Matayoshi Kobudo

Matayoshi Kobudo is a general term referring to the style of Okinawan Kobudo that was developed by Matayoshi Shinpo 又吉眞豊 and Matayoshi Shinko 又吉眞光 during the Twentieth Century. Martial arts have been practiced by the Matayoshi family for over 9 generations and draw influence from Japanese, Chinese and indigenous Okinawan martial arts styles.

Matayoshi Kobudo
FocusWeaponry
Country of originOkinawa Prefecture, Japan
CreatorMatayoshi Shinpo

History

In the early 20th century Matayoshi Shinko 又吉眞光 was asked to demonstrate Kobudo to the Japanese Emperor. He did this twice alongside the likes of Chojun Miyagi and Gichin Funakoshi.

Following the death of Matayoshi Shinko in 1947, his son Shinpo, continued his father's legacy by teaching kobudo. Matayoshi Shinpo started a dojo in the 1970s in memory of his father and called it the Kodokan 光道館. From the Kodokan he taught a wide variety of traditional weapons associated with Okinawan peasants. In 1972, Matayoshi Sensei created the Zen Okinawan Kobudo Renmei as an organisation dedicated to the teaching and studying of Okinawa Kobudo. Following the death of Shinpo Matayoshi in 1997, Matayoshi Kobudo practitioners now find themselves split into different organisations.

Thanks to the extensive teaching of Matayoshi Shinpo and his students, Matayoshi Kobudo has great influence and respect around the world and an estimated 2000 dojos can now be found worldwide.

Weapons and kata
  • Bō (6 ft Staff) - Shushi no kun, Choun no kun, Sakugawa no kun, Tsuken (Chikin) no kun, Shishi no kun,
  • Sai (Small Trident) - Matayoshi No Sai Dai Ichi (Nicho Sai), Matayoshi No Sai Dai Ni (Sancho Sai), Shinbaru no sai
  • Tunkuwa (Wooden Side handled Batton) - Matayoshi No Tunkuwa Dai Ichi, Matayoshi No Tunkuwa Dai Ni
  • Nunchaku (Threshing short staff) - Nunchaku No Kata
  • Sansetsukon (Three Sectional Staff) - Sansetsukun No Kata Ichi and Ni
  • Eku (Boat Oar) - Chikin Akachu No Eku Di
  • Nunti-Bo (Spear) - NuntiBo No Kata
  • Tinbei+Seiryuto (Shield+short sword) - Timbei No Kata
  • Kama (Short sickles) - Kama Nu Ti
  • Suruchin (Weighted rope / Chain) - Suruchin No Kata
  • Kuwa (Hoe) - Kuwa Nu Ti
  • Jo (Stick) - Jojutsu no kata
  • Tekko (brass knuckles) - Tekko no kata
  • Tecchyu (iron cylinder) - Tecchyu no kata
  • KurumanBo (asymmetrical jointed stick) - KurumanBo no kata

Matayoshi Soke lineage

The Matayoshi Family Home is above the Kodokan dojo in Naha Okinawa. Matayoshi Yasushi (the only son of Shinpo) is the spiritual head of the Kodokan as appointed by his father but he has never practiced Matayoshi Kobudo. At the time of his death, Matayoshi Sensei's next in line for technical competence was Yoshiaki Gakiya.

Family lineage:

19th century
  • Shingin Matayoshi,
  • Shintoku Matayoshi
  • Shinchin Matayoshi
  • Shinko Matayoshi (1888-1947)
20th century
  • Shinko Matayoshi (1888-1947)
  • Shinpo Matayoshi (1921-1997)
  • Yasushi Matayoshi (present day)
21st century
  • Yasushi Matayoshi (present day)

Tha Matayoshi Kobudo Headquarters in Naha, Okinawa.

Matayoshi Lineage Associations

Some of the students of Master Matayoshi now have their own associations (in alphanetic order):

  • Seisuke Adaniya "Nippon Budo Club"
  • Kenyu Chinen "World Oshu-Kai Dento Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Do Kobudo Federation"
  • Yoshiyaki Gakiya, now Neil Stolsmark "Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-kai (Co-founder was Josei Yogi)"
  • Andrea Guarelli, "International Matayoshi kobudo Association"
  • Tetsuhiro Hokama "Kenshikai Karatedo Kobudo Association"
  • Seisho Itokazu "Matayoshi Kobudo Shinbukai"
  • Takashi Kinjo "Okinawa Budo Kokusai Renmei" and the "Okinawa Kobukai"
  • Zenei Oshiro "Academie Internationale de kobudo d'Okinawa"
  • Shusei Maeshiro "Ryukyu Kobudo shureikan"
  • Franco Sanguinetti "Matayoshi Kobudo Kodokan International"
  • Kimo Wall (1943-2018) "Okinawa Kodokan"
  • Kenichi Yamashiro "Komesu Yamashiro dojo"
  • Josei Yogi "Okinawa Kobudo Renseikai"
  • Revolving President "Zen Okinawa Kobudo Renmei (Founded by Matayoshi Sensei)"

References
  • Kenyu Chinen "Kobudo d'Okinawa"
  • Andrea Guarelli "Okinawan Kobudo: The History, Tools, and Techniques of the Ancient Martial Art"
  • Zenei Oshiro "Kobudo d'Okinawa : Bo et Tonfa"


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