Matayoshi Kobudo

The students of Suibukan are taught the system of Matayoshi ryu kobudo. The head instructor is the worldwide known master of the traditional weapons of Okinawa, Tadashi Yamashita.
Grand Master Matayoshi Simpo, passed away in September 1997, was the founder of Matayoshi ryu and of the most authentic association of the traditional Kobudo of Okinawa, ZEN OKINAWA KOBUDO RENMEI.

Any reference to the Okinawan Martial Arts would be incomplete, unless it included information on the development of Okinawa’s Kobudo- the art of traditional weapons. After all, the use of these weapons-that is, the use of farming implements such as the bo, tomfa, sai, nunchaku, kama, eku and other objects of every day use as means of facing armed opponents- and the formation of this use into a martial art was only made possible because of the Okinawans’ own competence in the weaponless fighting art of Karate. Therefore, the connection between the two arts, Karate and Kobudo, and the simultaneous practicing in both is not accidental, as this is believed to be the only way for the karateka to achieve fulfillment and fighting maturation.

Typical of the above is the fact that some of the greatest Karate instructors, such as Grand Master Nakazato Shugoro, 10 dan in Kobayashi Shorin Ryu, have deep insight in Kobudo, while Master Matayoshi Shimpo, 10 dan, founder of Matayoshi Kobudo, was for many years disciple under Chotoku Chyan, instructor of Shorin Ryu.

Thus, Okinawan Kobudo and Okinawan Karate are taught today inseparable from one another. It is after all common belief among Okinawan karatekas that the practice in martial arts is incomplete without Kobubo. Kobudo also constitutes part of the students’ physical education in all levels of education-primary, secondary and higher. It is treated as a local art of great cultural value, while its instructors are respectable figures and of high social regard.

The students of Suibukan are taught Karate and Kobudo. Although, such an art seems to be out of date it is still necessary for a karateka. A great fighter must have the ability to use objects as natural extensions of his body. Kobudo is also a cultural heritage deriving from generations of people with high fighting spirit and will for life.