Kobudo is the traditional Okinawan martial art focused on the use of classical weapons. While its exact origins remain somewhat unclear, the art has been preserved through generations and continues to play a significant role in Okinawan martial traditions.
00:28Hello everybody, it's me, the Real Joe, and this is Martial Arts Styles, a brief history of Kabuto.
00:49Kabuto is the Okinawan weapons martial arts.
00:52In the 15th century, after the Satsuma samurai invaded Okinawa, Okinawan citizens were incorporated into Japanese society and were forbidden to carry weapons.
01:08Because the Okinawans could not carry weapons, they chose to learn how to use farm tools as weapons.
01:15Many martial art historians say that the Okinawan techniques used for farm tool weapons have roots from China.
01:26Similar weapons used by the Okinawans have been found in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other parts of Southeast Asia.
01:37But what they fail to mention is the samurai's nemesis, the ninja.
01:45On mainland Japan, the ninjas used farm tools as weapons against the samurai.
01:52Their techniques came to Japan hundreds of years before the 15th century.
01:58Some say that it is possible that when the Satsuma samurai made their way to Okinawa, ninjas traveled with them in disguise.
02:09Once the Okinawans became weaponless, the ninjas taught them to use their farm tools as weapons.
02:16Kabuto consists of many farm tools such as the kama, nunchucks, tanfu, sai, bow, and much more.
02:30Many of the weapons and techniques have been adopted by karate.
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