Kobudō

Kobudō (古武道, Old martial arts) is a collective term for Japanese traditional techniques for the use of armour, blades, firearms, and techniques related to combat and horse riding. The kanji 古流武術 (Old-school martial arts) and 古武術 (old martial arts) are other ways of writing it. The general umbrella term ko-ryū (古流, "old school") is also used to describe these ancient arts.

Yabusame archer on horseback, an ancient combat form
Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, one of the oldest schools of swordsmanship (kenjutsu)

Definition and features

Kobudō (古武道) can be translated as 古 (old) 武 (martial) 道 (way) "old martial art"; the term appeared in the first half of the seventeenth century.[1] Kobudō marks the beginning of the Tokugawa period (1603–1868) also called the Edo period, when the total power was consolidated by the ruling Tokugawa clan.[2] The term often refers to martial arts established before the Meiji Restoration of the 19th century. Since the Muromachi period, swordsmanship, jiu-jitsu, martial arts, archery, artillery, etc. have been technicalized and systematized as various schools. The term Kobudō (古武道, ancient martial arts) contrasts with Gendai budō ("modern martial arts") or shinbudō ("new martial arts") which refer to schools developed since the Meiji era.[3][4]

Whereas modern martial arts are designed to develop human skills and physical and mental training from the physical point of view, focusing on sports-related competitions and constructing technical systems (e.g., judō and kendō), old martial arts are fundamentally not intended with an outcome of a winning match. Training was for the sake of it. Dangerous techniques that are excluded from modern martial arts include various hidden weapons, medicinal methods, and magic. Old martial arts are linked to Zen and Buddhism. It may also include irrational movements whose original meaning have been lost even to those who are masters of the school, or movements added for aesthetic reasons during the peaceful Edo period.

The system of kobudō is considered in following priorities order: 1) morals, 2) discipline 3) aesthetic form.[5][6]

Okinawan kobudō

Kobudō can also be used to refer to Okinawan kobudō where it describes collectively all Okinawan combative systems. These are entirely different and basically unrelated systems. The use of the term kobudō should not be limited, as it popularly is, to the describing of the ancient weapons systems of Okinawa.[7][8]

Examples of taught skills
gollark: This is wrong, as you, again, merely destroyed a test triniverse.
gollark: You destroyed my identical test copies, yes.
gollark: Obviously the lunar defense grids would have translocated off the Moon after receiving alerts about its impending destruction, via our retrocausal IRC/email bridge.
gollark: Military service is *no* guarantee of intelligence.
gollark: Oh, don't worry, the automated memetic reifiers will reexist the Moon based on people's mental picture of it.

See also

Sources
  • Draeger, Donn F. Classical Bujitsu (Martial Arts and Ways of Japan). Weatherhill, 1973, 2007. ISBN 978-0834802339
  • Hall, David A. Encyclopedia of Japanese Martial Arts. Kodansha USA, 2012. ISBN 978-1568364100
  • Skoss, Diane, Editor. Koryu Bujutsu: Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan. Koryubooks, 1997. ISBN 978-1890536046
  • Skoss, Diane, Editor. Sword and Spirit: Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Volume 2. Koryubooks, 1999. ISBN 978-1890536053
  • Skoss, Diane, Editor. Keiko Shokon: Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Volume 3. Koryubooks, 2002. ISBN 978-1890536060

References
  1. Draeger, Donn F. (1973) Classical Budo. Boston: Weatherhill. Page 68. ISBN 978-0-8348-0234-6
  2. Knutsen, Roald (2004) Rediscovering Budo. Kent: Global Oriental. Page 22-23. ISBN 1-901903-61-3
  3. Draeger, Donn F. (1974) Modern Bujutsu and Budo. New York: Weatherhill. Page 57. ISBN 0-8348-0351-8
  4. Fumon Tanaka (2003) Samurai Fighting Arts: The Spirit and the Practice. Tokyo: Kodansha International Ltd. Page 22. ISBN 4-7700-2898-9
  5. Donn F. Draeger, 1973. Classical Budo. ISBN 978-0-8348-0234-6. Page 36
  6. Armstrong, Hunter B. (1995) The Koryu Bujutsu Experience in Koryu Bujutsu - Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan. New Jersey: Koryu Books. Page 20. ISBN 1-890536-04-0
  7. Donn F. Draeger, 1974. Modern Bujutsu & Budo. ISBN 0-8348-0351-8. Page 135.
  8. Armstrong, Hunter B. (1995) The Koryu Bujutsu Experience in Koryu Bujutsu - Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan. New Jersey: Koryu Books. Pages 19-20. ISBN 1-890536-04-0
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