At the same time Okinawans developed an empty handed fighting art for self-defense, they developed a fighting art using WEAPONS. This art, called kobudo, is unique because what it uses as weapons were common tools - usually for fishing or farming. While it is unclear where this art began, it became more developed during the time Okinawa was ruled by the Japanese Satsuma clan. Some speculate it may have developed to allow the Okinawans to defend themselves against the Japanese samurai. As the empty handed art of karate became public, kobudo training was neglected and began to DIE out. A few individuals preserved this art and passed it down to their students. SENSEI Demura was fortunate to train directly under one of them (the legendary Master Shinken Taira) and we are fortunate to to have Sensei Demura pass the training to us. Kobudo training is beneficial to students because it builds strength and coordination.

Kobudo is taught on Saturday mornings at our downtown facilities and during Sensei Demura's visit. We also practice "kobudo kumite" or practice fighting using kendo armor and/or padded weapons.

Japanese karate was influenced by other Japanese martial arts. Training in those arts is helpful in learning karate. For this REASON advanced students study Toyama-ryu batto-do, the art of cutting with a samurai sword. Students learn basic techniques using a wooden bokken or a non-sharpened sword and advanced to a Shinken (a "live" blade or real sword. Test cutting ("tameshi-geri") is practiced to evaluate the effectiveness of the technique.

Batto-do is taught and practiced at our downtown facility on Thursday nights, with permission of the INSTRUCTOR.

At the same time Okinawans developed an empty handed fighting art for self-defense, they developed a fighting art using weapons. This art, called kobudo, is unique because what it uses as weapons were common tools - usually for fishing or farming. While it is unclear where this art began, it became more developed during the time Okinawa was ruled by the Japanese Satsuma clan. Some speculate it may have developed to allow the Okinawans to defend themselves against the Japanese samurai. As the empty handed art of karate became public, kobudo training was neglected and began to die out. A few individuals preserved this art and passed it down to their students. Sensei Demura was fortunate to train directly under one of them (the legendary Master Shinken Taira) and we are fortunate to to have Sensei Demura pass the training to us. Kobudo training is beneficial to students because it builds strength and coordination.

Kobudo is taught on Saturday mornings at our downtown facilities and during Sensei Demura's visit. We also practice "kobudo kumite" or practice fighting using kendo armor and/or padded weapons.

Japanese karate was influenced by other Japanese martial arts. Training in those arts is helpful in learning karate. For this reason advanced students study Toyama-ryu batto-do, the art of cutting with a samurai sword. Students learn basic techniques using a wooden bokken or a non-sharpened sword and advanced to a Shinken (a "live" blade or real sword. Test cutting ("tameshi-geri") is practiced to evaluate the effectiveness of the technique.

Batto-do is taught and practiced at our downtown facility on Thursday nights, with permission of the Instructor.