In 1429, Sho Hashi united the island and founded the Kingdom of the Ryukyus. During the 14th to 16th centuries, a period known as the "Golden Age of Trade", the Kingdom flourished as a trade center for China and other nations. However, trade vessels were constantly threatened by Japanese pirates and the Okinawa sailors needed to protect themselves while in foreign lands. Around 1580, Toyotomi Hideyoshi stated laws again that prohibited the possession or the carrying of weapons, in order to restore peace and bring some sort of prosperity to a resource poor Ryukyuan kingdom. It helped to prevent unnecessary loss of life among the people and was a deterrent to insurrection and civil wars. But that left the peasants of Okinawa more or less defenseless against the Samurai, which were the only ones allowed to carry weapons. Although the empty hand techniques developed on the battlefields were very effective and refined, they were not so for use in massive defense or offense operations. In 1609, the Satsuma Samurai Clan attacked and swept the Okinawan defenses.
Nunchaku
/ ~\
I
think I should not describe this white
weapon any more. :-)
Bo
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The bo(1.60-1.82 centimetre), or stick is probably one of the first weapons that mankind used to defend or hunt. It could easily be found, was not to difficult to handle, and could be used for multiple purposes. It is a stick held across the shoulders, on which fish could be hung. It could also be originated from walking sticks monks used to ease hiking and eventually defend themselves. The techniques executed with the bo, were probably developed very early in history, and were probably refined after the Heian Era (around 1127 AD).Kinds of Bo : Kyu-shaku-bo ->2.82 centimetre; Rokushaku-bo(named sometimes Tambo/Tanbo) ->2.90 centimeters. The art of handling this weapon is called bo-jutsu. The police-bo is called keibo. The iron-bo are called kanabo. The ninja-bo is called Han-bo(91 centimeters).
Sai
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The sai was a simple farminstrument
which the peasants turned to their
advantage once they were forbidden to
carry weapons. Usually, the sais are
used in pairs. A third sai was hidden in
the obi (belt) and was used to replace
one sai that was thrown at the charging
enemy.A version of the sai, called jutte
or jitte was a weapons used by
the Japanese police. It is smaller than
the sai and has only one prong.
Tonfa(Tuifa)
_|
Tonfa was used as a working tool, before
being a weapon. The tonfa was an arm of
a millstone for preparing grain, which
could easily be removed.The main part of
the tonfa, the shaft, consists of a
large hardwood body, about 50 to 60
centimetres in length, and a smaller
cylindrical grip secured at a 90 degrees
angle to the shaft, about 15 centimetres
from one end. Kama /`
The kama was a tool used to
cut weeds and bring in the crop. It was
a very simple but very sharp and
potentially deadly weapon. Its structure
however made it very weak when attacked
with heavy blows directly to the blade.
Therefore, there has been a redesign of
the weapon, which is called natagama.
It is stronger in its construction,
because the blade runs through past the
curve of the normal kama and all the way
down into the handle. |
