One of the most efficient ways to control and subjugate a populace is to prohibit them from owning or training in the use of weapons. When the Satsuma domain of Japan conquered the Ryukyu islands in 1609 (including Okinawa), they did exactly this.But although the people of the Ryukyu kingdom (present-day Okinawa) may have been forbidden by the Japanese to have conventional weapons, they were not unarmed. The Ryukyu had had previous contact and trade with mainland China, Indonesia, and other countries, and many of the weapons we will discuss were derived from existing versions; therefore, the popular weapons made from farming tools myth isnt accurate. It is more the other way around: Okinawan Kobudo weapons were once disguised as farming implements because many of the samurai would not have recognized them.SaiOkinawan sai and Indonesian sai. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe sai is one of the most versatile Okinawan Kobudo weapons. The image above shows an Okinawan and an Indonesian variant of the sai. Although the sai is often depicted as a thrusting weapon, the tips are not sharpened to the same degree that a sword might be. Getting stabbed with one at full strength would still cause serious injury or death from blunt trauma. The prongs, known as yoku, can catch a longer weapon and redirect it.The sai is used in pairs with gyakute-mochi (reverse grip) as the default grip. The ability to switch rapidly between this and honte-mochi (natural grip) gives the wielder freedom to effectively fight at both close and long-range: reverse grip with the sai braced against the forearm is useful for blocking and hooking, whereas natural grip lets the sai be used as a thrusting weapon or a baton.As with many of the weapons in Okinawan Kobudo, the weapon is treated as an extension of the body, rather than as a separate implement. Blocks and strikes are performed almost identically to their unarmed counterparts.NunchakuAssortment of nunchaku. Source: Wikimedia CommonsNunchaku are some of the most dangerous weapons in Okinawan Kobudo, not only to others but also to the user if not carefully wielded. Consisting of two lengths of wood connected by horsehair or rope as shown in the above image, the nunchaku could be used as a flail or a grappling tool. The primary use of this weapon is to trap limbs or weapons, but the unpredictable nature of the nunchaku lends itself well to a variety of actions at multiple ranges.Traditional nunchaku are made of the materials described above but sometimes a metal chain was used to connect the two sticks. Although older designs are round, some could be hexagonal or octagonal, the idea being that the edges would cause extra damage to a target. The sticks could be made of hardwood or rattan.There is a stark difference between the Japanese and Okinawan styles: Japanese nunchaku techniques employ much more swinging and bludgeoning whereas Okinawan styles use it more defensively. The user grips each side of the nunchaku in a hand, rarely is the second one allowed to swing freely unless actively attacking, because it could otherwise get in the way or give the attacker a possible grip on the nunchaku.BoAssortment of bo. Source: Wikimedia CommonsA staff is one of the simplest hand weapons in existence, just a length of wood. It could be used by anyone from monks to peasants to travelers, or even wandering ronin who may for whatever reason not have their sword to hand. The bo, Okinawan kobudos variant on this concept, is short for rokushakubo, a staff approximately six feet long. A shaku is roughly 0.94 feet. Like the nunchaku, the bo could be made of hardwoodusually red or white oakor rattan. It is thicker and more rigid than its Chinese predecessor, the waxwood gun.The bo is the first weapon students learn when studying the art. A few other variants of the bo include the jo, which is a shorter staff often used to help children train, and the nunti-bo, a bo with sai prongs on one end.In most Okinawan styles, the user grips the bo with both hands equidistant, so both ends as well as the center can be used equally. By contrast, in quarterstaff fighting, one hand grips the center of the staff while the other grips a quarter of the way up, attacking with the free half. Fighting with a bo involves various grip changes to adjust distance and switch between left and right sides, allowing it to be thrust like a spear from multiple angles at, for example, weak points in armor.TonfaNo.10 from Seven Views of Fuji From the Eastern Capital, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1852. Source: Ukiyo-e.orgThe tonfa consists of a length of wood as long as a forearm, with a short handle perpendicular to it. The main length of the tonfa points backward along the forearm when held in the default ready position. This grip creates a reinforced defense when blocking incoming weapon strikes. The shorter part extending forward from the fist helps to act as an extension to a punch, or the wielder can loosen their grip during a strike to let the tonfa spin and have centripetal force power the attack. By gripping the main length of the tonfa, the user also has the handle available to hook behind a leg or over the neck, making it an excellent tool for grappling.Various Southeast Asian cultures lay claim to the possible origin for the tonfa, but the main source is thought to be the Chinese guai (crutch). A similar weapon in Thai martial arts was also once used, but it was tied to the users forearm rather than being allowed to move freely. Modern police forces sometimes equip their officers with a metal or fiberglass version of the tonfa, often called a side baton or a nightstick.KamaSpading in the New Years Pine, by Keisai Eisen, 1825. Source: Ukiyo-e.orgThe kama is one of the few Okinawan kobudo weapons that has a sharp edge and point. It is a one-handed sickle, about a foot and a half with the blade curving downward and the inside curve sharpened. These were derived from farm implements, and the main difference between combat and utility kama is that the juncture of blade and hilt. In combat, kama had a nook that was possibly better suited to catch longer weapons like swords. This weapons most obvious use is puncturing with its point. The curvature of the blade makes it possible to hook weapons and limbs, delivering a slicing cut at the same time.Samurai adopted the kama into their arsenal, mainly low-ranking samurai who could not necessarily afford a katana. The sickle could be useful for clearing grass from treacherous mountain paths or for cutting rope. Another variant of the kama was called the kusari-gama, or chain sickle commonly depicted as used by shinobi. Weaponsmiths in Japan also took the kama and combined it with the yari to make a hooked spear that worked the same way as the English billhook.Tinbei RochinTwo Turtles and Kerria Roses, by Katsushika Hokusai, Edo Period. Source: Ukiyo-e.orgAlthough the Japanese phased out shields early in their military history, Okinawan Kobudo employs the shield and spear combination that is the tinbei rochin. Traditional tinbei shields are made from turtle shells; depending on the size of the turtle this could be almost the equivalent to a full-sized heater shield, but it was more like a medieval buckler. Nowadays, they can be made of metal or other synthetic materials. The natural roundness of the tortoise-shell shield lends itself well to defecting weapon blows to the sides without transferring too much force to the wielders hand.The short spear has a wide diamond-shaped blade, able to make large wounds that would be difficult to treat, assuming the victim didnt bleed out before getting medical help. Along with the shield, it could be used to block attacks. As with the sai, the rochin could be gripped in a forward or reverse grip to employ either the spear point or the pommel.Training MethodsKarate Training at Shuri Castle, 1938. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThree fundamental components exist in Japanese and Okinawan martial arts. The first is kihon, or the fundamentals of movement, striking and blocking. The second is kata or prearranged sequences of movements designed to teach concepts and provide a framework within which to practice. Finally, the third is kumite or kumitachi, which is freeform sparring. With weapons, it is difficult to properly spar safely.Students would first learn kihon with any given weapon, then start to learn kata. These could be single or paired; only advanced practitioners would be allowed to practice partnered kata because, even though the movements are prearranged, they are done at full force and even a slight mistake could lead to serious injury or death. Forms consist of sequences of blocks, movements, and strikes that simulate a fight against one or multiple attackers.Sparring-safe variants of Okinawan kobudo weapons exist, but even when using these, caution is warranted. In addition, students can wear protective gear like gloves and torso armor. Although rarer in Okinawan and Japanese martial arts, the growing prevalence of HEMA has made the use of protective gear more widespread, and some martial arts schools are adapting to its use.