Tatsuo Shimabuku originally studied the bo and sai with Master Chotoku Kyan. Much later in his Karate studies, he began training in Kobudo from the legendary weapons master Shinken Taira. Master Taira came to the Agena Dojo to work out with Tatsuo Shimabuku and his students on a regular basis during 1959-1960. Master Taira taught Tatsuo Shimabuku the use of the bo, sai, tuifa, nunchaku, and kama, although Master Shimabuku, according to his son, Kichiro, only completely mastered the bo and sai because he found the other weapons not as efficacious.

Kobudo originated as a means of defense against the sword-wielding Japanese samurai. Empty-hand fighting was usually ineffective against skilled swordsman. The most frequently used Okinawan Kobudo weapon was the bo, the study of which is called Bojutsu. The pole used for a bo was the wooden stick the Okinawans placed across their shoulders to carry buckets of water (one on either end). Performing this common task disguised the bo well. When an attacker unknowingly approached, the Okinawans could easily slip the buckets from the staff and use the pole as an effective weapon. The bo is usually 6' in length and is constructd from strong wood, such as Chinese Oak, so that it will not readily break if used to block a sword strike. The modem bo is thick in the middle (1 1/2") and gradually tapers at the ends (3/4"). The bo is a valuable kobudo weapon because of its length, allowing the wielder of the bo to stay out of the reach of the attacker. The bo's length, however, is relatively inefficient in an enclosed area. The bo kata taught in Isshinryu are Tokumine No Kun, Urashi Bo, and Shishi No Kun.

The sai, also spelled saya, is a short spike sword or pronged truncheon. It is unknow when the sai originated from a farm implement or personal tool of some sort; a ladies forked hairpin has been plausibly suggested as its source. The sai is a three-pronged short sword, usually about 18" - 20" in length and made of steel. Sai are traditionally sharp at the tip allowing it to be used as a spear, but the tips are no longer constructed this way for safety in training purposes. The outer two prongs are much shorter than the long middle prong. The sai were carried in the belt and used in pairs. Okinawans often carried three in case one was dropped or lost in battle. The sai was used to ensnare the katana (long sword) or thrusting bo, and/or to deflect while using the other sai to counterattack with a strike or a spearing motion. Karateka can perform all blocking and striking techniques with the sai as with the empty hands. Sai work is integral in Okinawan kobudo, and the weapon is still used to today by many of the police in Japan and on Okinawa. The sai kata taught in Isshinryu are Kusanku Sai and Chatan Yara No Sai.

The tuifa was developed from the handle of a rice grinder. It is similar to a police night stick and is often used in pairs. Tuifa training was developed to protect the forearm in blocking a katana or bo attack and was swung out with the weapon at the opponent's head or ribs in counterattack. Used in this manner, the tuifa is deadly in combat. The tuifa can also be used for all manner of blocking and striking as with empty hands. It exerts tremendous force when swung at a great velocity. The tuifa, when used correctly, confuses the opponent when swung in rapid arcs and patterns and then lashed out quickly at the opponent's head, ribs, or joints. It is one of the least practiced or understood of the classical Okinawan weapons albeit one of the most effective. Unfortunately, the art of the tuifa is slowly dying on Okinawa because of the increasing popularity of the bo, sai, and nunchaku. On mainland Japan, it is referred to as the tonfa. The tuifa kata taught in Isshinryu is Hamahiga No Tuifa. A modem version of the tuifa known as the PR 24 is used by police forces throughout the United States.

Shinken Taira, Shimabuku's Kobudo instructor, reportedly was one of the greatest weapons masters of all time on Okinawa. He started studying the martial arts during the 1920s with Master Gichin Funakoshi and also for a limited time under Master Kentsu Yabu. He studied Kobudo under Yabiku Moden and later founded the first Kobudo organization on Okinawa, the Ryukyu Kobujitsu Hozon Shinkokai. Today, the organization is headed by Eisuke Akamine. Master Taira knew an extensive repertoire of weapons kata but today, none of his former students know all the kata he taught. The kata he developed all follow a basic floor pattern, usually with only one major unique technique distinguishing them. He taught kata slightly differently to various students to suit them individually. This tailoring caused great variance in the performance of the kata. The kata which Master Shimabuku selected for Isshinryu, coming from several sources, follow a basic floor pattern but are actually diverse in terms of technique variety and complexity. Master Shimabuku was taught Tokumine No Kun, Urashi Bo, Shishi No Kun, Chatan Yara No Sai, and Hamahiga No Tuifa. Shimabuku developed Kusanku Sai based on the empty-hand Kusanku Kata. Most of the Americans who trained with Master Shimabuku on Okinawa learned only Tokumine No Kun and Kusanku Sai kata, and did not learn the more advanced weapons kata until the Master's trip to the United States in 1966. Master Shimabuku included several additional weapons kata in his original system, but because it was too difficult for the Americans to learn them all, he included only the aforementioned six kata.

Tokumine No Kun forms the first bo kata taught in the Isshinryu system and is normally taught at the Ik-Kyu (brown belt) level in preparation for Sho-Dan testing. This is a relatively basic bo kata and builds basic bo techniques such as middle and upper-level blocks, overhead strikes, and twisting thrusts. It contains approximately 69 movements. The kata was initially developed by Tokumine Peichin. Tokumine Peichin was a renowned Karate and Bojutsu master, although he was also a habitual drinker. Because of his reputation, he was later exiled to the Yaeyama Islands. The Tokumine No Kun kata was passed on to Chotoku Kyan and Choki Motobu. Kyan taught this kata to Tatsuo Shimabuku, although Motobu may have influenced him as well.

Urashi Bo, as the second bo kata taught, is usually required for promotion to 2nd Dan. It is more complex than the Tokumine No Kun kata but includes considerable repetition. It contains about 66 movements. Urashi Bo Kata was developed in the Urashi village on Okinawa, hence its name. Shishi No Kun is the third bo kata of Isshinryu and is usually included in testing for promotion to 4th Dan. It is longer and is more intricate than the previous two bo kata. It contains approximately 109 movements. The kata translates as "Master of the Big Bo." It was not taught by Master Shimabuku initially, and it is said that he took 20 years to master it.

There are two additional bo kata which were taught to Master Shimabuku by Master Shinken. They include Tsu Yoi Bo and Mi Yoshi Bo. They contain 24 and 41 movements respectively. These two kata were not taught as part of the of the original Isshinryu promotion sequence, although a few Isshinryu instructors know them today. These two rare kata are taught step-by-step in John Lennox's book, Weapons of Isshinryu.

Kusanku Sai is the first sai kata taught in the Isshinryu promotion sequence and is usually required for promotion to Sho-Dan (1st degree black belt). It is based on the empty-hand version of Kusanku Kata and was developed by Master Tatsuo Shimabuku. Several unique techniques near the end of the kata distinguish it from the empty-hand version and it lacks any kicking techniques. Kusanku Sai has the same bunkai as the empty-hand kata and is applicable for night fighting with the sai. Master Shimabuku added a lengthy sequence at the end of this kata which is not found in the empty-hand version. Kusanku Sai contains approximately 89 movements.

Chatan Yara No Sai is the second sai kata and is generally required for promotion to 3rd Dan. The kata's name honors Master Chatan Yara, a legendary Karate and Kobudo expert on Okinawa. Master Tatsuo Shimabuku referred to this kata as "Bigee Sai." Chatan Yara No Sai involves bo fighting and develops through lengthy repetitious sequencing. It contains approximately 98 movements. Its rhythm allows for different tempos, and its fluidity makes for a visually appealing kata to watch.

An additional sai kata taught to Master Shimabuku was Nippon Sai. It contains about 91 movements. Although it is not taught as part of the normal Isshinryu promotion sequence, it is still taught in a few Isshinryu dojos and can be found in the book Weapons of Isshinryu. There was a final sai kata listed on the chart at Master Shimabuku's dojo, known as Kyan Chotoku No Sai. This kata comprises techniques from Chatan Yara No Sai and the ending sequence of Kusanku Sai, although little else is known.

Hamahiga No Tuifa is the only tuifa kata in Isshinryu and is required for promotion to 5th Dan. The floor pattern is basic, and only one major combination is used throughout the kata. This is a figure-eight flailing movement of the tuifa followed by multiple strikes to the body. There is also a Bo/Bo Kumite kata and a Bo/Sai Kumite kata taught as part of the Isshinryu promotion sequence. These kata, however, were not developed by Master Shimabuku. Bo/Bo Kumite was originated by Angi Uezu and Bo/Sai Kumite was developed by two U.S. Marines, William D. Blond and Frank Van Lenten. Master Tatsuo Shimabuku taught a Bo/Bo Kumite kata of his own, but it was lost over time.

Master Shimabuku taught two nunchaku kata and a kama kata although they were not part of the standard Isshinryu promotion sequence. Only a few Isshinryu instructors know them today. Tatsuo Shimabuku showed the most skill with the bo, sai, and tuifa and did not consider the nunchaku and kama effective in combat situations. The nunchaku kata he taught were Kiken No Ki and Takusan No Ki. The name of the kama kata is unknown. Tatsuo Shimabuku, and other Okinawan Karate and Kobudo instructors were asked by the Japanese goverment and the U.S. military to forego teaching the nunchaku and kama since Japanese gangs and many U.S. servicemen used them as weapons.

The primary stances in the weapons kata are Seisan, Seiuchin, and occasionally, Nekoashi Dachi. The stances must be deeply connected while pliant in order to support the heavy weapons with balance and control. It takes practice to grow accustomed to handling the weapons. Dexterity develops along with agility. By working with these weapons, the karateka learns that an ordinary, every-day object such as a broom serves as weapon for self-defense. Eventually, weapons become an extension of the practitioner's body. As the karateka develops a sensitivity to energy and its movement, the physical body serves to carry out a chosen intention. By extension then, a weapon in the hand of a developed karateka is carrying out that karateka's intention. Thus, moving through a weapons kata, or any kata for that matter, actually reveals the state of mind and the degree of conscious awareness of the karateka.

Back