Kobudo

Weapons Training

Shotokan Karate is an empty handed martial art. However, there are Kata and techniques designed to defend against weapons, such as the Jo and Bo, knives and many more. Due to this connection, we have instructors that teach basic uses for some of the Okinawan and Japanese weapons. Tuition includes basic grips, holds, blocks, strikes, swings and Kata, as well as disarming techniques for these weapons.

Weapons training is never unsupervised. When training with weapons all safety precautions are taken to prevent any injuries. In the case of metal weapons, foam and rubber weapons are first used before moving on to the metal weapons themselves.

Available weapons Training

Wooden

  • Bo (6ft. staff)

  • Jo (4ft. staff)

  • Tanbo (single or double sticks less than 1 meter in length)

  • Eku (boat oar)

  • Tonfa (baton with side handle)

  • Nunchaku (rice flail)

Metal

  • Sai (pronged daggers)

  • Kama (sickles)

  • Nagainata (6ft. staff with curved blade on one end)

  • Yari (spear)

  • Techu (spinning spears connected by a ring worn on the middle finger)

** The order of weapons generally taught is Bo, Sai, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Kama. Followed by any of the remaining weapons

Jo, Tanbo, Eku, Nagainata, Yari, Techu.