Traditional Kobudo Classes

Extend your martial arts journey beyond the empty hand. At Bushi no Te Kai, we are proud to offer Traditional Ryu Kyu Kobudo classes,  the ancient Okinawan art of weapons training.

As a sister art to Karate, Kobudo training provides a complete and classical martial arts education. It offers students a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of body mechanics, enhance discipline, and connect with the history of the Okinawan style.

What is Ryukyu Kobudo?

The term Ryukyu refers to the group of Island that once made up the Ryukyu Kingdom, of which Okinawa is the biggest. Whilst Kobudo can trace its origins back to China, it’s influence in Okinawa was profound and it thrived alongside Karate.

Whilst Karate (“empty hand”) focused on unarmed self-protection, Kobudo utilised common, everyday agricultural and fishing tools as implements of self-defence which eventually became the weapons we train with today.

Our curriculum focuses on the correct handling, forms, and application of these traditional weapons, preserving an art form that is centuries old.

Bushi no Te Kai is a Jun-Shibu with the Shimbukan Dojo in Okinawa which allows us to train weekly over Zoom and in person with instructors based in Okinawa. We then pass this training onto our students providing them with an authentic experience of Okinawan Kobudo. Our students are able to progress through the Shimbukan grading syllabus and have regular opportunities to train directly with Hiroshi Akamine (9th Dan) and Dell Hamby (7th Dan) from Okinawa. Our Okinawan weapons training provides a structured programme focusing on the core weapons of Ryu Kyu Kobudo. Students will learn the fundamentals of:

  • Bo

    : A long wooden staff, traditionally about six foot long, used for striking, sweeping, and blocking.

  • Sai

    : A metal, three-pronged truncheon with a handle and two shorter, curved prongs for trapping or blocking.

  • Tekko

    : A traditional handheld weapen designed to cause injury through striking and slashing.

  • Nunchaku

    : Two wooden sticks connected by a cord. Perhaps the most famous weapon.

  • Tonfa

    : A handled club that can be held by the perpendicular handle or the longer main shaft for striking and blocking. It is the basis for the modern police baton.
Kobudo Class training Sai
Training with Sai

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