|
|||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
Sensei Schroeder with Kama |
|
Zen Okinawan Kobudo |
|
Kobudo is the art of Okinawan weaponry. We teach Matayoshi kobudo, a system founded by Grand Master Shinpo Matayoshi, 10th Dan. Headed in the United States by our Sensei Tadashi Yamashita, 9th Dan, this art teaches the students to work with the traditional Okinawan weapons. Basically farming and fishing implements, interest in unarmed fighting arts increased during the 14th century when King Sho Hashi of Chuzan established his rule over Okinawa and banned all weapons. A more rapid development of tode followed in 1609 when the Satsuma Clan of Kyushu, Japan occupied Okinawa and again banned the possession of weapons. Thus Tode or Okinawan-Te, as the Satsuma Samurai soon called it, became the only means of protection left to the Okinawans. Thus it was this atmosphere that honed the early Karate-like arts of Okinawa into a weapon, enabling the island people to conduct a guerrilla-type war with the Japanese Samurai that later into the late 1800's. The Okinawan people developed their farming tools into weapons that were very effective against the samurai. The Kama, Sai, Nunchaku, Bo,Tonfa and Oar are the most common that were utilized. The instructor is Sensei Dan Schroeder (6th Dan in Okinawan Kubudo Association). Sensei Schroeder has over 40 years experience in the martial arts. He will show you how the Okinawans used their farming and fishing emplements to protect their family and property. Kubudo classes meet on Wednesday night from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. and on Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Let East West Connection show you the art of Okinawan weaponry. |