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View Full Version : Origins of Okinawan Weapons



the Khazar Kid
16th February 2002, 21:44
Eku Bo: A boat oar, this is a fairly universal weapon. In George Silver's classic "Paradoxes of Defense" ( www.thehaca.com/manuals/gsilver.htm ) he mentions how Signor Rocco, an Italian maestro of the rapier, was beaten by a waterman with an oar. In parts of Africa, Polynesia, and South America, boat oars with sharpened wooden points and edges, many quite ornate, were used as weapons.

Bo or Kon > Japanese Bo or Chinese Gunn > Indian Silambam and Lathi: The Staff is a fairly universal weapon used by warriors of all nations and times. English Quarterstaff, French Gran Baton, Spanish Garrote, Fillipino Sibat, Indonesian Toya, Arabian Naboot, and many others.

So Setsu Kon > Chinese Shao Zi: Two-Sectional Staff, possibly based on a Grain Flail. The long-handled Grain Flail was also taught as a weapon in the old European Schooles of Defense.

San Setsu Kon > Chinese San Jie Gun: Three-Sectional Staff. This weapon appears to be of Chinese origin.

Nunchaku > Chinese Lian Jia Gun: Based on a horse bridle improvised as a weapon by Mongol cavalry. It could also have been improvised from a longer Grain Flail sawed off for concealment, or a pair of ship's Belaying Pins tied together. Unlike the longer Grain Flail, it has no direct equivalent in the West, though Belaying Pins were used skillfully as European sailor's weapons tied to the wrists and swung, the origin of the "Petit Batons" in French Savate.

Tonfa or Tuifa > Chinese Guai: Called a "Crutch" although generally much too short to be used as one. Based on the short "crutches" used by Indian ascetics as supports under the arm when sitting for long periods of time, also as weapons. Bodhidharma was reported to have sat in meditation staring at a cave wall for nine years. When he started to doze off and close his eyes, he cut off his eyelids, which grew into the first Tea plants in China. He was believed to have introduced Tea, Zen, and Martial Arts to China from India. This crutch weapon is sometimes called a "Dharuma cane". Some of the later Indian and Chinese versions are very ornate, made of metal and with spikes and multiple handles in opposite directions for close fighting and grappling. A simple weapon of this sort could be improvised from a mill handle. Called "Hawakan" by the Tagalog people in the Phillipines, where it is also used.

Jinte > Thai Mai Sau: Arm Stakes which closely resemble the Tonfa. In their simplest form these are sticks or bamboo splints strapped to the forearms with sharpened points projecting past the fists and elbows. The ancient Egyptian murals at Beni Hassan, which are the earliest depiction of fencers and wrestlers, show sword and shield practice with a stick strapped to the forearm for a shield and a regular stick in place of the sword. Further developments of this concept include the paired "Tiger Head Shields" of Chinese Hung Gar boxing and a few old European targes which are worn along the forearm like vambraces with points past the fists and elbows, allowing for both offensive and defensive use. Unlike the Tonfa they can neither be twirled nor be gripped and wielded as regular sticks. Sometimes they also have side-handles like the Tonfa, or even a knuckle-guard to protect the hand. Similar weapons made of metal, sometimes equipped with blades along the forearms or punchdaggers projecting from the fists were used in various styles of Chinese martial arts, such as the "Chicken-Claw Yin-Yang blades" used in Baguazhang or the "Horse Halberds".

Shobo or Yawari > Japanese Kongo-Zue > Tibetan Dorje and Indian Vajra: This fistload started as a Buddhistic religious emblem carried by monks. Its use requires a knowledge of vital points.

San Saki Ken or Ticchu: An improvement of the Yawari which adds a third point between the fingers. An even better development of this concept might be the three directional daggers used in the Indian martial art of Kalari Payattu.

Tekko: A knuckle-duster. This is a fairly universal weapon.

Sai > Chinese Chai > Indian Trisul: Like the Tonfa and the Yawari, has a religious origin in India, where it is carried by ascetics as a symbol of the god Shiva's trident. In the Silat styles of martial arts in the Malay Archipelago, it is called a "Tjabang", and is also used in the arts of Burmese Thaing and Thai Krabi-Krabong.
It is one of many forms of Japanese "Jitte" or parrying baton.

Rochin and Timbei: A short spear or long dagger accompanied by a buckler. All of these are fairly universal.

Kama > Chinese Lian > Indian Zaghnal: A beaked axe or fighting sickle. The Kama was also used in Japan. In both Japan and China these kind of weapons were sometimes swung on rope or chain, or wielded as is. It could be improvised from an agricultural sickle. Sickle weapons such as the "Sabit" and "Arit" are also used in Silat. Similar beaked axes and fighting picks were used in Europe and the Near and Middle East, including the Indo-Persian "Zaghnal", while a great variety of "Sickle Swords" or "Sickle Maces" going back to the ancient Egyptian "Khopsh" were used in Africa and India.

Kue > Chinese Ba Tou: An agricultural Hoe. One familiar with the history of peasant revolts would realise that these are fairly simple to improvise as a weapon.

Suruchin > Japanese Kusari Fundo or Chinese Shuang Tou Fei Chui: Weighted length of rope or chain, sometimes called "Slung Shot". A favorite weapon throughout the Orient, called "Rante" in Silat.

It seems to me that most of the Okinawan weapons came from Japan, China, or India via China. Some could be improvised from the tools of a farmer or fisherman by one familiar with their use. Others originated in Buddhist paraphernalia, and still others were always battlefield weapons.


Jesse Peters