka Johan Oldenkamp performs the Bunkai of this Kata. Bunkai (or 分解 in Japanese) literally means ‘analysis’ or ‘disassembly’. In this Bunkai the Kata is broken down and studied for its offensive and defensive elements in four practical applications.

Bunkai № 1

Chudan-Kamae	Chudan-Kamae
Jodan-Kamae	Jodan-Kamae
Jodan-Uchi	Uchi-Uke & Maede-Tsuki Jodan
Soto-Uke & Jodan-Uchi	Gyaku-Uchi-Uke & Gyaku-Tsuki Jodan
Soto-Uke & Gedan-Tsuki	Gedan-Uke & Gedan-Tsuki
Gyaku-Gedan-Uke & Maede-Tsuki Chudan	Harai-Uke & Jodan-Uchi
Soto-Uke & Maede-Tsuki	Gyaku-Hikkake-Uke & Furiage-Uchi

Bunkai № 2

Chudan-Kamae	Chudan-Kamae
Jodan-Kamae	Gyaku-Hasso-Kamae
Jodan-Uchi	Gyaku-Hikkake-Uke (on upper arm and upper leg) & Jodan-Uchi
Soto-Uke & Gedan-Tsuki	Gyaku-Gedan-Uke & Gedan-Tsuki
Gyaku-Gedan-Uke & Maede-Tsuki Chudan	Harai-Uke & Jodan-Uchi

Bunkai № 3

Chudan-Kamae	Chudan-Kamae
Gedan-Kamae	Gyaku-Yoko-Uchi
Gyaku-Uchi-Uke	Yoko-Uchi
Uchi-Uke & Maede-Tsuki Chudan	Hikkake-Uke & Jodan-Uchi
Soto-Uke & Jodan-Kamae	Maede-Tsuki Jodan

Bunkai № 4 (=1+3)

Chudan-Kamae	Chudan-Kamae
Jodan-Kamae	Jodan-Kamae
Jodan-Uchi	Uchi-Uke & Maede-Tsuki Jodan
Soto-Uke & Jodan-Uchi	Gyaku-Uchi-Uke & Gyaku-Tsuki Jodan
Soto-Uke & Gedan-Tsuki	Gedan-Uke & Gedan-Tsuki
Gyaku-Gedan-Uke & Maede-Tsuki Chudan	Harai-Uke & Jodan-Uchi
Soto-Uke & Maede-Tsuki	Gyaku-Hikkake-Uke & Furiage-Uchi
Ushiro-Kae-Ashi	Gyaku-Yoko-Uchi
Gyaku-Uchi-Uke	Yoko-Uchi
Uchi-Uke & Maede-Tsuki Chudan	Hikkake-Uke & Jodan-Uchi
Soto-Uke & Jodan-Kamae	Maede-Tsuki Jodan