Kobudo is a kind of synonym for all historical fighting Arts. This   includes   all   techniques   for   close   combat   with   and   without   weapons.   Though   the   understanding   of   Kobudo   today   is   the   Art   of   fighting with tools as a weapon, the Kobudo includes much more. So it wouldn't be totally wrong to see Karate or Judo as a part or kind of Kobudo. On the other hand Kobudo can't be a part of Karate. Kobudo,   as   a   synonym   for   the   fighting   Arts   can   be   seen   as   the   whole   thing   and   Karate   as   a   part   of   it.   Wishing   to   understand   the   part,   it's necessary to learn the whole thing. So   for   to   find   a   deeper   understanding   for   the   possibilities   and   techniques   of   Karate   it's   necessary   to   learn   how   to   use   the   weapons   of Kobudo. And   in   fact   all   the   famous   masters   of   okinawa   has   been   also   masters   in   the   use   of   the   Kobudo   weapons.   The   one   thing   was   not   without   the other. In the Kobudo there are more than 20 different weapons. To have the goal for to mastering them all is an unreachable goal. But   in   any   case   it's   valuable   to   exercise   with   the   different   weapons.   Each   one   has   different   specialities   and   techniques.   And   at   least   the exercises   with   these   weapons   help   to   improve   the   physical   skills   of   the   body.   All   kinds   of   skills   will   be   improved   also   the   understanding   for the typical movements of the body. And with this also the understanding of the movements and the techniques of Karate. The   most   weapons   of   Kobudo   are   based   on   tools   for   daily   works.   Only   a   few   like   the   Sansetsukon   have   been   created   from   the   beginning   as a   weapon.   The   most   weapons   of   Kobudo   are   based   on   fighting   methods   of   China.   Only   a   few   weapons   are   typical   okinawan   like   the   Nuntibo (Fishermans spear) or the Eku (boat oar). Also   the   older   Kata   of   Kobudo   are   from   China.   But   there   are   not   for   all   weapons   of   Kobudo   Kata   available.   Authentic   old   Kata   exist   for   the weapons Bo, Tonfa, Sai, Kama, Eku, Nuntibo and Nunchaku. The   history   of   Kobudo   is   very   close   and   uncuttable   to   the   history   of   Karate.   In   fact   Tode   Sakugawa   did   learn   not   only   the   weaponless fighting methods from chinese master Ku Shan Ku, but also the using of the different weapons, especially the Bo. But   one   of   the   most   famous   of   the   old   masters   was   Chatanyara.   His   hand   down   of   the   Katas   from   Ku   Shan   Ku   are   probably   the   most authentic one. This includes the Kata Chatanyara no Kushanku, and the Chatanyara no Kon, Chatanyara no Tonfa, Chatanyara no Sai. All   Martial   Arts   experts   of   Okinawa   were   also   masters   in   the   using   of   the   tradtional   weapons.   Also   there   are   a   lot   different   schools   of   Kobudo with also very different performance of the techniques. The   hand   down   of   the   techniques   of   Kobudo   and   their   history   is   even   more   difficult   to   research   as   in   case   of   Karate.   Though   masters   like Kenwa   Mabuni   and   Gichin   Funakoshi   also   did   teach   the   Art   of   Kobudo.   But   especially   in   case   of   Funakoshi   there   are   only   very   less   stories about it. Why it happen that Kobudo and Karate have been separated is only for to speculate. But fact is that also today in Okinawa will be teached both. Many   old   but   also   younger   Kobudo   Kata   have   the   name   of   famous   Karate   masters.   So   Sokon   Matsumura   for   example,   who   was   the   teacher of Yasutsune Itosu did create the Kata Matsumura no Kon. Though   Kobudo   and   Karate   are   close   together,   we   can   find   school   which   are   teaching   only   Kobudo.   One   of   them   are   the   Yamanni   Ryu. Yamanni   Ryu   is   a   very   old   fighting   method,   especially   for   the   Bo,   handed   down   from   China.   In   Okinawa   the   style   was   in   the   hand   of   the Chinen family. Later was Kishaba one of the last grand masters and there was also a time that Yamanniy Ryu thought to be lost. Another famous master of Kobudo was Shimpo Matayoshi. He   was   one   of   the   first   who   did   start   to   give   public   lessons   and   did   work   for   to   spread   the   Art   of   his   school   of   Kobudo   worldwide.   The Matayoshi   Ryu   is   totally   different   to   the   Yamanni   Ryu.   The   techniques   are   more   straight   and   it   is   very   important   ot   have   the   right   timing,   for the right performance in the right moment. But   the   techniques   don't   reach   the   great   power   of   the   Yamanni   Ryu   techniques.   But   this   isn't   a   true   weak   point   if   the   techniques   will   be done with correct timing. A   great   meaning   the   Kobudo   has   in   Naha.   In   the   okinawan   version   of   Goju-Ryu   as   well   as   in   Ryuei-Ryu.   Especially   in   the   Ryuei-Ryu   we   find a very versatile Kobudo with 14 different weapons. As the first strange student Teruo Hayashi was accept as a student for to study the Art of Ryuei Ryu Kobudo and Karate. Later   he   found,   based   on   the   Ryuei-Ryu,   his   school   of   Kenshinryu   Kobudo.   The   speciality   of   this   style   is   a   trainings   method   for   combat, where are fighting exercises will be done, sometimes even with sharp weapons. One   of   the   most   famous   masters   of   Kobudo   was   Yabiku   Moden.   His   best   student   was   Taira   Shinken.   And   Taira   Shinken   was   it,   who   did   save a lot of the old Kobudo Kata. He did research Kata and did spread them by making them public. Also he did create own Kata like the Kongo no Kon. Taira   Shinken   did   learn   from   different   masters   also   from   Kenwa   Mabuni.   A   student   of   Taira   Shinken   was   Motokatsu   Inoue   who   made   some books about Kobudo and the Kata of the different weapons. Though there are some organizations for Kobudo a head organization like in case of Karate is hardly to find. Also there are no worldwide recognized tournaments. Of course Kumite competitions in the Kobudo are very difficult to organize in a kind of safety level. But Kata competitions, single as well as in team, would be possible. There are really enough Kata available.
Kobudo is a kind of synonym for all historical fighting Arts. This    includes    all    techniques    for    close    combat    with    and    without weapons.   Though   the   understanding   of   Kobudo   today   is   the   Art   of fighting with tools as a weapon, the Kobudo includes much more. So   it   wouldn't   be   totally   wrong   to   see   Karate   or   Judo   as   a   part   or kind of Kobudo. On the other hand Kobudo can't be a part of Karate. Kobudo,   as   a   synonym   for   the   fighting   Arts   can   be   seen   as   the   whole thing   and   Karate   as   a   part   of   it.   Wishing   to   understand   the   part,   it's necessary to learn the whole thing. So    for    to    find    a    deeper    understanding    for    the    possibilities    and techniques   of   Karate   it's   necessary   to   learn   how   to   use   the   weapons of Kobudo. And   in   fact   all   the   famous   masters   of   okinawa   has   been   also   masters in   the   use   of   the   Kobudo   weapons.   The   one   thing   was   not   without the other. In   the   Kobudo   there   are   more   than   20   different   weapons.   To   have the goal for to mastering them all is an unreachable goal. But   in   any   case   it's   valuable   to   exercise   with   the   different   weapons. Each   one   has   different   specialities   and   techniques.   And   at   least   the exercises   with   these   weapons   help   to   improve   the   physical   skills   of the   body.   All   kinds   of   skills   will   be   improved   also   the   understanding for    the    typical    movements    of    the    body.    And    with    this    also    the understanding of the movements and the techniques of Karate. The   most   weapons   of   Kobudo   are   based   on   tools   for   daily   works. Only    a    few    like    the    Sansetsukon    have    been    created    from    the beginning   as   a   weapon.   The   most   weapons   of   Kobudo   are   based   on fighting   methods   of   China.   Only   a   few   weapons   are   typical   okinawan like the Nuntibo (Fishermans spear) or the Eku (boat oar). Also   the   older   Kata   of   Kobudo   are   from   China.   But   there   are   not   for all   weapons   of   Kobudo   Kata   available.   Authentic   old   Kata   exist   for the weapons Bo, Tonfa, Sai, Kama, Eku, Nuntibo and Nunchaku. The   history   of   Kobudo   is   very   close   and   uncuttable   to   the   history   of Karate.   In   fact   Tode   Sakugawa   did   learn   not   only   the   weaponless fighting   methods   from   chinese   master   Ku   Shan   Ku,   but   also   the using of the different weapons, especially the Bo. But   one   of   the   most   famous   of   the   old   masters   was   Chatanyara.   His hand   down   of   the   Katas   from   Ku   Shan   Ku   are   probably   the   most authentic   one.   This   includes   the   Kata   Chatanyara   no   Kushanku,   and the Chatanyara no Kon, Chatanyara no Tonfa, Chatanyara no Sai. All   Martial   Arts   experts   of   Okinawa   were   also   masters   in   the   using   of the   tradtional   weapons.   Also   there   are   a   lot   different   schools   of Kobudo with also very different performance of the techniques. The   hand   down   of   the   techniques   of   Kobudo   and   their   history   is   even more   difficult   to   research   as   in   case   of   Karate.   Though   masters   like Kenwa    Mabuni    and    Gichin    Funakoshi    also    did    teach    the    Art    of Kobudo.   But   especially   in   case   of   Funakoshi   there   are   only   very   less stories   about   it.   Why   it   happen   that   Kobudo   and   Karate   have   been separated is only for to speculate. But fact is that also today in Okinawa will be teached both. Many   old   but   also   younger   Kobudo   Kata   have   the   name   of   famous Karate   masters.   So   Sokon   Matsumura   for   example,   who   was   the teacher of Yasutsune Itosu did create the Kata Matsumura no Kon. Though   Kobudo   and   Karate   are   close   together,   we   can   find   school which   are   teaching   only   Kobudo.   One   of   them   are   the   Yamanni   Ryu. Yamanni   Ryu   is   a   very   old   fighting   method,   especially   for   the   Bo, handed   down   from   China.   In   Okinawa   the   style   was   in   the   hand   of the   Chinen   family.   Later   was   Kishaba   one   of   the   last   grand   masters and there was also a time that Yamanniy Ryu thought to be lost. Another famous master of Kobudo was Shimpo Matayoshi. He   was   one   of   the   first   who   did   start   to   give   public   lessons   and   did work   for   to   spread   the   Art   of   his   school   of   Kobudo   worldwide.   The Matayoshi   Ryu   is   totally   different   to   the   Yamanni   Ryu.   The   techniques are   more   straight   and   it   is   very   important   ot   have   the   right   timing, for the right performance in the right moment. But   the   techniques   don't   reach   the   great   power   of   the   Yamanni   Ryu techniques.   But   this   isn't   a   true   weak   point   if   the   techniques   will   be done with correct timing. A   great   meaning   the   Kobudo   has   in   Naha.   In   the   okinawan   version   of Goju-Ryu   as   well   as   in   Ryuei-Ryu.   Especially   in   the   Ryuei-Ryu   we   find a very versatile Kobudo with 14 different weapons. As   the   first   strange   student   Teruo   Hayashi   was   accept   as   a   student for to study the Art of Ryuei Ryu Kobudo and Karate. Later   he   found,   based   on   the   Ryuei-Ryu,   his   school   of   Kenshinryu Kobudo.   The   speciality   of   this   style   is   a   trainings   method   for   combat, where   are   fighting   exercises   will   be   done,   sometimes   even   with sharp weapons. One   of   the   most   famous   masters   of   Kobudo   was   Yabiku   Moden.   His best   student   was   Taira   Shinken.   And   Taira   Shinken   was   it,   who   did save a lot of the old Kobudo Kata. He   did   research   Kata   and   did   spread   them   by   making   them   public. Also he did create own Kata like the Kongo no Kon. Taira   Shinken   did   learn   from   different   masters   also   from   Kenwa Mabuni.   A   student   of   Taira   Shinken   was   Motokatsu   Inoue   who   made some books about Kobudo and the Kata of the different weapons. Though   there   are   some   organizations   for   Kobudo   a   head   organization like in case of Karate is hardly to find. Also there are no worldwide recognized tournaments. Of   course   Kumite   competitions   in   the   Kobudo   are   very   difficult   to organize in a kind of safety level. But   Kata   competitions,   single   as   well   as   in   team,   would   be   possible. There are really enough Kata available.
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