Ryu Kyu Kobudo Ryukonkai - Sri Lanka
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KOBUDO
- Okinawa Martial Arts with weaponry -



Kobudo is a Martial Art developed in Okinawa, which consists of the use of agricultural and fishing implements that were developed as weapons. There were two great turning points in the history of Ryu Kyu Kobudo. The first was the, Order of the Sword Hunt implemented by King Shoshin (1477-1526) that place a ban on the carrying of weapons for not only the general public but also the warrior class people. Second was the 'Policy of Banning Weapons' enforced after the Ryukyu Invasion by Satsuma in 1609. Martial artists, who were prohibited to carry weapons, naturally started to think out how to use ordinary tools or farm or fishery equipment as self-defense tools. They kept on studying and making inventions and that lead to the birth of the unique Okinawan martial arts with weaponry called 'Kobudo'. In the 19th century Kobudo was more systemized and many schools and associations were formed.


RYUKYU KOBUDO RYUKONKAI - SRI LANKA

We follow Ryu Kyu Kobudo Ryukonkai , the Kobudo style created by Hanshi, Kotaro Iha (10th Dan), a leading Kobudo teacher in Okinawa and in the whole world of today.
Okinawa Shorin Ryu Kyudokan Karate-do and Ryu Kyu Kobudo Ryukonkai Associations have a very close relationship. Ryukonkai founder, Kotaro Iha Sensei has learned Karate-do under O'Sensei Yuchoku Higa, founder of Shorin Ryu Kyudokan Karate-do. Presently, Kyudokan President Minoru Higa Sensei works as a Vice President of Ryukonkai Kobudo Association. Also, Kyudokan Technical Director Oscar Higa Sensei works as the Representative for the Whole Europe of the Ryu Kyu Kobudo Ryukonkai Association and Kyudokan South American Representative Benito Higa Sensei works as the South American Representative of Ryukonkai Kobudo Association. Indishe Senanayake Sensei who trained Ryukonkai Kobudo under Oscar Higa Sensei and Kotaro Iha Sensei works as the Sri Lanka Representative of Ryu Kyu Kobudo Ryukonkai Association.




KOTARO IHA SENSEI (10th Dan-Hanshi)


Iha Kotaro Sensei was born February 12, 1939. In 1958 he started his martial arts training under famed Shorinryu Karate teacher Chibana Choshin. In High School, Iha Sensei had an interest in the combative arts and joined a local Judo club. His success was limited because of his small stature. After graduation from High School, Iha Sensei decided to study Karate, feeling that this would give him the advantage in a fight. He soon found out that larger students also had an advantage over smaller practitioners in Karate. These events then led Iha Sensei to Kobudo, especially the Bo, where he knew that weapons, particularly the length of the Bo, would give him an advantage.

In 1974 Iha Sensei opened his first Kobudo Dojo at his own house in Gushikawa, Okinawa. In 1981, he founded the RyuKyu Kobudo RyuKonKai and was appointed it's President.

On his quest to master the art of Kobudo, he trained under various masters who each specialized in certain weapons.

  • May 1958, started training Shorin-Ryu Karate under Chibana Chosin Sensei.
  • February 1961, he began training Shorin-Ryu Karate under Yochoku Higa.
  • May 1961, he began training Bo under Shigenobu Tamai.
  • May 1968, he began training Nunchaku, Sai, and Kama under Iloei Ishikawa.
  • January 1970, he began training Bo and Sai under Shiko Toma.
  • March 1971, he began training Bo under Kantoku Izumikawa.
  • March 1972, he began training Eku under Takasha Kinjo and in July
  • July 1972, Bo under Shinchin Tawata.


    • Iha Sensei's Motto (Creed, favorite saying):

    "You should not love to fight, but not, even for a moment, forget to prepare for fighting."
    (Miyamoto Musashi, Go rin no Sho , The Book of Five Rings).


    RYU KON KAI DOJO KUN


  • Be civil, courteous, disciplined and well behaved.
  • Aim to train your mental and spiritual power as well as your physical power. Endurance is the key to success.
  • Respect your seniors and love your juniors. Regard every member of the Dojo as brothers and sisters and treat them as such.
  • Try to master the most efficient skill of self-defense preparing for the emergency




    • WEAPONS USED IN RYUKONKAI KOBUDO


    There are many agricultural and farming equipment which were developed as Kobudo weapons according to the knowledge and experience of different teachers. Some of the weapons were bo, sai, nunchaku, tonfa, eiku, kama, tekko, suruchin, rochin & tinbe, kuwa, naginata, nunte, shakuhachi etc.
    Weapons we train in Ryu Kyu Kobudo ryukonkai are as follows.





    BO (KUN)
    The bo or the staff is the main and the most difficult weapon to master. The rokushaku bo(6 foot staff) is commonly used. But, the the length of the bo varies. Okinawan people used the staff in walking long distance and in farming. Many bo katas handed down by the centuries still remains today.

    SAI
    Sai is a short three pronged metal trident. It is believed that it originates in India and introduced to Okinawa through China. It was used as a religious object. But, some people say it is an equipment used in farming to dig the ground or in fishing to kill fish. Used in pairs in Kobudo.

    NUNCHAKU
    Originally a wooden horse bridle and could be easily concealed in the sleeve of the kimono. This weapon consists of two pieces of wood connected by thread, cord, chain or horsehair. Nunchaku has a Chinese origin.

    TONFA (TUIFA)
    Originally the detachable handle of a primitive grindstone of Okinawa. Used in pairs. In some countries, police department uses tonfa as batons.

    KAMA
    The sickle or the Kama is used in agricultural purposes in Okinawa and became a deadly weapon in Kobudo. Used in pairs when used as a weapon.

    EIKU (KAI)
    Boat oar used by Okinawa Fishermen. The techniques are similar to the Bo. This consists techniques of throwing the sand into the opponent s eyes.

    SANSETSU KUN
    Sansetsu Kun is the three staff Nunchaku. This might have a Chinese origin. In China there is a story on the birth of This weapon. It says once a king fought with a famous fighter in his area. King chose a staff as his weapon and other used a sword. Because of the sword attacks the staff was broken in to three pieces, but still attached to one another. This new weapon works better in the fight. And this was the birth of the three staff nunchaku.

    TEKKO
    This weapon has many variations and each has its own origin. And it is said the common metal Tekko or the knuckle-duster was originally the horseshoes. Used in pairs.




    KATA OF RYUKONKAI


  • FyuKyu Bo
  • Choun No Kun
  • ShuShi No Kun
  • Chiken No Kun
  • Sakugawa No Kun
  • Shirotaru No Kun
  • Chiken No Eku
  • Nicho Sai
  • Ishikagwa Sai
  • FuKyu Nunchaku
  • Nicho Nunchaku
  • RyuKonkai Tuifa
  • Toma No Tuifa
  • RyuKonKai KeBo
  • Ishikagwa Kama
  • Katancha No Tekko
  • Sansetsu Kun Jutsu


  • Hanshi, Kotaro Iha Bio



    • Indishe Sensei (sitting 3rd from the left) with Ryukonkai Members in the Ryu Kyu Kobudo
    Ryukonkai Hombu Dojo of Hanshi Kotaro Iha (9th Dan) in Gushikawa.
    L/R: Yamashiro Tamiko Sensei(1st), Kotaro Iha Sensei (4th), Mitsutada Iha Sensei (6th),
    Zenei Nakasone Sensei (7th)



    Home Okinawa Karate Shorin Ryu Kyudokan School History & Masters Higa Family
    Sensei Indishe Senanayake Kyudokan Kata Kobudo Karate for Women Karate for Children
    Tai Chi Meditation & Buddhism Philosophy and Articles of Interest Photo Gallery
    Organizations affiliated Instructors News Links Contact Us Guest Book E-Mail Us