Butokukan Newcastle

The Eku (or “boat oar”) in traditional Okinawan Shorin‑Ryu Kobudō is used much like a bo staff, but its paddle end adds unique striking, blocking, and tactical applications. It symbolizes Okinawan fishermen’s ingenuity, turning everyday tools into weapons for self‑defense.

Shorin-Ryu Butokukan Kobudo kata: Eku
Eku no kata

Thought to have originated from China and or Taiwan, the sai were employed by local authorities as an effective means of restraining and or striking. It was not uncommon for one or more sai to have been concealed to replace one that had been thrown at an opponent. The sai has always been a weapon having never been adapted from farming implements or tool use.

Shorin-Ryu Butokukan Kobudo kata: Sai
Sai ichi no kata
Sai ni no kata
Sai san no kata

The k**a has long had it’s place in agriculture in the east and was not a foreign visitor to the Ryukyu islands. Farmers have used and continue to use k**a to cut sugarcane, pineapples and other crops native to the islands. They may be found in most hardware stores today in Okinawa and are available in different shapes and weights. The kusarigama is anattachment of a rope or chain to either the handle or reinforcement ring of the blade. This adaptation increase the danger of this already risky weapon and should be practiced with utmost seriousness and slow speed.

Shorin-Ryu Butokukan Kobudo kata: K**a (nichogama)
Nakaima no K**a

The tonfa’s use came from being the handle for a millstone grinder and was a very effective weapon for defense. It could be twirled by the handle or flipped upside down to be used for hooking a weapon and then striking with the grip-head.

Shorin-Ryu Butokukan Kobudo kata: Tonfa (Tuifa)
Tuifa no kata

The nunchaku can have two to three pieces of wood connected by thread, cord, chain or horse hair. It was used in Okinawa as a thresh, bark peeler and also, in it’s early stages, adapted from a mugei or horse bridle. It has origins in China as well as the Philippines and has been popularized a great deal from motion pictures. They are common today in many areas of Southeast Asia being used in agriculture. They are not practiced with the flash used in movies but use specific strikes and blocks with not a great deal of turning or flashy twirling. These types of motions are found in kihon (basics) and not so much found in application.

Shorin-Ryu Butokukan Kobudo kata: Nunchaku
Nunchaku ichi no kata
Nunchaku ni no kata

The bo is considered to be the quintessential Okinawan weapon and has varying lengths from six to nine feet in length. The rokushaku-bo (6 foot staff) is the weapon used most commonly and is extremely effective due to length and maneuverability. One can see a great deal of links in the movements within bo kata to empty-hand methods and a concrete understanding of karate helps the techniques with the bo.

Shorin-Ryu Butokukan Kobudo kata: Bo
Shushi no Kun
Sakugawa no Kun dai ichi
Sakugawa no kun dai ni
Kubo no Kon