Kobudo (Japan) is the collective name for the more modern (after approximately 1900) forms of classical Japanese martial art from the island of Okinawa. Contrary to popular belief, the weapons used in Kobudo are not derived from farm tools. Farmers did not have the time or energy to delve into the use of martial arts tools. Furthermore, a civilian with these types of tools would not be able to do much against a trained professional fighter with real weapons. Kobudo is formed by well-thought-out techniques that existed within the Aji (the nobility) and with techniques that have been adopted from various Chinese Martial arts.
Weapons at Kobudo:
- Bo: 183 cm long stick
- Sai: small trident with the middle 'prong' being significantly longer than the other two
- Nunchaku: two (wooden) sticks connected by a chain
- Kama: wooden weapon in the shape of a scythe
- Tonfa: 45 cm long stick with a short handle that is perpendicular to it
- Katana: sword
- Handbo: wooden stick with approximately the same length as the katana but without a sword shape
- Tambo: 45 cm long stick (short bo)
