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OKINAWAN
KOBUDO SEMINAR
Ryukyu
Kobudo Tesshinkan
Guest
Instructor:
Sensei
Martin Nicholson, 3rd Dan
Ryukyu
Kobudo Tesshinkan
I was fortunate
recently to once again have the opportunity to train in
the "original weapons system of Okinawa" with
my good friend Sensei Martin Nicholson, 3rd Dan, of the
Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan. One of the very few Canadian
kobudo practitioners ever to train in Okinawa at the
Hombu Dojo directly under Sensei Tamayose Hidemi, "Kyoshi",
8th Dan, Okinawan Ken Karate Do Rengo Kai, Sensei
Nicholson graciously imparted a wide range of information
and techniques to all those who attended his seminar.
To give you a brief
history of Okinawan kobudo, Taira Shinken (1897-1970)
established the "Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai",
(Ancient Weapons Promotion and Preservation Society) in
1955, and upon his death in 1970, Sensei Akamine Eisuke (1925-1999)
his senior student, inherited the leadership of the
organization.
Sensei
Tamayose Hidemi, "Kyoshi", 8th Dan
Ryukyu
Kobudo Tesshinkan
In 1982
Tamayose Sensei began studying directly under Akamine
Sensei at the Hozon Shinko Kai Hombu Dojo. As one of the
senior students Tamayose Sensei was ranked Nana Dan, 7th
Dan, by Akamine Sensei and Hatchi, 8th Dan, by the
Okinawa Ken Karate Do Rengo Kai, and he served as the
Chairman of the Board of Directors until the death of
Akamine Sensei in 1999. Tamayose Sensei, in order
to perpetuate Ryukyu Kobudo in the manner he had been
taught by Akamine Sensei, formed the "Ryukyu Kobudo
Tesshinkan" on May 22, 1999.
Our training began,
as is so often the case in any seminar, with basics.
Tonight it was to be basics for the bo and the sai. Both
of these weapons have a long established history in
Okinawan kobudo, and while many of the katas and basics
that are taught throughout the world today may have had
their roots in Okinawan kobudo, there is in reality very
little remaining similarity to the basic techniques found
in the "original weapons system of Okinawa" as
taught by the Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan, and the bo and
sai katas taught in most western dojos today. The reason
for this lies in several key factors, four of which were
discussed during the two hour seminar.
Today if you watch
a North American version of a recognized Okinawan bo kata
for example, a students main focus will very often be on
speed instead of technique. Using a very light weight bo
to aid them in performing quick flashy movements that are
often performed while in a very high stances this type of
kata has little in common with true Okinawan kobudo. In
reality the original Okinawan bo kata would have embodied
strong hip rotation, and powerful strikes and blocks, all
of which require a deep rooted stance. Speed is
secondary, quality definitely comes first. As a result
the Okinawan version of any weapons kata will take far
longer to complete than a North American version of the
same kata, but when the kata is performed by a qualified
practitioner the quality, purpose, and power of each
movement is unmistakeable.
The
first key lies in the use of the hips.
Sensei
Nicholson watches closely as Sensei Holland practices.
In Okinawan kobudo
great emphasis is placed on the correct use of proper hip
rotation, and this was evident right from the very start
of Sensei Nicholson's seminar. One of the first things
that became evident during the seminar was the difference
between Okinawan kobudo and the kind of kobudo that is
most often seen here in the West.
The
second key lies in a strong pulling hand.
Sempai
Curtis Lindsay and Sempai Diane Holland practice striking.
In many of today's
dojos the embusen of the more popular Okinawan bo katas
bears only slight resemblence to the original kata and
more often than not the proper use of hips in tandem with
basic blocks and strikes is long gone. Watch the bo katas
performed at any grading or tournament today and almost
every strike or block is delivered with the physical and
mental effort being placed primarily on the lead hand. In
fact the exact opposite is what is required for maximum
effectiveness. It is very important to remember that when
using a bo all of the power must be concentrated in the
pulling hand, while the lead hand acts primarily as a
directional guide adding supplemental kime at the final
instant of the technique by way of the proper rotational
position of the front hand.
For instance, when
striking downward the lead hand must be fully rotated so
that the first two knuckles are facing upward - not to
the ground as is so often the case. If the strike,
however, was from the right side to the left side as was
the case in the photo above then the thumb would be upper
most and the knuckles would be facing towards the right
side of the body as shown here. Strength lies not only in
a strong pulling hand, but also in knowing which way the
hands should be facing at the moment of impact.
The
third key lies in the grip.
Sempai
Colleen Nicholson shows good form and a solid grip.
When you look
around at other students practicing their basics notice
how they grip the bo. More often than not they will be
holding it lightly, perhaps at some point with only their
finger tips, often they may be seen thrusting forward to
strike while at the same time pointing their index finger
forward along the top of the bo. In either case immediate
correction is necessary since just as a properly closed
fist is fundamental to Shotokan karate, a strong closed
grip is fundamental to Okinawan kobudo. There are
exceptions of course, such as when transferring the
weapon from hand to hand, but for the most part a solid
closed grip is required at all times.
The
fourth key lies in balance.
Ian
Elder counters a bo attack using a sai.
Proper posture
equates to proper balance. Regardless of what weapon you
are training with one of the main keys to success in
kobudo lies in establishing proper balance before,
during, and after an attacking or defensive movement.
It is not enough to
have good technique alone. The slightest error in posture
or weight distribution can often cause an attacker to
find themselves badly over extended and out of position
as seen in the photo above, thus making any defensive
counter measure much slower than normal and far less
effective as well. So remember, do your kobudo from the
ground up not the top down, and make good posture your
constant companion.
As with all good
seminars this one went by far to quickly as everyone who
attended will attest, but regardless of their rank or
their past kobudo experience each student went home with
a new appreciation of what goes into making good Okinawan
kobudo.
Our
sincere thanks to Sensei Martin Nicholson
and
all of his students for a great evening.
Part
the clouds - see the way.
"The
objective of kobudo is to contribute to the evolution
of
the human spirit through physical and mental training."
Sensei
Peter Lindsay
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