At the Rockland Matsubayashi-ryu Dojo, we supplement our Karatedo training with traditional Kobudo—ancient Okinawan weapons. Though the official Matsubayashi-ryu curriculum does not include Kobudo specifically, most dojos associated with the World Matsubayashi-ryu Karatedo Association also train in traditional Kobudo.
The weapons we train in at our dojo are:
• Bo:
The bo is a long wooden staff about 6 feet in length. We practice three bo kata in our dojo: “Shiromatsu No Kon”, “Shirataro No Kon,” and “Shushi No Kon”
• Sai:
The Sai was an iron weapon used long ago by officials to arrest criminals and hold back crowds. The Sai was created to defend against attacks from swords, bo, nunchaku, or tuifa. These days they are often made out of stainless steel. We practice two traditional Kobudo Sai kata in our dojo: “Kyan No Sai”, and “Chomo Hanagusku No Sai”.
• Nunchaku:
The nunchaku is a pair of hard wooden sticks attached by a chord (or three chords). Popularized by Bruce Lee movies in the 70s, the centrifugal force produced by swinging the nunchaku makes it an effective weapon. We practice two Nunchaku kata in our dojo: “Shinjo No Nunchaku” and “Maezato No Nunchaku”
• Tonfa or Tuifa:
Tonfa or Tuifa refers to two pieces of hardwood, each about 16 inches long, with a grip attached. These weapons resemble the police sticks used today. We practice two kata in our dojo: “Shinjo No Tuifa” and “Shima No Tuifa.”