Kobudō

Book excerpt: While training with Master Nakamura, he charged Master Odo to bring together all his vast knowledge of kenpo karate and kobudō from his past instructors: Sensei Koho Kuba (Tomari-te), Master Shinpo Matayoshi and Sensei Mitsuo Kakazu (kobudō), Seiki Toma (kobudō), and Master Shigeru Nakamura (Naha-te & Shuri-te). In 1972, the Okinawa Kenpo Karate Renmei appointed Master Odo as president of the All Okinawa Kenpo Karate-do League. Soon after his appointment, Master Odo completed incorporating kobudō into the Okinawa kenpo karate empty-hand system as taught by Master Nakamura. Master Odo became one of the first instructors to combine a karate system with a complete weapons system. This book is an example of the organized system that Master Odo developed. Weapons presented in this text include the bó (staff), tunfá (millstone handle), sai (dagger-shaped metal truncheon), kama (sickle or hand scythe), nunchaku (flail), and nunte-bó (staff with gaff).This book contains a detail description of the Kobudō kata as taught by Master Seikichi Odo to Professor Bill Marron in the early 1970's. Each kata is based upon the first 3 instructional DVDs developed by Professor Marron and Shihan Crayton Moss. It is advised that students first learn the kata from a qualified instructor of Kobudō and use the detailed texts and DVDs to develop their expertise. This book was designed to help the Kobudōka remember the kata when they get a mental block while practicing. Each Directional Series with specific technical steps correspond directly with the detailed steps of the DVDs listed below. Our desire is each kata remain true according to Master Odo's wish, "keep the 'old ways' straight."For more information contact American Kenpo Karate and Weapons system (AKKW.net).Instructional Weapons (Kobudō) DVDs1. Yellow & Blue belt rankingBó 1: Shihonuki; Bó 2: Chou No Kun; Bó 3: Suiyoshi No Kun Ichi; Tunfá 1: Matayoshi No Tunfá Ichi 2. Green & Purple belt rankingBó 4: Tsuken Akacho No Nunte; Sai 1: Nakamura No Sai Bó 5: Suiyoshi No Kun Ni; Kama 2: Matayoshi No Kama Ni3. Brown 1-3 belt rankingBó 7: Shima Igiri No Kun Ichi; Nunchaku: Matayoshi No NunchakuBó 8: Shima Igiri No Kun Ni; Sai 2: Chotoku Kyan No Sai Bó 9: Sakugawa No Kun Ichi; Tunfá 2: Matayoshi No Tunfá Ni Book Reviews:Professor Ron Rogers (Soke, Hanshi, Judan, Midori Yama Budokai)Having read many books on the weapons of Okinawa, "Kobudo, the Ancient Art of Okinawa Weapons," by William Marron, Hanshi and Crayton Moss, Shihan, is one of the most comprehensive. It is well written and is an excellent adjunct for their demonstrations on the DVD sets. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Weapon arts of Okinawa. Congratulations on an excellent publication.Professor Ken Baker (Hanshi, Judan, Midori Yama Budokai)Having been a student of Okinawa Weapons since 1978, I was very pleased to receive an advance copy of "Kobudo, the Ancient Art of Okinawa Weapons," by William Marron (10th Black, Hanshi,-Professor) and Crayton Moss (7th 'Black, Shihan). It is a book that goes into such great detail on one of my favorite styles of practice. I have personally trained under Marron Hanshi. He was an excellent practitioner, a true gentleman and a great friend. He is greatly missed. I am so pleased that his protégé Moss, Shihan has continued to keep this legacy going forward with such a fine book. The DVD's and the book will go hand in hand to further the study of Kobudo.Note: A color edition is also available.