Ufuchiku Kobudo

 Ufuchiku Kobudo (大筑古武術) sometimes referred to as Ufuchiku Kobujutsu or Ufuchiku-Den is a form of Okinawan kobudō whose main weapon is the Sai, other weapons such as Bo, Eiku, tunfa (or tonfa), nunchaku, Tekko, Techu, Tenbi Rochin, and kama (weapon) are studied as secondary weapons.

Kanagusuku Sanda

Ufuchiku Kobudo was founded by an Okinawan named, Kanagushiku Sanda (1841–1926)^[1][2] or in Japanese, Kinjo Sanda. He was a police commissioner (Ufuchiku) by trade,^[3] hence the name of the style. He was a student of, Bushi Matsumura Sōkon and Higa Peechin.^[4] He also acquired much of his weapons knowledge on the streets of Okinawa dealing with criminals. He served as the bodyguard to the last Okinawan king, Sho Tai.^[5] This is a rare system and rarely taught even in Okinawa. Kanagusuku had very few students, among them was Shosei Kina, Saburo Tokashiki, and Moden Yabiku.

The art was passed down to Shosei Kina (1882–1981)^[6] who was the second generation Soke or head

Kina Shosei

master. Kina began his training under Ufuchiku Kanagusuku in 1906, wherein he was initiated and learned thirty-five types of kobujutsu–kata.^[7] Shosei Kina taught several prominent Okinawan martial artists such as, Shiny'ei Kyan, Izumikawa Kantoku, Higa Seishin, Kina Shoshin, Masanobu Kina, Kaishu Isa and Kiichi Nakamoto. Kina was a member of the Okinawa Kobudo Kyokai and Zen Okinawa Karate Kobudo Rengokai from which he was awarded the 10th Dan Rank.^[8] Kina founded the Ufuchiku-Den Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozonkai and served as its first president.

Today both Kaishu Isa and Kiichi Nakamoto claim the title of Soke for the system.^[9] Given the split in the lineage it may be correct to refer to the branches as Nakamoto-ha and Isa-ha.

Ryukyu Dento Kobujutsu Budo Hozon Kyokai

Nakamoto

Shinyei Kyan founded the Ryukyu Dento Kobujutsu Hozon Budo Kyokai on July 28, 1994.^[10] Upon the passing of Kyan, he appointed Kiichi Nakamoto as his successor, making him 2nd President and 4th Soke on July 16th, 1997.^[11] Having been a direct student of Shosei Kina since 1956 Kiichi Nakamoto received a Menkyo-Kaiden and 9th Dan from Kina on January 5, 1981 and He later received his 10th Dan on October 25, 1995 from Shinyei Kyan.^[12][13] Nakamoto runs the association out of his dojo the Okinawakan, which is headquartered in Okinawa City, Okinawa. Nakamoto has multiple branch dojo in several countries, his senior kobudo students are Hideyuki Nakamoto, Masanori Zaha, Roy J. Hobbs, Jaime Pereira, Kazuhiro Hokama, C. Michial Jones and Takuma Higashi.

Ufuchiku-Den Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozonkai

Isa

The Ufuchiku-den Ryūkyū Kobujutsu Hozonkai was founded by Shosei Kina in 1975 and Isa Kaishu succeeded him as 2nd President and 3rd Soke^[14] Isa is a Buddhist priest by profession and spends a great deal of time with his official duties, however he does teach out of his dojo called the Shōrin-ryū Karate Kobudō Shūdōkan located in Futema, Okinawa.^[15] Isa has a small student following and the only foreign students are Walt Young and Anthony Marquez.

Rengeikan Karate Kobudo Dojo

The Kina family dojo was named Rengeikan, the main instructors at the dojo Were Shosei Kina and

Kina Masanobu

Masanobu Kina (1929–1975), the nephew to Shosei Kina. Masanobu Kina trained solely under his uncle in both Shorin-ryu karate and Ufuchiku Kobujutsu. Masanobu Kina had several foreign students such as Robert Teller, Ron Nix and Anthony Marquez.^[16]

There have been other authors that say that Kina only studied Sai from Kanagusuku, however in information compiled by Author and Researcher Andreas Quast [17] Kina say's that he learned 35 types of Kobujutsu kata - i.e. Karate, Saijutsu and Bojutsu from Kanagusuku. Kaishu Isa has been reported as saying that Ufuchiku Kobujutsu does not share any kata similar to other ryu-ha of Kobudo, however videos have come to light showing Shosei Kina demonstrating kata similar to other Ryu-ha, in fact he was know for his Chatan Yara No Sai and Tsuken Shitahaku No Sai. In Okinawa there are two associations practicing Ufuchiku Kobudo both are directly descendant from Shosei Kina and both have teaching license from him, like many other arts in Okinawa people will argue over who is correct and who is not but both have a legitamate claim to represent the style. I would suggest that the differences in kata and techniques are modern developments resulting from the separated branches evolving on their own.

References:

1. BISHOP, MARK D. (2017). OKINAWAN KARATE (KOBUDO & TE) TEACHERS, STYLES AND SECRET TECHNIQUES : expanded third edition. [Place of publication not identified],: LULU COM. ISBN 0244054843.
2. ^ Sells, John (2000). Unante : the secrets of karate (2nd ed.). Hollywood, CA: W.M. Hawley. ISBN 0910704961.
3. ^ Quast, Andreas. "Kinjō Ufuchiku Sanra (1834-1916) – 1st Generation of Ufuchiku-den Kobujutsu". Ryukyu Bugei. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
4. ^ Sells, John (2000). Unante : the secrets of karate (2nd ed.). Hollywood, CA: W.M. Hawley. ISBN 0910704961.
5. ^ Clarke, Christopher (2013). Okinawan Kobudo: A History of Weaponry Styles and Masters. ISBN 1480264369.
6. ^ Quast, Andreas. "Shosei Kina". Ryukyu Bugei. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
7. ^ Quast, Andreas. "Shosei Kina". Ryukyu Bugei. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
8. ^ Teller, Robert (1979). "Okinawan Christian of Karate". Black Belt Magazine. March 1979: 52–56. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
9. JONES, C. MICHIAL (2017). GOJU-RYU OKINAWAKAN. [Place of publication not identified],: LULU COM. ISBN 1387214314.
10. ^ Sells, John (2000). Unante : the secrets of karate (2nd ed.). Hollywood, CA: W.M. Hawley. ISBN 0910704961.
11. ^ JONES, C. MICHIAL (2015). OKINAWAN MARTIAL ARTS CENTER. [Place of publication not identified],: LULU COM. ISBN 9781312878389.
12. ^ JONES, C. MICHIAL (2017). GOJU-RYU OKINAWAKAN. [Place of publication not identified],: LULU COM. ISBN 9781387214310.
13. ^ Machado, Ydenir P (2010). Goju Ryu Karatê Do.
14. ^ Quast, Aandreas. "Isa Kaishu". Ryukyu Bugei 琉球武芸. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
15. ^ Marquez, Anthony (1996). "Soke Kaishu Isa". Bugeisha. 1 (1). Retrieved 1 December2020.
16. ^ Teller, Robert (2018). Bu No Michi. CreateSpace. ISBN 1722830832.
17. Quast, Andreas. "Shosei Kina". Ryukyu Bugei. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
18.