What are the weapons used in Okinawan Kobudo? A List of the deadly weapons from the Japanese art

Okinawan Kobudō is a Japanese martial art that originated from the Japanese island of Okinawa and specializes in the use of weapons. Originally, this was because the island was banned from having weapons under Japanese law at the time. As a result, the peasants of the island used weapons that were similar to those found in farming. With this in mind, you could argue the art has similarities with Capoeira which was also birthed out of an oppressed class who had to use their creativity to train martial arts under an aggressive regime.

As a result, some of the weapons used are scythes, sticks, and similar items you may find on a farm.
It may not be too surprising, but Kobudo also has a relationship with Karate. Although Kobudo is primarily weapons-based, there are also some kicks and foot movements that are taught that are also found in Karate. Not only this but it also uses some Karate movements during kata. Lastly, Karate also uses some of the weapons that are found in Kobudo. Below we shall delve into the weapons used in Kobudo and how they operate.

Sai

You may recognize the Sai from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Here, Raphael used these as his main weapon. The Sai is held in your hand and has three blades. It is similar to a claw but the middle blade is far longer than the two outer claws and is held by a handle. This weapon was designed to trap other blades within its claws and was also used by Japanese policemen in ancient times.

Bo

The Bo is a long wooden staff that resembles a pole. It is designed to block the blows of other weapons and can also be used to strike the foe as well. With this said, it’s both defensive and offensive at the same time. Due to its length and shape, it can be used by thrusting and also swinging. Perhaps one weakness of the Bo is that it may not far well against sharp swords.

Kama

The Kama is a small scythe weapon and is usually held with one in each hand at the same time. As mentioned, you can imagine this having beginnings in the field of a peasant farmer. If wielded with enough skill then they can hook weapons and slash offensively. These are also used with other martial arts such as Silat and other weapon-based fighting systems.

Eku

This is an oar-like weapon that is normally made out of wood and is usually held by more experienced practitioners of Kobudo. Due to its length and size, it can be used similarly to the Bo. However, the difference with the Eku is that it has a heavier end that resembles a paddle. As you can imagine, being hit with this could be fatal due to its weight. Although not proven, this Eku may have originated from an oar that was used by Japanese fishermen at the time.

Hanbo

The Hanbo is basically a smaller version of the Bo. Usually, it is half the size of the Bo so is less of a staff and more of a cane. Because of this, the self-defense implications of the Hanbo differ compared to the Bo. For instance, you may not be able to defend long staffs as easily with the Hanbo. However, it also has benefits. For instance, the Hanbo may not be as easy for an opponent to grab or control. This means that it is typically held by less experienced students compared to the Bo.

Surujin

This is a chain or rope-based weapon. Sometimes people would add stones or small blades to the end of the rope to make it more effective. The way the Surujin worked was by holding it in one hand and swinging it with your other hand. Imagine a cowboy holding a lasso, this is kind of how the Surujin is used. Of course, you would have to have prior training to use bladed versions as if you hit yourself then it could be very counterproductive.

Tonfa

The Tonfa is one of the more commonly known weapons on this list and you may have seen it in old Karate movies. It is a wooden baton that resembles a police nightstick. Like the Sai, the Tonfa is normally used with one in each hand. One advantage of the Tonfa is that it can be held to run down your forearm. With this done, you can use the Tonfa to strike with your forearm to great effect. Similarly, it can be used to defend your arms and turn blocks into painful attacks. Due to its size, it typically focuses on upper body attacks.

Sansetsukon 

The Sansetsukon is another well-known weapon that features in various martial arts. Unlike most on this list, it didn’t actually have origins in farming or agriculture. Instead, it was designed with the sole intention of self-defense and fighting. The Sansetsukon has three parts that can all swing and are all loosely attached. It is basically a Nunchuk with a third extension. Because of this, it requires a lot more skill and control compared to conventional Nunchuks. Due to having three parts, it can be used to block easier than Nunchuks, but also requires more technique to be able to do this.

Nunti Bo

This weapon is like a spear and possibly originates from a fisherman’s spear. Physically, it is a long wooden staff with a spike on the tip. Perhaps one way to picture the Nunti Bo is that it’s a Bo with a Sai blade on the top. Although the spear tip isn’t exactly a Sai, it is very similar. In a one vs one, you can imagine the Nunti Bo is more dangerous than a Bo. This is because it has the possibility to kill with a thrust, whereas the Bo is more likely to stun or harm the opponent instead.

Tekko

Tekko’s are a commonly known Kobudo weapon. These are knuckle dusters that can often feature additions such as spikes and blades. You may recognize the Tekko from movies such as Enter The Dragon. In one scene, Bruce Lee fights a villain who is holding a Tekko in claw form. Although some Tekko’s are used to punch, they are also used to slash with the correct additions. With this said, you wouldn’t want to encounter someone with a Tekko especially up close.

Tambo

The Tambo is a small wooden stick-like weapon. Mechanically, they are similar to the Tonfa. However, they are missing the handles. In brief, they are a small baton that can be used up close to strike the head and other body parts. Like many weapons on this list, they are also used to defend and block strikes. Again, like the Tonfa most practitioners will use two Tambo sticks with one in each hand. It is possible to block with one stick and simultaneously strike with the other stick.

Tinbe Rochin

Like many on this list, the Tinbe Rochin has origins in the sea. This weapon was a spear and shield. Although practitioners in modern times will use man-made shields, they previously used turtle shells in the early days of Kubudo. As has been mentioned, the idea was to use weapons that weren’t recognized by the state. This means things like turtle shells would go unseen by police as an object as opposed to a fighting tool. The spear is a conventional wooden pole with a blade on the end.

Nunchuks

Perhaps the most common weapon on the list, Nunchuks are still alive in modern-day and are still commonly found in popular culture. Nunchuks are two sticks that are held together by a chain. Earlier on the list, we mentioned the Sansetsukon which is like a more advanced version of nunchucks. One of the main strategies of using Nunchuks is to train speed. If you are able to combine Nunchuks with speed then you can both defend and attack with great power.

Kuwa

The Kuwa was originally used as a garden hoe. This weapon is a long wooden stick with a metal part sticking out on the bottom. Imagine a Bo with a metal part on the end. Again, the Kuwa would have come from the farms of Okinawa. This could be used to successfully defend against strikes but also hit attackers with the metal part. To the unexpecting eye, it is merely a hoe, however in the hands of a trained Kobudo artist, it could seriously injure someone.

Techu

From the same family as the Tekko, the Techu is similar to a knuckle duster. Typically, the Tekko has spikes and is made to stab. However, the Techu is usually blunter. Having said this, the Techu often has pointed sides that are capable of penetrating the skin. It could be argued that the Techu is more akin to modern-day knuckle dusters. For more information on the weapons used in Okinawan Kobudo, check out this book.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=eS9lHHmcjXQ