History of Kobujutsu.
The history of kobujutsu is the subject of huge debate amongst scholars and laymen. Unfortunately the truth is very difficult to pin down as generations of interested party have altered the facts to suit there means and propaganda.
In modern times, the term has been used exclusively to cover the weapons systems developed in the RyuKyu islands. However, It needs to be noted that as the RyuKyu farmers were training and developing their system then so was the Japanese equivalent. When you analyse and examine the two streams of development, it can become very clear which system cam from which group. The technical characteristics are remarkably different.
One aspect that must be taken into consideration is that in old Japanese Ryu, techniques were assimilated continually. The headmaster wouldn't hesitate to add a technique he'd seen and liked. In the old teaching methods lengthy academic discussion on the origins of a technique were avoided. Practise, practise and more practise was all that was required. as this is what stopped a samurai being killed on the battlefield. Hence very few of the histories of systems and weapons passed through the generations. Unfortunately in modern times individuals have invented histories rather than admit that it's unknown.
RyuKyu History
The martial arts with weaponry (Kobu jutsu) started appearing in actual battles during the Sanzan (3 kingdoms) period of the 11th and 12th centuries in Okinawa. At that time, the three largest kingdoms - Nanzan (Ozato Aji), Hokuzan (Nakijin Aji) and Chuzan King (King Tamagusuku) - were competing for supremacy, and various weapons, fighting methods, castle construction techniques and other skills were developed. It is also believed that Okinawa's unique martial arts with weaponry were developed during the century or so when the traffic with China was stopped
In the 15th century unification led to the establishment of the Shuri Dynasty. The Okinawan martial arts with weaponry spread to various regions while developing mainly around the warrior class in Shuri, the capital. There was also influence from Chinese martial arts.
There were two great turning points in the history of the Okinawan martial arts. The first was the 'Order of the Sword Hunt' implemented by King Shoshin (1477-1526), by which the carrying of weapons was prohibited for not only the general public but the warrior class people as well. The second was the 'Policy of Banning Weapons' enforced after the Satsuma Invasion in1609. The Ryukyuans naturally began to think of ways to defend themselves and their property using ordinary tools or farm equipment. They discovered that they could fight against swords or spears on the same footing using such tools. So they kept on studying and making inventions. The result was a secret form of hidden martial arts, Okinawa's martial arts with weaponry. However, a policy of secrecy was adopted and few secrets were made available to society in general.
Mostly the weapons systems were developed in parallel with the Karate
systems, which at this time was still known as China Hand rather than the 20th
centaury reading of Empty hand. All of the old masters would have studied both
bare knuckle and weapon systems.
This is still being researched and will be posted soon.