OKINAWA KOBUDO DOUSHI Rensei-kai
The Matayoshi
Kobudo system was formed by the work of two remarkable instructors -- father
and son, who dedicated their lives to leave us the legacy of their style.
Matayoshi Shinko Sensei and his son, Matayoshi Shinpo Sensei, through their
system, influenced many other Kobudo schools, which are practiced today. Gakiya
Yoshiaki sensei formed the Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-kai to preserve their
legacy and further this rare, ancient art.
WEAPONS OF THE
OKINAWA KOBUDO DOUSHI Rensei-kai
The
following is a list of the most important weapons taught today in the OKINAWA KOBUDO DOUSHI Rensei-kai system.
The practice of some of these weapons is limited to certain rank or seniority
of the practitioners within the system.
Bo, Sai, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Ieku, Nunti, Kama, Tekko, Tinbei, Sansetsukon, Kuwa,
Suruchin
l-r Yogi Sensei, Calandra Sensei, Gakiya Sensei, and Stolsmark Sensei
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Yoshiaki Gakiya Sensei
Gakiya Yoshiaki Sensei was born February 8, 1950 in Yomitan Ouki Okinawa. He
completed his military service and learned Juken-do there. |
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On January 1, 2002,
Gakiya Sensei formed his own organization, the Okinawa Kobudo Doushi
Rensei-kai. The OKDR is devoted to the study and preservation of this
treasured art of Kobudo. Gakiya Sensei serves as President of the Okinawa
Kobudo Doushi Rensei-kai and has branch divisions in America, Australia,
Italy, Germany, Belgium, Argentina, Portugal, England, Okinawa, Japan and
other countries. Currently, Gakiya Sensei only practices Kobudo and
dedicates his time to the study and growth of Okinawan Kobudo |
MATAYOSHI
SHINPO
Matayoshi
Shinpo Sensei, son of Matayoshi Shinko Sensei and successor to the Matayoshi
line of Kobudo, was born in Okinawa in Yomitan Village, located in the Kina
District on December 27, 1921. His father introduced Shinpo Sensei to the
martial arts at the very young age of 6. However, Matayoshi Shinko Sensei did
not limit his son to the practice of Kobudo; he also exposed Shinpo Sensei to
Kingai Ryu, a White Crane open hand system. In 1937, Shinpo Sensei's father
also introduced him to the open hand system of Hakaku Kempo, which he learned
from Gokenki Sensei. Although Shinpo Sensei would have various instructors
throughout his life, his father remained his life-long instructor and mentor. |
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In 1960,
Matayoshi Shinpo Sensei founded his kobudo dojo in the city of Naha, and he
called it the "Kodokan" in memory of, and as a dedication to his
teacher and mentor Matayoshi Shinko Sensei. The significance of
"Kodokan" is based on the kanji "Ko" (meaning
"Light"), and is a tribute to the "Ko" from Shinko; for
what Kodokan translates to the "Hall of the Enlightened Way Once
Matayoshi Sensei opened his dojo, he focused on contacting Kobudo instructors
and students all over Japan. His intention was to unite Kobudo practitioners
under one goal; to not only to spread the art of Kobudo, but also to try to
maintain the traditions that had been passed down from Kobudo Senseis of
earlier days. Matayoshi Sensei had a strong interest in promoting Kobudo
among young students to help make them better citizens and contributors to
society. As a result of this interest, Matayoshi Sensei formed the Ryukyu
Kobudo Association in 1960. This association became the foundation of the Zen
Okinawa Renmei or All Okinawa Kobudo League, which formed in 1972 and still
exists today. Matayoshi
Shinpo Sensei appointed Gakiya Yoshiaki as head of the system before he
died. Matayoshi Sensei passed away in Okinawa on September 7, 1997, at
the age of 76. |
MATAYOSHI
SHINKO SENSEI
Matayoshi Shinko Sensei then
became the student of Irei Sensei of Nozato, Chatan Town, from whom he
learned the arts of Tonkua-jutsu and Nunchaku-jutsu. Training
at the Seishinkan dojo |
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MULTI WEAPONED ART OF THE OKINAWA
KOBUDO DOUSHI Rensei-kai
The ancient
history of Okinawa tells us a turbulent story, with violent political upheavals
characterizing a major part of the now-peaceful island's heritage. It was out
of these days of unrest that the art of kobudo (the ancient martial way) was
born, due to a necessity for peasants to defend their families or property by
turning common, everyday items into weapons that could be used for self
defense. In times of political strife, war faring weapons such as swords and
spears were forbidden to the general populace, which left farmers and fishermen
easy prey for armed bandits and pirates. To counteract the decrees that
rendered them weaponless, Okinawans as well as the inhabitants of the other
islands within the Ryukyuan chain became highly proficient in the use of
implements such as water-bucket carrying poles, boat oars, and grist mill
handles as means of self protection. Kata were eventually developed, usually
named after a founder or village of origin, and various styles of kobudo came
into being. One of these traditional systems is the Matayoshi style of kobudo
practiced by the Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei Kai, which is now recognized
world-wide as a leader in the art that was so desperately needed and so carefully
developed to preserve the well-being of the Ryukyuan citizenry.
The Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei Kai has deep roots in the
teachings of Shinko Matayoshi (1888-1947), who comes from a family that has one
of the oldest lineages on Okinawa, and is distinctive in that every member has
been involved in the martial arts to some degree. The unusually wide variety of
weapons that are taught within the Matayoshi system evolved from the ability of
Shinko Matayoshi to travel and learn all aspects of the art, as he spent a
total of thirteen
years studying in China, along with making frequent excursions to other areas
to experience different cultures and learn about the weapons that were used for
self defense. Shinko Matayoshi's later travels were for the purpose of
promoting his system, which became known as Ryukyuan Kobudo throughout Okinawa
and mainland Japan. Today, Shinko Matayoshi's work is upheld by his son, Shinpo
Matayoshi (1923- ), who began training under his famous father's instruction at
the age of four. Like his father, Shinpo Matayoshi (as pictured to the right in
his Kodokan Dojo in Okinawa training with a sai that is unique to the Matayoshi
Kobudo system as it is angled differently from the more common type) travels
extensively to promote kobudo, and founded the Ryukyu Kobudo Renmei in 1970,
which was reorganized two years later into the Zen Okinawa Kobudo Renmei.
Shinpo Matayoshi's dojo is named Kodokan (Enlightened Way) in honor of his
father, whose first name Shinko means "True Light."
The differences between Matayoshi Kobudo and other systems
result from, a strong Chinese influence, which came about from Shinko
Matayoshi's studies. Overall, the movements in the Matayoshi system are more
relaxed and flowing, with both linear and circular strikes forming a smooth,
fluid style. While the stepping movements within Matayoshi Kobudo are somewhat
similar to those used in Okinawan karate, the stances are designed differently
for very quick, light movements. For example, the foot positioning for the sumo
stance (shiko dachi) is not as wide, and the front foot positioning of the cat
stance (neko ashi dachi) is dissimilar from that used in karate and other
kobudo styles. The Chinese influence also becomes apparent in bo (wooden staff)
techniques where chambering of the close end of the weapon takes place outside
the arm, rather than under the arm. Positioning the bo on the outside of the
arm lends greater protection to the inner part of the body, and avoids the
injuries that could occur when the bo whips around and snaps up under the
user's arm, striking vulnerable areas in the armpit and side of the torso.
The Matayoshi Kobudo system places great emphasis on the use
of the bo, an implement said to be derived from the tenbib, which was a wooden
staff that was slung across the shoulders in order to transport buckets of
water on each end. The most popular type of bo is the rokushaku, which measures
six feet in length and 1 1/4 inches thick at the center, tapering
down to 3/4 inch at the ends. Other types of bo range in length from four to
nine feet, and can be round (maru-bo), four-sided (kaku-bo), sixsided
(rokkaku-bo), or eight-sided (hakkakubo). The most common bo kata are Shushi-
No-Kon, Choun-No-Kon, Sakugawa-No-Kon, Tsuken-No-Kon, and Shiishi-No-Kon. Other
staff-type weapons include the hanbo (threefoot wooden stick), jo (four-foot
wooden stick), tetsubo (Iron staff), sansetsu-kon (three-sectioned staff), and
the konsaibo, which is a wooden staff studded with iron nubs.
Many traditional Okinawan kobudo weapons were developed to
defend against opponents wielding spears or swords. Implements such as the sai,
which is a three-pronged metal truncheon, were often used in sets of two or
three for the purpose of entrapping an attacker's weapon and using the pronged
ends in a jabbing, puncturing strike. Although the exact origin of the sai is
obscure, it closely resembles an instrument that was used in China, and is also
believed to have been derived from a farming implement that was used for
digging furrows in the ground for planting seeds. A third sai was often carried
behind the back in the belt sash (obi) as a replacement for a hand-held sai
that was thrown at an opponent. The nunti is a threepronged weapon that is
sometimes incorrectly referred to as a manji-sai, with one of the outside
prongs facing in the opposite direction, toward the handle, and which often
attached to the end of a bo. Other truncheon weapons are the jutte and the
tokushu-keibo, a collapsible metal instrument.
The nunchaku is a weapon made from a horse bridle strap and
a tool that was used to pound grain or rice. In the Matayoshi system, the most
common types of nunchaku have octagonal (hakkakukei) or round (maru-gata)
wooden handles of equal length connected by a length of rope or chain. A vine
(kanda) can also be used as a longer connector, in order to bind an opponent's
head and hands together in an "Okinawan Handcuff." Matayoshi Kobudo
instruction includes nunchaku with one handle half the length of the other, both
handles half the normal size, three-sectioned and four-sectioned. The han-kei
nunchaku, with the circumference of the handles halved, is designed for easier
carrying and concealment, as both handles fit together smoothly.
Sickles that became useful weapons for self defense includes
the kama, which has a curved blade, and the naginata, a curved blade, sickle
like spear seven feet in length. The nagemaki is a heavier version of the
naginata with a larger blade, while the rokushaku-kama is a sickle with a six
foot handle.
Wooden
implements played an important role in the history of kobudo, and tools such as
the tounkwa (tuifa, tonfa), which were used as grist mill handles, served as
effective weapons. The eku (boat oar) was a popular item in Okinawan fishing villages,
and has a unique feature in allowing the defender to fling sand in an
attacker's face by holding the eku straight up with the paddle end down, and
kicking the bottom out in a swift, forward and upward motion. There is also the
abumi (wooden saddle stirrup) and the tecchu ("knuckle-duster") made
from yarn spindles.
Chizikanbo, made from wooden fish floats, is another weapon
that is attached to the hands to aid punching effectiveness. The bokken, or
wooden sword, was employed as a training device, while the kendo practice sword
made of bamboo shoots (shinai) served as a conditioning implement.
Knife-like weapons that could be concealed within clothing
and easily produced when needed are the kaiken (six- inch knife), juken
(bayonet), and the tanto (dagger with a blade measuring eight to sixteen inches
in length). Another device is the ninshokudai, or candles on an L-shaped,
iron-spiked holder that was said to be carried by Okinawan women.
Chains produced large, heavier weapons such as the suruchin
(Manriki-gusari), which was weighted at one end, and the gekigan (ball and
chain). The chigiriki is a weapon that has a three-to-ten-foot chain attached
to an iron ball at one end and a staff at the other end. The nagegama is a
retractable walking stick made from chain links.
Other items on the lengthy list taught in the Matayoshi
Kobudo system include the halberd, a heavy, axe-like weapon with a coin-shaped
blade. The tecchu is another form of "brass knuckles," as is the
tetsuko, which is made of metal and studded. The tinbe (timbei, tembe, timpei),
which is a shield made from the shell of a giant sea turtle, proved effective
for repelling sword or spear attacks, and was often used with the small
dart-like weapon known as rochin.
It must be pointed out that the study of the multitude of
weapons in the Matayoshi system takes place on a complete basis, and students
are not encouraged to merely dabble in various areas in an attempt to
"learn a little bit about each weapon." The founding master's principles
are based upon thorough knowledge of the purpose and origin of each weapon, and
it takes many years of dedicated training to become proficient in the use of a
single item.
Matayoshi Kobudo has become very popular among practitioners
of the major Okinawan karate styles, as it fits in well with empty-hand arts
and rounds out a student's martial training. One of the traditional Okinawan
principles concerns the fact that Gakiya Sensei views kobudo as not only an art
for self defense, but also serves as a means of obtaining and maintaining inner
peace.
Okinawa Kobudo
Doushi Rensei-Kai
Shinchin Matayoshi
Shinko Matayoshi
Shinpo Matayoshi
Yoshiaki Gakiya
Michael Calandra
Receive an Official Membership card. |
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