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Weapons of Okinawan Kobudo
The discussion of Okinawan kobudo weapons contained in this article addresses a total of five of the basic ten traditional weapons. These weapons are the bo, sai, nunchaku, kama and tonfa. The nunte, eiku, nunte bo, tekko and the tinbe and rochin will be addressed in a future article.

Bo
The bo is one of the most popular weapons of Okinawan kobudo. In the hands of masters such as Seikichi Uehara, Shimpo Matayoshi, and Seikichi Odo, it is almost an unbeatable weapon due to its reach and striking power. Formally called the rokushakubo (roku means six, shaku is a unit of measurement about a foot in length, and bo means staff) it is, as the name implies, a wooden, pole-like weapon about six feet in length.
As an art form, it is closely tied to karate, adopting from the Chinese the basic principles but developing its own Okinawan characteristics. The first of these is the matter of design, with the Okinawan bo being tapered at both ends to provide a more centralized focus for striking the opponent’s body. The use of the bo relies heavily upon a good knowledge of karate basics.
The bo operates best from outside the opponent’s weapon swing zone, and it gives its user a strong advantage over an opponent’s shorter weapon. The weapon is most useful in relatively open spaces – its effectiveness is limited in crowded or forested areas. When used at close range, within the opponent’s swing zone, the bo provides a variety of blocking and parry techniques but loses some of its distance advantage. In such close engagements the bo user may be required to use some of his karate skills while the staff ties up or misleads the enemy.
Bo training requires the student to make a lengthy study of the fundamental grips, stances, movements, and techniques of striking, blocking, poking, thrusting and disarming. It must be noted that to utilize the bo to its maximum potential, the student must be able to use the full range of the weapon.

Sai
The sai is a uniquely designed, short metal weapon with a long history. Found in India, China, Indo-China, Malaya and Indonesia, its presence in Okinawa probably derives from migrations from one or more of these sources. Prototype designs may be seen in the trident-shaped weapons of ancient times and the ancient Indonesian civilizations of Sumatra and Java, which had contact with Okinawa and used the weapon in their systems.
The sai is primarily a defensive weapon and is effective against an enemy armed with blade, staff, or stick. The length of the sai varies, with the most popular lengths between 15-20 inches. It was generally made from iron or steel, and it weighed between one to three pounds. The sai is generally used as truncheon, although its earlier forms derived from a bladed weapon. The sai may be used to deflect, block, or parry a cutting or thrusting attack of a bladed or staff weapon.
Three sai were usually carried, one in each hand and one thrust through the belt of the user. The third sai in the belt was a replacement for one either thrown or lost in combat. Some old Okinawan masters were so adept that they could pin their enemy’s foot to the ground with a quick downward throw of the weapon. The prongs of the Okinwan sai were designed so as to provide the skilled user with the capability of catching and locking the enemy’s weapon. Furthermore, the skilled practitioner would generally utilize the weapon’s striking capabilities to attack an armed opponent’s hands, thus disabling and/or disarming him prior to moving in for the finishing techniques.

Nunchaku
The nunchaku, a harmless-looking object appearing more like a toy than a weapon, is believed to have been first used as a horse bridle. The nunchaku user can subdue an enemy by making use of ensnaring actions, crushing and holding pressures, poking or jabbing striking attacks, and for defensive parrying, blocking and deflection actions.
The nunchaku is a double-pieced hardwood weapon. The separate pieces of wood are connected by a cord or chain. Each piece is identical in shape – being about one foot to 15 inches in length and having a square, hexagonal, or octagonal cross-section. The nunchaku is used from karate stances, and attacks are delivered during close-in fighting with the enemy. Held in one hand, it is supported by the other hand of the operator who employs appropriate actions. The nunchaku is especially effective against weak points of the body, ribs, wrists, back of hands, face, and knees. For thrusting blows the best targets are the throat, groin, face, and midsection. Painful, ensnaring actions can be applied by catching the opponent’s fingers, hands or wrists, and closing the open ends of the weapon with force.

Kama
This agricultural sickle has been used as long as man has grown rice. Seen in a number of different forms all over Southeastern Asia, it has from earliest times served as an effective weapon in emergencies. On Okinawa the sickle is called a kama, and was probably brought there during the many migrations from the Asian continent.
Kama tactics are primarily Okinawan, using the principles of karate stances and movements. Some modifications had to be instituted so the operator would not wound himself during manipulations of the weapon.
The weapon has a hardwood handle and a blade that is crescent shaped and single-edged. This razor-sharp blade can be pointed and hooked for hacking rather than for jabbing or skewering. The kama is very effective in trained hands, but must be employed close into the opponent. Kama attacks incorporate chopping, hooking, hacking, striking, blocking, deflecting or covering actions against an enemy’s weapons or tactics. Kama can be used singly or in pairs, one in each hand. In the latter case, the swinging patterns are propeller-like covering actions. Its techniques are difficult to master, and for this reason it soon may become a dying art.

Tonfa
Early Okinawans, at work gathering grain by the millstone, were nonetheless determined to continue their clandestine practice of karate. The wooden handle normally wedged into a hole in the side of the millstone served their purpose well. This handle, known as the tonfa, was made of a tapered shaft of hardwood attached to a cylindrical grip projecting at a right angle from the shaft.
The handle could easily be dismantled from the millstone and brought into action. It was held by grasping the short grip firmly so that the instrument could not drop out of the user’s hand when manipulated. Most commonly, two tonfa were used, one in each hand. All use of the tonfa depends upon karate movements. The operator can punch or strike with great force, since the hardwood projection acts like an extension of the knuckles. By a quick flick of the wrist and arm, the user can reverse the tonfa so that the longer end of the shaft will swing forward and strike the opponent.
Good tonfa techniques makes judicious use of blocking and parrying actions. These actions, and many of those involving the use of the tonfa, can be likened to those of the sai. Today, tonfa masters are rare in Okinawa, and there may be some chance of this art passing from the modern scene.

Credited with being written by CFW Enterprises