Okinawa sword

Dark Shogun · Orange Belt

There are a few diffrrent styles of rochin used in Okinawan kobudo. Sometimes a short spear, sometimes a machette and sometimes a sword which looks a bit like a Chinese dao.

So...is there a particular type of sword used in Okinawan kobudo?

And...what dictates the style of rochin used? Geography, timd period, kobudo/karate style, rank, position in society?

Thank you.

Zaine · Black Belt

As far as I know Okinawan Kobudo does not use swords. This was, and I know that there is some debate to this still, due to the fact that in the 15th Okinawa was disarmed, and so Okinawan weaponry is improvised. The only bladed weapons within Okinawan Kobudo are kama, kuwa, and the tinbe-rochin (though the tinbe is the shield, they are often used in conjuction with one another).

Someone one else will have to speak towards the style of rochin used, but if I had to give it a guess, I would say that different styles were due to regional differences. A spear-like weapon would have been better suited for areas where the enemies fought were more heavily armored, as the point of a spear more easily gets in between vulnerable areas in armor, whereas a machete like rochin would have been more common where the enemies were less armored, as slashing weapons would have been more effective. It's important to note that weapons evolve based on their usefulness, so I'm basing this speculation on a similar evolution of western weapons. It stands to reason that as an area becomes more armored, that the weapons become more suited to pierce that armor. The longsword is a good example of this, as it became more and more capable of thrusting as armor became more effective.
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sensei8 · KF Sensei

For your enjoyment...

http://kempo.4mg.com/articles/shinken.htm

Hopefully this will help in your research.

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Dark Shogun · Orange Belt

Is it common/accepted for tinbe-rochin practitioners to use whatever implement they wish as a rochin?

Using a tanto as a rochin: https://budofinder.com/2016/04/06/traditional-okinawan-weapons-kobudo-kenshinryu/

Using a dao as a rochin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX4sAQ6dUCQ

Using a butterfly sword as a rochin: http://www.isja.com/seishinkan/Seishinkan/Matayoshi_Kobudo.html

Using a long handle machete as a rochin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKvSKBBN0ko

Using a modern machete as a rochin: http://www.karateblogger.com/stari/articles/Tinbei.htm

The classic spear rochin: http://www.karatekobudo.com/kobudo/weapons/tinbe.htm

sensei8 · KF Sensei

Dark Shogun · Orange Belt

Yes, using whatever come to hand is a valuable skill.

I'm more interested in what dictates which kind of rochin is used.

Does is depend on kobudo style? Karate style? Associated region of Okinawa? Associated historical period?

JR 137 · Black Belt

sensei8 · KF Sensei

MatsuShinshii · Black Belt

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