Mute Raven Kobudo Free Lessons

About This Kobudo Site

From my travels all over the world, there is a lot of interest from karate students in learning kobudo as part of karate training. Many times I have taught one or two classes in a country, left the area, and those interested in pursuing the weapons part of karate, are left on their own without a chance to continue learning.

Others may live too far away from a major centre that has a kobudo teacher. Some people who are interested in kobudo may be part of a karate organization that does not include weapons in the karate lessons.

This web site is for all of you.

If you follow the lessons described on this site and conscientiously learn and practice each step of the lessons, you will acquire the knowledge equivalent to a black belt in kobudo. I have practiced kobudo for more than 20 years, but had to learn it from various teachers and sources, whenever and wherever they were available.

Kobudo History and Weapons

Okinawan kobudo, just like karate, has been strongly influenced by the martial arts from China and other cultures in Southeast Asia. Apparently already in the 15th century the ruling king in Okinawa prohibited citizens from carrying weapons. All weapons were kept in the King’s castle.

Most likely Okinawan kobudo was developed by the Pechin warrior class, based on systems imported from China and adapted to local conditions. Although much of it is based on farm implements, it is unlikely that farmers would have had the inclination or energy to pursue intensive weapons training. One should also remember that in those days, except for the few people that lived in actual castles, the different classes of a community lived much closer to one another. Farm implements would be readily available.

Many of the Okinawan kobudo traditions were preserved and handed down in middle of the 20th century by Taira Shinken.
Okinawan kobudo was at its zenith some 100 years ago and of all the authentic Okinawan kobudo kata practiced then, only relatively few remain known.

BO

A bo is a six-foot (1.8 m.) long staff often tapered at both ends. It is usually made of red or white oak. A kumi bo is made of bamboo. It is often used to practice when hitting a makiwara board. It is more flexible and does not break easily. The origin of the bo is most likely the stick that was put across the shoulders to carry baskets with rice, produce or water buckets. The bo is the first and the most often used weapon in Okinawan kobudo.

SAI

The sai is a three pronged weapon made of metal. The centre prong is longer that the two outside prongs. There is a type of sai, manji sai, where the two shorter prongs point in opposite directions. The origin of the sai is unclear. There are reports of similar weapons used in India and definitely in China. In Okinawa metal was very scarce. The sai may have been an ornament, denoting certain rank, that could also be used as a weapon.

TONFA

Tonfa are made of wood and were likely originally handles of a millstone used for grinding grain. The tonfa has proved so effective, that it is has been integrated into the equipment of modern police officers around the world, often reincarnated as the police baton or ‘night stick’.

NUNCHAKU

Nunchaku consist of two pieces of wood (or possibly metal) connected with a string or a chain. It’s origin are not clear, but it may have evolved from a threshing flail. There is one type of nunchaku, called a muge nunchaku, has been derived from a horse bit.

There are several different types. Some have one section shorter than the other and there are also nunchaku with three sections. In some countries the hard type of nunchaku is forbidden and plastic or rubber versions are used for practice.

KAMA

The kama is the traditional rice sickle, a tool used to cut rice. The traditional kama is made of metal with a wooden handle. For kobudo practice a wooden kama is used. Just like tonfa and sai, kama are usually practiced in pairs.

TEKKO

Tekko are brass knuckles also called knuckledusters. They can be made of any hard material. In many countries brass knuckles are illegal. In Canada plastic brass knuckles are allowed. Techniques with brass knuckles follow the empty hand techniques of karate, but with slashing techniques added.

TINBE AND ROCHIN

Tinbe and rochin are a shield and a short spear. The shield (tinbe) can be made of a variety of materials, e.g. baskets or metal. Traditionally, turtle shells were also used. Imitation turtle shells made of fibreglass are now available. It is said that the origin of the rochin is from short spears used to kill fish.

SURUJIN

The surujin is a chain, rope or leather cord weighted at the ends. There are two styles, the naga surujin or long surujin (2.3 m) and the mijikai surujin or short surujin (1.5 m) long. Surujin techniques are very similar to nunchaku techniques.

EKU

Eku is an Okinawan type of oar. The paddle end has a ridge in the centre is slightly pointed. The sides of the paddle end are rather sharp.

OTHERS WEAPONS

There are several other types of weapons used in Okinawan kobudo.

For example there are several types of sticks of different length e.g. tambo, hanbo or nunti bo. A kuwa is hoe used in agriculture and tichu, a small hand-held weapon with three sharp points, shown in the picture.

Kobudo Curriculum

In developing this curriculum we have taken a different approach than the usual traditional approach to kobudo training.

Traditionally kobudo training is introduced at a green or blue belt level to students who have had at least a year or more karate training. It is highly recommended, that when you study this course that you have studied karate and understand the principle underlining the movements and techniques of karate, but it is not necessary.

The course starts at a very basic level and gradually introduces different weapons and more difficult techniques. To create a sense of progress and development we have followed the traditional belt system used in karate.

Each belt or kyu level and each weapon progresses from very basic to more advanced techniques. For each weapon there is a series of basic techniques and sequences and basic kata. Basics are the building stones of karate and kobudo and these should be mastered before one progresses to more advanced kata.

Kyu Training/Grading Requirements

6th Kyu [White To Yellow]

Stances
Bo :
- Basics
- Basic Technique Sequence
- Basic Kata 1

5th Kyu [Yellow To Orange]

Bo :
- Basic Kata 2
- Bo Tai Bo Kihon Waza – First Three
- Oshiro No Kon

Sai :
- Basics
- Basic Technique Sequence
- Basic Kata 1

4th Kyu [Orange To Green]

Bo :
- Bo Tai Bo Kihon Waza – Second Three
- Sushi No Kon Sho
Sai Basic Kata 2
Tonfa :
- Basics
- Basic Technique Sequence
- Basic Kata 1

3rd Kyu [Green To Blue]

Bo :
- Bo Tai Bo – Moving Sequence
- Bo Tai Sai
- Basic Kata 1

Nunchaku :
- Basics
- Basic Technique Sequence

2nd Kyu [Blue To Brown]

Bo : Sakugawa No Kon Sho
Nunchaku : Basic Kata # 1
Tonfa : Basic Kata # 2
Bo Tai Tonfa

1st Kyu [Brown To Shodan]

Bo : Sushi No Kon Dai
Tonfa : Hamahiga No Tonfa
Sai : Tsukenshitaku No Sai
Nunchaku : Maezato No Nunchaku
Bo Tai Nunchaku

Kobudo Lessons Prep

The lessons are free, but we would like you to register with our program, so that if there are any changes we can inform you by email.

Ensure that you read the Japanese Terms and How to study lessons, below.

Japanese Terms

We have purposely made extensive use of Japanese terms and names for the techniques. This site is meant for an international audience, if we all use the same Japanese terms we can all understand each other.

In karate, different styles sometimes use different Japanese names for the same technique, for example :

gedan uke is the same as :
- harai uke
- gedan barai
jodan uke is the same as age uke

In kobudo there is even less agreement on the names of the techniques. The names we have used in this curriculum were selected based on distinctiveness and usefulness.

Japanese words that occur frequently are :

Gedan - lower or downward
Chudan - middle
Jodan - upper or rising
Dachi - stance
Uke - block
Middle blocks can be called :
- Chudan uke [middle block]
- Soto uke [middle block from inside out]
- Yoko uke [middle block from inside out]
- Uchi uke [middle block from outside in]
Tsuki - punch
Uchi - strike

How to Study

There are six different lessons. The first lesson introduces the stances we use and the bo. It takes you from white to yellow belt.

Each lesson gets progressively more difficult and/or introduces a new kind of weapon.

Begin by learning the Basics for each weapon and learn them well.

Basics are the building blocks of the kata. Basic sequences and the basic kata give you a chance to practice the basics in combinations.

Bo tai Bo or bo against any of the other weapons, teaches the practical application and use of the weapon. Study them well. Practice them with the right leg forward and the left leg forward.

Basic Kata

A basic kata is a simple set pattern, where one uses :

one blocking technique
one attacking technique

throughout the kata.

The form we use is an pattern.

Study the kata by reviewing them several times. When you have a good idea of the movements involved, you can put the screen away and follow the verbal instruction. Practice until you are proficient.

Go back often to review any of the lessons.

Now that you have completed the lesson prep, you can sign up using the menu bar above. If you have already signed up you can access the lessons by logging in from the menu bar above.