kobudo

Kobudo is a martial art from Okinawa that uses traditional weapons. The term kobudo translates to old or ancient weapons, distinguishing it from modern martial arts. It is commonly practiced in conjunction with karate and other Okinawan systems.

Origins trace to the Ryukyu Kingdom era, when commoners developed tools like farming implements adapted for self-defense. The repertoire was influenced by contact with China and other parts of Asia, and the weapons were historically passed down within families or villages.

Typical weapons include the bo (long staff), jo (shorter staff), sai (three-pronged truncheon), tonfa (knobbed baton), nunchaku (two linked bars), kama (sickle), eku (oar), and occasionally yari (spear), tekko, and kusarigama.

Training emphasizes control, timing, distance, and leverage; basic forms (kata) and partner drills; safety; the etiquette of dojo. In the modern era, kobudo is taught worldwide through dojos and organizations; many karate schools include kobudo segments; the art is sometimes taught as a separate system but often in parallel with karate.