直心古武道 Jikishin Kobudo, Leeds, UK

Two sectioned staffs from China. Although not likely to have been wielded by these children, the additional description suggests these were implemented against the Japanese by Chinese defenders. Presumably during the middle of the 20th century.

TONFA and SWORD

To use a tonfa as a shield is instinctual. It naturally rests across the forearm and is built without an attacking edge or point. As such, it serves a function in defence much better than it does in attack. It can attack of course, but it is not lethal by design.

In Kobudo we train with double tonfas, why? As a training aid perhaps? To develop proficiency in both hands? To encourage the practitioner to focus on defensive and non-lethal techniques?

Applied Kobudo is always going to be different to dojo Kobudo. Practice on your own with different weapons combinations for different situations.

Suruchin... Your only opponent is yourself...

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FIGHTING FARMERS

This is an example of a centuries old farming tool used in European warfare.

It has become popular amongst some people to say that the story of Okinawa farmers using their tools to fight - is fabricated.

We disagree at Jikishin Kobudo. Not only do the most reliable historical Okinawa masters make the link between farmers and Kobujutsu very strongly, it is also common sense that men who work the land all day will be very effective at using their tools to fight with.

Farming tools have been used on battlefields throughout history and all over the world. In ancient times it was expensive to fund a standing army. In times of need, soldiers were always conscripted from the ranks of the farming community.

From the very first battles of prehistoric man, through to modern day hand to hand fighting - tools and implements have been used as weapons. This is the fundamental meaning behind the term Kobujutsu.

Scythe (1600-1699) VII.960

Among the Royal Armouries more unusual possessions are two worn and battered scythe blades, mounted on straight hafts to form improvised weapons, picked up on the battlefield of Sedgemoor in 1685.

For his doomed rebellion against James II, the Duke of Monmouth had brought equipment for about 3,000 troops.

At their greatest his men numbered some 7,000 strong, meaning they were hopelessly ill-armed with the occasional old sword, halberd, fowling piece, clubs, slashers and 'prongs' (pitchforks).

But it was the re-hafted scythe which was to be the most important of Monmouth's weapons, and the one for which the rebellion is best remembered.

About 500 'sithemen' played an active part the battle, where they seem to have been deployed as elite shock troops.

These weapons were frighteningly effective, their reach and carving-knife sharpness easily killing and mutilating both men and horses, while their psychological impact on the enemy, new to such things, incited terror and panic.

The scythes were brought to the Tower of London and from at least 1693 visitors were regaled with lurid tales about their performance.

They are a telling memento not only of Monmouth and his doomed rebellion, but of countless others across the centuries facing forces they could rarely hope to beat.

Small Weapons The Christmas season has long passed, so this post is possibly a little out of date, at least if you are looking for present ideas. But over or not the season did make me think about giving and rec…

THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE RIGHT JOB

Here at Jikishin Kobudo we take a youthful and organic approach to Kobudo.

In our way, we use whatever size tool is appropriate for the job we have in mind when we train.

We may use extra heavy tools for conditioning and extra small tools to develop technique.

In terms of the Kuwa, we argue that there is no fixed size. Some people say there is, ok that is up to them. However, it is simple logic to understand that the biggest humans might prefer to use larger sized tools compared to the smallest. Furthermore, in historic times, farmers used multiple different sizes of Kuwa.

Kimo Wall Sensei taught us to modify our tools to make them appropriate. He also taught that the best way to train with them is to get out into the fields and work.

Tools in this image are Kuwa x 2, Hand Kuwa x 2 and Hammers x 2.

WEIGHTED BO / STAFF

It is extremely useful to train with differently weighted staffs.

This 5kg Bo was originally designed to hold free weights and is considerably heavier than a normal Bo.

By usng a heavier Bo for a period and then returning to a normal Bo, the process increases speed, grip strength, core strength, balance, stance... In fact it improves all everything.

Training with a very light weight Bo (such as a plastic pipe, or bamboo cane) is also beneficial. It helps develop an understanding of how to generate power and exert force through the Bo.

It is easy to get different weights of staff and it is very good for training. Different lengths too.

Very well researched article on the history of suruchin type weapons with some great images.

This is one of the weapons we practice.

Of Rope Darts and Meteor Hammers: A Visual History of Flexible Weapons in China — The Ravenswood Academy Above: Image from the Shui hu ren wu quan tu (水浒人物全图) by Du Jin (杜堇). Du Jin was a Chinese painter whose specific date of birth and death are unknown, but he was active between 1465-1487, giving a reasonable date-range for the production of the above piece. As for the characters depi...