The Relationship of Kōburyū to Matayoshi Kobudō

Matayoshi Shinkō first studied bō, kama and sai in Okinawa. Later he studied tonkua and nunchaku. Then from 1911 to 1915 he lived in Manchuria and studied the Chinese martial arts. Later Matayoshi Shinkō traveled to Shanghai, only returning to Okinawa in 1935.

In 1915, Matayoshi Shinkō demonstrated kobudō before the Emperor of Japan in Tokyo, alongside karate greats Chojun Miyagi and Funakoshi Gichin. In 1921, Matayoshi performed in a kobudō exhibition before Prince Hirohito during the Prince’s historic visit to Okinawa.

Matayoshi Shinkō was best known for his skill with kama.

Following the death of Matayoshi Shinkō in 1947, Matayoshi Shimpō, continued his father’s kobudō legacy. In the 1970s, in memory of his father, Matayoshi Shimpō opened a kobudō dojo in Naha, Okinawa, and named it the Kōdōkan (光道館). From the Kōdōkan he taught a wide variety of weapons associated with ancient Okinawa as well as the weapons and kata that Matayoshi Shinkō collected on his travels. In 1972, Matayoshi Shimpō created the Zen Okinawa Kobudō Renmei as an organization dedicated to the teaching and study of Okinawan kobudō .

Thanks to the extensive teaching of Matayoshi Shimpō and his students, Matayoshi kobudō has great influence and respect around the world. An estimated 2000 dojos can now be found worldwide. However, following the death of Matayoshi Shimpō in 1997, Matayoshi kobudo has split into different organizations.

Yasushi Matayoshi, Matayoshi Matayoshi Shimpō’s only son, is the spiritual head of kobudō, even though he has never practiced kobudō.

Historically, kobudō was never part of Uechi Ryū. Itokazu Seiki, Kinjō Takashi’s karate master, himself never studied kobudō. Indeed, he told the young Kinjō Takashi that kobudō training would ruin his karate technique. However, Kinjō persisted. He began to study under Matayoshi Shimpo, then head of the Matayoshi family of kobudō. Matayoshi Shimpo’s father, Matayoshi Shinko, founded the style.