Grandmaster Shinken Taira
Ryukyu Kobujutsu is a weapons system from Okinawa. It includes the effective use of Bo, Sai, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Kama, Tekko, Tinbe and Rochin, and Surujin. Like karate, Kobujutsu training is divided into Kihon (basics), Kata (forms), and Kumite (fighting). Kobujutsu has its beginning about 700 years ago. The masters of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries were worried that the techniques and kata were being lost and made great efforts to restore and promote Ryukyu Kobujutsu. One of these masters was Shinken Taira. He compiled and authenticated 42 Weapons kata, spread across 8 weapons.
In 1922 Taira was introduced to Master Gichin Funakoshi and became a Uchi-Deshi (live-in student) at Funakoshi’s dojo. Eventually, he became assistant instructor. In 1929, at the suggestion of Master Funakoshi, Taira became a student of Master Yabiku Moden, a kobudo master. In 1933 he received his instructor’s license from Master Moden. In the same year, Taira became a student of Master Kenwa Mabuni, also introduced by Master Funakoshi. At the time Master Mabuni was responsible for introducing kobudo to mainland Japan. In 1955 Taira established the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinkokai to preserve the 42 weapons kata he compiled. After his passing in 1970, Grandmaster Taira was succeeded in Okinawa by Eisuke Akamine and in mainland Japan by Motokatsu Inoue.
Master Motokatsu Inoue
Master Motokatsu Inoue continued Master Taira’s work in Japan under the Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozon Shinko Kai. Master Inoue is noted as being awarded “The first Hanshi Diploma” by Master Taira. The weapons system of Grandmaster Taira consisted of kata training only. Master Inoue further developed the weapons system by adding extensive Kihon, Kumite, and Kata Bunkai Kumite training structures to go along with the 42 weapons kata. He published a three-volume set of books in Japanese detailing the kata of Kobujutsu. These were later updated and published as a two-volume set in Japanese/English in 1987. Master Inoue is also the founder of his own style called Yuishinkai, which is a combination of Karate, Jujitsu, and Kobujutsu. Master Inoue passed both of these systems on to his son, Sensei Kisho Inoue. Sensei Kisho is the current president of both the Ryukyu Kobjutsu Hozon Shinko Kai and Yuishinkai, and has been since 1993.
Sensei Shane Higashi
Master Motokatsu Inoue designated one of his students Sensei Shane Higashi as the leading authority of Kobujutsu in Canada. He currently holds a 9th Dan in Chito-Ryu. Sensei Higashi introduced Kobujutsu to Canada in 1974 as he travelled to conduct training seminars and clinics. In 1991, Sensei Higashi received his 4th Dan in kobujutsu from Master Kisho Inoue. In 1995, a collection of interested students held a meeting with Sensei Higashi and resolved to formalize their group of weapons practitioners into an association. In 1996, the Canadian Ryukyu Kobujutsu Association (CRKKA) was created through the efforts of Sensei Michael S. Delaney. The CRKA is associated with the Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozon Shin Ko Kai and is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Ryukyu classical martial arts in Canada.
Sensei Derek Ryan
Kobujutsu was introduced to Newfoundland by Sensei Derek Ryan of Avalon Kobujutsu in 1993. He is a student of Sensei Shane Higashi. Sensei Ryan is a 5th Dan in Chito-Ryu Karate, 2nd Dan in Ryukyu Kobujutsu, and operates out of Avalon Karate. He is the Vice President of Karate Canada, and has been teaching Kobujutsu in the province for 30 years.
