Kobudo

"Kobudo" literally means "ancient martial ways". In the karate world, it generally refers to those traditional Okinawan weapons whose history and practice has been linked to that of karate.

Most Okinawan styles have at least some kobudo/kobujutsu curriculum. In addition, there are at least two major Okinawan organizations whose primary focus is these weapons arts: the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko-kai and the Okinawa Kobudo Renmei. In the US there is 'Okinawa Kobudo Association, USA'; the shihan in the US is in Citrus Heights, CA. There may be other US Kobudo organizations.

The most common kobudo weapons (and the ones most often taught by Okinawan karate systems) are:

• Bo - staff, usually a rokushakubo or "six foot staff", although 4, 9, and 12 foot staffs are also used.

• Sai - three-tined iron clubs, usually carried as a set of 3.

• Nunchaku - two short tapered wooden clubs, connected at the narrow ends by a short rope or chain (a flail, as well as other uses).

• Kama - a sickle, used singly or in pairs.

• Tuifa/tonfa - a club with a hand-length perpendicular handle, the ancestor to the police PR-24; usually used in pairs.