Martial Arts Of The World - Webs

Sai versus sword. (Courtesy of Ron Mottern)
means “warrior”]). Sakugawa passed his kobudô to his disciple Ginowan
Donchi, who perfected the weapons forms given to him by his master. The
essence of his art is contained in the Ginowan no kon. Other staff kata in
Okinawan kobudô include the Cho Un no kon, Shirotaru no kon, Yonegawa
no kon, Chinen Shichanaka no kon, Sesoku no kon, Urasoe no kon,
Sueyoshi no kon, Sueishi no kon, Arakaki no kon, Tôyama no kon, and
Chatan Yara no kon. Sai kata include Taira no sai, Tsukenshitahaku no sai,
Tawada no sai, Chatan Yara no sai, Hamahiga no sai, and Arakaki no sai,
Yaka no sai, Kojo no sai, and Jigen no sai. Tonfa kata include the
Hamahiga no tonfa and Chatan Yara no tonfa. Nunchaku is represented by
the Taira no nunchaku. Different forms exist in different kobudô lineages.
The Matayoshi branch of kobudô, for example, may also include
Matayoshi bô, sai, kama, tonfa, and nunchaku kata, as well as kata for
sundry other weapons. Taira Shinken mastered a number of weapons and
created kata for many of them, including the tekko. An exhaustive listing
of the kobudô kata being used in Okinawa would be foolish to attempt and
less than useful to produce. Individual artists invariably leave their own
distinctive marks on their work. The history of any art is one of dynamic
eclecticism and inspired innovation.
Kobudô, Okinawan 287