The Relationship of Kōburyū to Matayoshi 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 spoil his karate technique. However, Kinjō persisted. He began to study kobudō under Matayoshi Shimpo, then head of Matayoshi family kobudō.
The Lineage of Matayoshi Kobudō and Kōburyū

Who’s Who
Matayoshi ShinkÅ

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(1888 â 1947)
Matayoshi ShinkÅ first studied bÅ, 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 ShinkÅ traveled to Shanghai, only returning to Okinawa in 1935.
In 1915, Matayoshi ShinkÅ demonstrated kobudÅ before the Emperor of Japan in Tokyo, alongside karate greats Chojun Miyagi and Funakoshi Gichin. In 1921, Matayoshi performed in a kobudÅ exhibition before Prince Hirohito during the Prince’s historic visit to Okinawa.
Matayoshi ShinkÅ was best known for his skill with kama.
Matayoshi ShimpÅ

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(1921 – 1997)
Following the death of Matayoshi ShinkÅ in 1947, Matayoshi ShimpÅ, continued his father’s kobudÅ legacy. In the 1970s, in memory of his father, Matayoshi ShimpÅ opened a kobudÅ dojo in Naha, Okinawa, and named it the KÅdÅkan (å é館). From the KÅdÅkan he taught a wide variety of weapons associated with ancient Okinawa as well as the weapons and kata that Matayoshi ShinkÅ collected on his travels. In 1972, Matayoshi ShimpÅ created the Zen Okinawa KobudÅ Renmei as an organization dedicated to the teaching and study of Okinawan kobudÅ .
Thanks to the extensive teaching of Matayoshi ShimpÅ and his students, Matayoshi kobudÅ has great influence and respect around the world. An estimated 2000 dojos can now be found worldwide. However, following the death of Matayoshi ShimpÅ in 1997, Matayoshi kobudo has split into different organizations.
Yasushi Matayoshi, Matayoshi Matayoshi ShimpÅ’s only son, is the spiritual head of kobudÅ, even though he has never practiced kobudÅ.
KinjÅ Takashi

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(1939 – present)
Historically, kobudÅ was never part of Uechi RyÅ«. Itokazu Seiki, KinjÅ Takashi’s karate master, himself never studied kobudÅ. Indeed, he told the young KinjÅ Takashi that kobudÅ training would ruin his karate technique. However, KinjÅ persisted. He began to study under Matayoshi Shimpo, then head of the Matayoshi family of kobudÅ. Matayoshi Shimpo’s father, Matayoshi Shinko, founded the style.