Weapons Classes in West Chester
Ancient Weapons Arts
It is a common belief and popular story that Okinawan farming tools evolved into weapons due to restrictions placed upon peasants by the Satsuma samurai clan in 1609 when the island was made part of Japan. The Okinawans were forbidden to carry arms. As a result, the Okinawans were defenseless and developed a fighting system around their traditional farming implements. It was this atmosphere that enabled the Okinawans to hone their early karate-like arts and conduct a guerrilla type war with the Japanese that lasted into the late 1800's.
The most common of these farming tools/weapons are:
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Bo: The Bo evolved from a pole lanced across the shoulders to carry water or other
loads. As a fighting instrument, it allowed blocking and striking against a range
of weapons.
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Sai The Sai is believed to originated from a pitchfork. As a weapon, it was used in
conjunction with various karate techniques, and defense against sword attacks.
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Kama The Kama was originally used for cutting grass or sugar cane. In close range
fighting, the sickle could be used to trap an opponent's weapon or for striking.
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Tonfa Originally a bean or rice grinder handle, the Tonfa's circular movements as a
farm implement, evolved into rotating strikes as a weapon. The side of the
Tonfa was used for blocking and the ends for direct punching.
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Nunchaku The Nunchaku was originally an agricultural tool used for threshing
grain. As a weapon, the two sticks connected at one end by rope,
could be used for spearing or striking and the horse hair rope could
choke, block or trap.
Iai-Do
The art of drawing the sword
The way of mental presence and immediate reaction
Iaido is a modern Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of the drawing the sword from it's scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing the blood from the blade, and replacing the sword in the scabbard.
Practioners of iaido are referred to as "iaidoka". Because iaido is practiced with a weapon, it is almost entirely practiced using forms or kata.
Iaido does include competition in form of kata but does not use sparring. Because of this non-fighting aspect and iaido's emphasis on precise, controlled, fluid motion, it is sometimes referred to as "moving zen".
An important part of iaido is "nukitsuke" or the life of iaido. This is a very quick draw of the sword, accomplished by simultaneously drawing the sword from the saya and also moving the saya back into saya biki.
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