The word Kobudo translated into English means “ancient art of war”. It is a martial art which, as it is currently practiced, received its main influence in Okinawa. This art primarily uses tools from the everyday life of farmers and fishermen.
With some weapons, such as the garden hoe (Kue), the paddle (Ekku) or sickle (Kama), the reference is very clear. With other weapons such as the “trident” (sai), the three-part stick (sansetsukon) or the brass knuckles (tekko), I cannot establish a direct link to work tools. To describe kobudo as a martial art with peasant weapons therefore falls short.
If we regard the sword (katana), lance (naginata, yari), bow (yumi) etc. as weapons of the warrior caste, the other weapons remain for the common people. In my view, the weapons of kobudo are therefore a collection of objects that can be used for combat and are not part of the standard equipment of “professional soldiers”.
The history of the development of kobudo into the type practiced today has resulted in a selection of weapons. The weapons were optimized for training over a long period of time and their development possibilities were frozen in the 20th century. The basic use of weapons is taught in fixed forms (kata) and linear repetitions of individual techniques and combinations (hojoundo).
Right at the beginning of the training, partner exercises are incorporated which are based almost exclusively on agreements (see the chapter “closed systems” in the book “Kampfkunst simpel beigebracht”). There are partner exercises for individual techniques (e.g. Kumi-Bo-ichi) as well as for kata forms (Kata-kumi-waza).
Kobudo from Okinawa is historically closely linked to the development of karate. For this reason, the techniques are rather powerful and strong compared to weapon techniques from Anis or Silat. A focal point concept, which some would call kime, is more prevalent in kobudo for most weapons. There are basic techniques, defined forms (kata) and fixed partner exercises for each weapon.
The training structure is divided into belt grades, which divide up the content. At the beginning, weapons with a low risk of self-injury, such as the long stick, are on the program. At the end there are weapons such as the sickle, where the risk of injury increases significantly. There are also several forms per weapon which differ in their level of difficulty. These are also distributed across the belt grades.
If the entire program is to be completed, years of training are necessary. There are many formal rules and a desire to perfect techniques without a partner. As a result, there is no practical relevance to a contemporary form of self-defense.
Unfortunately, the time-consuming nature of the previous teaching system has done little to promote the spread of kobudo. However, kobudo offers valuable experience in martial arts that cannot be gained without the use of weapons.
In order to provide a suitable framework for this learning content, a concept has been developed in which elementary experience in the use of weapons is gained in a short space of time. This closes a conceptual gap and helps the operators of weaponless systems to expand their possibilities.
In basic training, partner exercises are practiced almost exclusively with the same weapon, e.g. stick against stick or trident against trident.
The practice of attack and defense situations in which the practitioners use different kobudo weapons is usually planned very late in the training.
Personally, I have not seen any exercises in which kobudo weapons were used against non-kobudo weapons, for example long stick against sword.
The most widespread training system in kobudo is therefore very similar to the popular sport of karate. A firmly defined section of possibilities is considered and developed within one’s own system. This is also the common way with a traditional, i.e. preserving idea.
古武道 KOBUDO
Dan-Examinations
07.02.2026 D 77704 Oberkirch
Training management
Gerhard Scheuriker, 5. Dan
Kobudo since 1992
Gerhard Scheuriker has been practicing martial arts intensively since the age of 17 as a student, competitor, dojo leader and teacher of karate, kobudo and kyusho jitsu.
He has studied the diverse didactic and methodological possibilities of teaching in countless courses at home and abroad, as well as in his professional environment.
In addition to his many years of experience as a trainer, he particularly enjoys teaching.
SEMINARS D FRIEDRICHSTAL
KOBUDO
Gerhard Scheuriker
18.05.2025 D 76297 Friedrichstal
KOBUDO
Gerhard Scheuriker
14.09.2025 D 76297 Friedrichstal
KOBUDO
Gerhard Scheuriker
08.11.2025 D 76297 Friedrichstal
free
places
5
free
places
5
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Registration deadline 10. September 2025 12 am
Registration deadline 4. November 2025 12 am