MLARTC_FM.part 1.qxp

means “warrior”]). Sakugawa passed his kobudô to his disciple Ginowan

Donchi, who perfected the weapons forms given to him by his master. The

essence of his art is contained in the Ginowan no kon.Other staff kata in

Okinawan kobudô include the Cho Un no kon, Shirotaru no kon, Yone-

gawa no kon, Chinen Shichanaka no kon, Sesoku no kon, Urasoe no kon,

Sueyoshi no kon, Sueishi no kon, Arakaki no kon, Tôyama no kon, and

Chatan Yara no kon.Sai kata include Taira no sai, Tsukenshitahaku no sai,

Tawada no sai, Chatan Yara no sai, Hamahiga no sai,and Arakaki no sai,

Yaka no sai, Kojo no sai, and Jigen no sai. Tonfa kata include the

Hamahiga no tonfa and Chatan Yara no tonfa.Nunchaku is represented by

the Taira no nunchaku.Different forms exist in different kobudô lineages.

The Matayoshi branch of kobudô, for example, may also include

Matayoshi bô, sai, kama, tonfa, and nunchakukata, as well as kata for

sundry other weapons. Taira Shinken mastered a number of weapons and

created kata for many of them, including the tekko. An exhaustive listing

of the kobudô kata being used in Okinawa would be foolish to attempt and

less than useful to produce. Individual artists invariably leave their own

distinctive marks on their work. The history of any art is one of dynamic

eclecticism and inspired innovation.

Kobudô, Okinawan 287

Sai versus sword. (Courtesy of Ron Mottern)