
The is a short staff weapon used in
Okinawa
most commonly refers to:
* Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture
* Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture
* Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa itself
* Okinawa (city), the second largest city in th ...
and feudal Japan. Today the is used by various
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...
schools.
Description
The is a short hardwood staff that is used in the same way as the approximately
hanbō
The ''hanbō'' (半棒, "half-staff") is a Stick fighting, staff used in martial arts. Traditionally, the ''hanbō'' was approximately three ''Shaku (unit), shaku'' or about long, half the length of the usual staff, the ''rokushakubō'' ("six ' ...
. Short staffs smaller than can be called . There is no official length for a as different
''ryū'' (martial arts schools) use of various lengths. can be individually sized using variations of the "hand to elbow" method.
''The Essence of Budo: A Practitioner's Guide to Understanding the Japanese Martial Ways'' (Google eBook), Dave Lowry, Shambhala Publications, 2010 P.79
/ref>
Usage
The is used in several martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...
including: jujutsu
Jujutsu ( , or ), also known as jiu-jitsu and ju-jitsu (both ), is a Japanese martial art and a system of close combat that can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subdue one or more weaponless or armed and armored opponent ...
, aikido
Aikido ( , , , ) is a gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art which is split into many different styles including Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Aikikai, and Ki Aikido. Aikido is now practic ...
, kobudo, hapkido
Hapkido ( , , ), also spelled ''hap ki do'' or ''hapki-do'' is a Korean martial art. It is a hybrid form of self-defense that employs joint locks, grappling, chokeholds, throwing techniques, kicks, punches, and other striking attacks. ...
, yoseikan budo, Cuong Nhu.
are swung using the elbow and shoulder, or manipulated with the wrist. Many of the motions are similar to sword strokes. The can be deadly in skilled hands. The main use is to attack the outer edges of the human bones with speed and accuracy. Applying this concept, virtually every part of the target can be hit with this weapon.
To use this weapon effectively, the opponent may be imagined as a 2-dimensional object standing in front of the attacker, and the objective is to strike various targets (i.e. the top and back of the head, collarbone, hands, elbows, ribs, hip, kneecaps, and calves). Soft tissues can be targeted, and the attacker can then aim at the abdomen, throat, eyes, thighs and groin.
The can also be used for thrusting, checks or deflections, pummeling the enemy (with the ends), blocking strikes (while holding both ends), joint locks, chokes and parrying various sorts of attacks. Speed, distance, accuracy, timing and control are the key components in the successful use of this weapon.
See also
* Okinawan kobudō
, literally "old martial way of Okinawa", is the weapon systems of Okinawan martial arts.
Etymology and definition
Okinawan Kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "''old martial way of Okinawa''". It is a generic term coined in th ...
* Bō
* Budō
is a Japanese language, Japanese term describing modern Japanese martial arts. It is commonly translated as "Martial Way", or the "Way of Martial Arts".
Etymology
is a compound of the root ( or ; ), meaning "war" or "martial"; and ( or ; ), ...
* Bujutsu
* Hanbō
The ''hanbō'' (半棒, "half-staff") is a Stick fighting, staff used in martial arts. Traditionally, the ''hanbō'' was approximately three ''Shaku (unit), shaku'' or about long, half the length of the usual staff, the ''rokushakubō'' ("six ' ...
* Jō
* Quarterstaff
A quarterstaff (plural quarterstaffs or quarterstaves), also short staff or simply staff is a traditional European polearm, which was especially prominent in England during the Early Modern period.
The term is generally accepted to refer to a s ...
* Yawara
* Kubotan
A Kubotan is a self-defense keychain weapon developed by Sōke Takayuki Kubota in the late 1960s. It is typically no more than long and about in diameter, slightly thicker or the same size as a marker pen. The material is usually a hard high- ...
* Baston (weapon)
The baston (Spanish and Filipino language, Filipino for "Stick-fighting, cane") is one of the primary weapons of Arnis and Filipino martial arts. It is also known as ''yantok'', ''olisi'', ''palo'', ''pamalo'', ''garrote'', ''caña'', cane, ''a ...
References
Bibliography
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Samurai staff weapons
Staff weapons of Japan
Weapons of Okinawa