Kobudō is the traditional weapon art of Okinawa and complements unarmed karate with a deep, historically evolved system of armed combat. The term Kobudō means ‘way of the ancient art of weapons’ and refers to the roots of this discipline, which emerged from the everyday life of the people of Okinawa. Originally, many of the weapons used today were developed from agricultural tools - an expression of ingenuity at a time when it was forbidden for the population to carry traditional weapons, but they still had to defend themselves.

The best-known weapons in Kobudō include the bō (long stick), the sai (metal trident), the tonfa (baton with side handle) and the nunchaku, which is now familiar to many from pop culture but has a long martial arts tradition. Other weapons such as the kama (sickle), the eku (oar) or tinbe and rochin (shield and short spear) bear witness to the diversity and depth of this ancient system.

The Kobudo style we train was founded in 1967 by Sensei Katsuyoshi Kanei. Sensei Kanei was, among others, a student of the well-known Kobudō senseis Taira Shinken and Shinpo Matayoshi, to whom many of the styles that exist today can be traced back.

Training in Kobudō not only trains the handling of the weapons themselves, but also coordination, balance, body control and spatial awareness. As in karate, the focus is on precise movements, clear principles and the continuous development of mind and body. The techniques are taught as individual techniques (kihon), in fixed forms of movement (kata) and in partner exercises (kumite). Many movements are very similar to those of traditional karate kata, which means that the training of both disciplines complements each other perfectly.

A traditional Okinawan proverb says that karate and kobudō are like the two wheels on the axle of a wagon - the axle only works properly with both. Of course, Kobudō can also be trained independently or in addition to other Budō disciplines. It deepens the understanding of martial arts as a holistic path and connects modern practitioners with a centuries-old tradition. For many karateka, Kobudō opens up a new dimension of understanding their kata, as well as their techniques and historical depth.

Whether as an extension to unarmed karate or as an independent training path, Kobudō offers fascinating insights into the history and practice of Okinawan martial arts and is a valuable enrichment for all budōka.