Nitan Bo
Okinawa's
"Combat Stick Fighting"
Traditional Weapon of Self Defense
The Nitan
Bo, is
a unique and rare weapon comprised of two-short
sticks. It is part of the traditional Okinawan Kobudo or ancient weapons
system. To understand this weapon it is necessary to go to the island of
Okinawa for a glimpse of the history of these island people. The
Okinawans whose tenacious island culture spawned the art of karate are
known for their pragmatic approach to self-defense. During their history
weapons were prohibited so they turned everyday implements into weapons
for self-protection. Okinawa’s situation is somewhat unique in that
their martial arts were born out of secrecy. This was because of the
military invasion and subsequent occupation of the Ryukyu Islands and
the main island of Okinawa by the samurai warriors of Japan in the 17th
century and their prohibition of the possession of weapons. So, the
Okinawans turned to whatever means necessary to protect themselves in
lawless times.
The weapons system of Okinawan martial arts, known
today as kobudo, meaning the way of ancient weapons, uses chiefly
agricultural tools in the execution of its tactics. It was both
practical and expedient and was created out of a need for
self-preservation and its use dates back to antiquity in Okinawa. In
fact, between the years 1100 and 1314, the Okinawans fought amongst
themselves a great deal using all sorts of weapons. Okinawan samurai
largely used Okinawa kobudo weapons in combat that pitted one
weapon in the kobudo arsenal against another. A primary example
of this is the sai versus the bo. This is contrary to the
romantic belief that the poor Okinawans successfully defended themselves
against professional samurai armed with razor-sharp swords with only
their bare hands and feet or crude kobudo weapons. It simply
didn't happen that way. This notion is yet another example of
revisionist history. In any case, the use of staffs or bo [stick]
is particularly noted during this time. This was a time of civil strife
and political unrest in Okinawa when many warring local chieftains
sought to control various fiefs and villages.
The kobudo or weapons system of Okinawa uses
the same stances and theory of movement as karate. Major tactics in
kobudo include the use of taisabaki or body shifting,
trapping and hitting and simultaneous blocking and hitting.
The bo is one of the foremost traditional arms
in Okinawa’s arsenal of kobudo weapons. The bo is a
six-foot wooden staff and is probably “the oldest weapon known to man
other than a flung rock”. No doubt its use dates back to antiquity and
there are many “classical” Okinawan bo kata. The nitan bo
is no doubt derived from the bo.
The applications of the nitan bo are
not only very fast but also very powerful. Nitan bo,
meaning two-short sticks, is a weapon used in pairs. Although the
nitan bo can be used singularly like a club or truncheon. It is
very similar to Filipino stick fighting and its kata emphasizes flowing
circular movements. However, the sticks are usually made out of hardwood
and are very heavy which gives them the ability to deliver a crushing
blow. This is in opposition to the lighter rattan used by the Filipino
systems. One of the kata designed for this weapon is a rare and
beautiful kata simply called nitan bo kata. This kata
has been handed down from Grand Master Yuichi Kuda (1928-1999). Once
a secret, this kata uses the graceful movements of Okinawan folkdance or
odori to conceal its deadly power. The kata emphasizes crane-like
postures, circular movements and many combat applications.
Two grips with the weapon include honte mochi,
natural or extended grip and gyakute mochi or reverse hand grip.
The extended grip is used to deliver a strike or a thrust and is also
used for blocking. The reverse grip positions the shaft of the
nitan bo so that it is held along the forearm to facilitate
blocking. A punch can also be thrown using the reverse grip. These are
the same grips used in the manipulation of the sai and tonfa.
It is the belief of the International Shorin Ryu
Karate Kobudo Federation (ISKKF) who has preserved this weapon that in
kobudo, as well as its empty-hand counterpart karate, sparring or
kumite is the ultimate expression of the essence of the martial arts. “Kumite
is the creative process by which one applies everything learned in
basics and kata and uses it while under the pressure of combat.
This is done by pitting one weapon against another in combat, making it
totally spontaneous and putting one in touch with an ancient warrior
spirit”. The ISKKF method of doing this is by matching one weapon
against another in two-man prearranged sparring drills or kata. This is
quite similar to modern kendo, Japanese sport swordsmanship.
In addition, another system used by the ISKKF for
free sparring with weapons makes use of protective gear and/or foam
weapons. In Okinawa in the 1920s, full contact bo fighting
tournaments where held in the central part of the Island. The
participants used headgear, gauntlets or gloves and kendo-like bamboo
armor as well as sune ate (shin protectors similar to
those used in naginata do). Since the fighters incurred many
serious injuries, the tournaments were discontinued. Perhaps the use of
protective gear and foam weapons is the only safe way to spar with
weapons in a tournament situation because of the danger involved,
especially when one’s fighting spirit is aroused.
The nitan bo and its tactics have been
handed down to us from another time. Thanks to the pragmatic nature and
ingenuity of the Okinawan people the nitan bo is yet
another ancient weapon in Okinawa's kobudo arsenal whose use has
been developed and perfected and handed down to us from antiquity.