Kobudō
Originally Sōke Kaichō Kinjō studied Uechi Ryū karate under Itokazu Seiki and kobudō under Matayoshi Shimpō as completely separate arts. In 1965, unlike most Okinawan dōjō of the time, Sōke Kaichō Kinjō began to teach both karate and kobudō in one dōjō, but still as separate arts. Over time Sōke Kaichō Kinjō came to believe that not only can karate and kobudō be taught as one style, but they should be. Therefore, Kōburyū offers a unified approach to both karate and kobudō. This is unique to Kōburyū.
The Training Elements of Kōburyū Kobudō
Kōburyū kobudō training is similar to Kōburyū karate, with the following differences:
- Sho, Chū and Jō
The kobudō kata are not separated into shokyū, chūkyū and jōkyū versions, but the concepts are there. While not specifically labeled shokyū, the kobudō kata are first practiced for accuracy of technique. Accuracy is especially important as the student begins to practice bunkai. Later the student will practice for power in much the same way as karate chūkyū, emphasizing the use of the legs. Like karate jōkyū, there are instances of simultaneous block and attack in the kata and in more advanced versions of bunkai, but there is no systematized progression from shokyū to chūkyū to jōkyū. - Kata Gyaku
Originally Sōke Kaichō Kinjō did not feel that the kobudō kata needed to be practiced gyaku. Of course, hojoundō are all practiced left and right equally. However, while there are some combinations in the kata that repeat left and right, most do not. At this time, it is left to the student to explore kata gyaku.
Kihon
Hojoundō
Each weapon has its own unique skill set. Because of this, hojoundō is vital to developing prowess with a weapon. Unlike karate kata hojoundō, the hojoundō of kobudō are not all aimed at perfecting the movements of a kata. Some hojoundō are much like the karate kihon, teaching the most basic movements of the weapon. Other hojoundō are more like taisabaki waza, teaching the most efficient way to move in combinations of block and attack specific to the weapon. Roku shaku bō is considered the core weapon, with five kata and an extensive set of hojoundō. The other weapons may have one or at most two kata but still have an extensive set of hojoundō.
Kata
The foremost training element of every karate style is the kata.
Once a kata has been learned, it must be practiced repeatedly until it can be applied in an emergency, for knowledge of just the sequence of a kata is by itself useless.
Each weapon has one or more kata.
Bunkai
The kata bunkai clearly demonstrates the different skills involved with each weapon, from crushing to cutting to stabbing to pounding. Like karate, the goal of a fight is to make the opponent either unable or unwilling to continue the fight. There is a direct correlation in the bunkai from grabbing to control the opponent in karate bunkai to pounding the opponent’s hands or weapon in kobudō bunkai.
A bunkai is a choreographed battle. It allows the practitioner to practice timing and distance. A bunkai can simulates the full battle as defined by a kata or it can be focused on one combination of moves. As the bunkai partners advance, the bunkai exchanges may approach an actual fighting situation. Of course, the practitioners must take care not to injure each other.
To be effective in a stressful situation, one’s techniques must become second nature. You don’t need to think. You just react. Of course, the key is lots of repetition, but repetition alone will not lead to success. The techniques themselves must be practical, accurately performed and adaptable to real life situations.
Independent Study
Sōke Kaichō Kinjō has presented at least one bunkai for every kata combination – sometimes several! However, Sōke Kaichō Kinjō hopes that we will not just copy his ideas, but begin to develop our own ideas.