Matayoshi Kobudo is a general term referring to the style of

Okinawan Kobudo Okinawan may refer to: * Something of or relating to: ** Okinawa Island ** Okinawa Islands ** Okinawa Prefecture * Okinawan language, an endangered language spoken by the people of Okinawa Island * Okinawan people, a subgroup of the Ryukyuan people ...

that was developed by Matayoshi Shinpo (又吉眞豊) and Matayoshi Shinko (又吉眞光) during the twentieth century. Martial arts have been practiced by the Matayoshi family for over nine generations and draw influence from Japanese, Chinese and indigenous Okinawan martial arts styles.

History

In the early 20th century Matayoshi Shinko 又吉眞光 was asked to demonstrate Kobudo to the

Japanese emperor The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the Imperial Family of Japan. Under the Constitution of Japan, he is defined as the symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people, and his position is derived from "the wi ...

. He did this twice alongside the likes of Chojun Miyagi and

Gichin Funakoshi was a japanese martial artist who is regarded as the founder of Shotakan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is known as a "father of modern karate". Following the teachings of Anko Itosu and Anko Asato,Funakoshi, Gichi ...

, who demonstrated karate. Following the death of Matayoshi Shinko in 1947, his son Shinpo, continued his father's legacy by teaching kobudo. Matayoshi Shinpo started a dojo in the 1970s in memory of his father and called it the Kodokan 光道館. From the Kodokan he taught a wide variety of traditional weapons associated with Okinawan peasants. In 1972, Matayoshi Sensei created the Zen Okinawan Kobudo Renmei as an organisation dedicated to the teaching and studying of Okinawa Kobudo. Following the death of Shinpo Matayoshi in 1997, Matayoshi Kobudo practitioners now find themselves split into different organisations. Thanks to the extensive teaching of Matayoshi Shinpo and his students, Matayoshi Kobudo has great influence and respect around the world and an estimated 2000 dojos can now be found worldwide.

Weapons and kata

* '' Bō'' (6 ft Staff) - Shushi no kun, Choun no kun, Sakugawa no kun, Tsuken (Chikin) no kun, Shishi no kun, * '' Sai'' (Small Trident) - Matayoshi No Sai Dai Ichi (Nicho Sai), Matayoshi No Sai Dai Ni (Sancho Sai), Shinbaru no sai * '' Tunkuwa'' (sometimes called ''

Tonfa The ''tonfa'' ( Okinawan: , lit. ''old man's staff'' / ''"crutch"''), also spelled as ''tongfa'' or ''tuifa'', also known as T-baton is a melee weapon with its origins in the armed component of Okinawan martial arts. It consists of a stick ...

'') (Wooden Side handled Batton) - Matayoshi No Tunkuwa Dai Ichi, Matayoshi No Tunkuwa Dai Ni * ''

Nunchaku is a traditional Okinawan martial arts weapon consisting of two sticks (traditionally made of wood), connected to each other at their ends by a short metal chain or a rope. It is approximately 30 cm (sticks) and 1 inch (rope). A person wh ...

'' (Threshing short staff) - Nunchaku No Kata * ''

Sansetsukon The three-section staff, triple staff, three-part staff, originally sanjiegun (, or ) or sansetsukon in Japanese, is a Chinese flail weapon that consists of three wooden or metal staffs connected by metal rings or rope. The weapon is also known as ...

'' (Three Sectional Staff) - Sansetsukun No Kata Ichi and Ni * ''

Eku An eku (sometimes spelled eiku or ieku) is an ancient weapon of Okinawan kobudō. Its first intended purpose is as an oar. See also * Taiaha References External links Article, images & video on Eku(Okinawa Prefectural Government websi ...

'' (Boat Oar) - Chikin Akachu No Eku Di * '' Nunti-Bo'' (Spear) - NuntiBo No Kata * '' Tinbei+Seiryuto'' (Shield+short sword) - Timbei No Kata * ''

Kama ''Kama'' (Sanskrit ) means "desire, wish, longing" in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh literature.Monier Williamsकाम, kāmaMonier-Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary, pp 271, see 3rd column Kama often connotes sensual pleasure, sexual ...

'' (Short sickles) - Kama Nu Ti * ''

Suruchin The ''surujin'' or ''suruchin'' is one of the traditional weapons of Okinawan Kobudo. It comprises a 2–3 metre long rope with a weight tied to each end. Historically this weapon is very prevalent and can be found attached to a weapon or use ...

'' (Weighted rope / Chain) - Suruchin No Kata * '' Kuwa'' (Hoe) - Kuwa Nu Ti * '' Jo'' (Stick) - Jojutsu no kata * ''

Tekko The , are weaponized stirrups and horseshoes which originated in Okinawa, Japan, and they fall into the category of "fist-load weapons". By definition, a fist-load weapon increases the mass of the hand so that, given the physical proportional ...

'' (brass knuckles) - Tekko no kata * '' Tecchyu'' (iron cylinder) - Tecchyu no kata * '' KurumanBo'' (asymmetrical jointed stick) - KurumanBo no kata

Matayoshi Soke lineage

The Matayoshi Family Home is above the Kodokan dojo in Naha Okinawa. Matayoshi Yasushi (the only son of Shinpo) is the spiritual head of the Kodokan as appointed by his father but he has never practiced Matayoshi Kobudo. At the time of his death, Matayoshi Sensei's next in line for technical competence was Yoshiaki Gakiya. Family lineage: : 19th century * Shingin Matayoshi * Shintoku Matayoshi * Shinchin Matayoshi * Shinko Matayoshi (1888-1947) : 20th century * Shinko Matayoshi (1888-1947) * Shinpo Matayoshi (1921-1997) * Yasushi Matayoshi (present day) : 21st century * Yasushi Matayoshi (present day) Tha Matayoshi Kobudo Headquarters is in Naha, Okinawa.

Matayoshi Lineage Associations

Dojos operating under the All Okinawa Kobudo Federation (zen okinawa kobudo renmei, founded by Matayoshi Shinpo) : * Ryuseikan, of Kinjo Kenichi * Kanegusuku Shubukan, Gaja Takehiro * Gibo Dojo, Gibo Seiki * Azuma Shunji * Miyagi Koki * Taira Yoshio * Takushi Seiki Official branches of the kodokan honbu dojo: * Osaka Sakai Shureikan, Murayama Seitetsu * Kodokan Nagoya Shibu, Ishido Hidehiko * Hayasaka Yoshifumi (Tokyo area) * Kamura Koshin (Naha) Former students of Master Matayoshi, who have split voluntarily or were expelled after 1997 : * Seisho Itokazu: Matayoshi Kobudo Shinbukai * Yoshiyaki Gakiya, now Neil Stolsmark: Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-kai (co-founder was Josei Yogi) * Josei Yogi: Okinawa Kobudo Renseikai * Ryukyu Kobudo shureikan: Shusei Maeshiro (in association with Tsuneo Shimabukuro) * Mikio Nishiuchi: International Okinawa Kobudo Association USA * Nippon Budo Club, Seisuke Adaniya * Komesu Yamashiro dojo, Kenichi Yamashiro (originally Kodokan Komesu shibu) * Kobudo Shurei no kuni, Hidetada Ishiki (in association with Kenichi Yamashiro) Former students of Master Matayoshi, who have split voluntarily or were expelled before 1997 : * Tetsuhiro Hokama: Kenshikai Karatedo Kobudo Association * Takashi Kinjo: Okinawa Budo Kokusai Renmei and the Okinawa Kobukai * Kenyu Chinen: World Oshu-Kai Dento Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Do Kobudo Federation * Zenei Oshiro: Academie Internationale de kobudo d'Okinawa Gray-zone of the foreigners : * Arthur Moulas, Matayoshi Kobudo Australia * Andrea Guarelli: International Matayoshi kobudo Association * Franco Sanguinetti: Matayoshi Kobudo Kodokan International * Kimo Wall (1943-2018): Okinawa Kodokan * Guy Juille * Patrick Rault * Frédéric Guérin : Uchina-di club

References

* Kenyu Chinen, ''Kobudo d'Okinawa'' * Andrea Guarelli, ''Okinawan Kobudo: The History, Tools, and Techniques of the Ancient Martial Art'' * Zenei Oshiro, ''Kobudo d'Okinawa: Bo et Tonfa''

External links

International Matayoshi Kobudo Association

Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-kai

{{Martial arts, state=uncollapsed Okinawan kobudo