Appropriate Age and/or Rank

[sensei8]

Kobudo, aka Weapons, of the Martial Arts can be found in many, many of the different styles. Some weapons are unique in their appearance as well as in their uses alone, while other weapons are quite common, like the nunchaku and/or the Bo, to name just a few.

If your style of the Martial Arts incorporates Kobudo/Weapons, I've a question(s) for both the instructor and/or Dan level as well as the Kyu level [beginner/intermediate/advanced]...

1) What is the appropriate AGE to start learning any said weapon (Kobudo)?

2) What is the appropriate RANK to start learning any said weapon (Kobudo)?

3) What is the appropriate RANK to start TEACHING any said weapon (Kobudo)?

Thanking you in advance...let the discussion(s) begin!!

Note: Please forgive me if this subject has been discussed before in any shape, way, and/or form!!

[MasterPain]

I say if it's part of the system, teach it. I was doing weapons training when I was 10. My only issue would be the temperment of the student. I refuse to teach anyone I feel is violent, child or adult. When teaching children, parents have to approve of what their kids are doing as well, so there is not a simple answer here.

As far as teaching, I'd say brown belts should be able to run a class.

[sensei8]

Let's not forget to start any and all students on practice weapons and not the real weapon, otherwise, only bad things might happen. Recently I saw a white belt child donning a pair of kama's, to my grateful eyes I saw the kama's he was wielding were of the practice type...whew!!

[MasterPain]

That's why I stay away from nunchucku.

[sensei8]

That's why I stay away from nunchucku.

ROFL!! Flashes of my early nunchaku training just shot through my mind....OUCH, OUCH, OUCH, OUCH...

[MasterPain]

That's why I stay away from nunchucku.

ROFL!! Flashes of my early nunchaku training just shot through my mind....OUCH, OUCH, OUCH, OUCH...

Can you recommend a video of GOOD nunchery? I would like to see the way they were intended to be used.

[sensei8]

That's why I stay away from nunchucku.

ROFL!! Flashes of my early nunchaku training just shot through my mind....OUCH, OUCH, OUCH, OUCH...

Can you recommend a video of GOOD nunchery? I would like to see the way they were intended to be used.

Any video by Fumio Demura.

[bushido_man96]

I think if someone is old enough to be seriously studying the MAs, then age, rank, etc shouldn't be a concern. Start a bo kata the same day they start white belt form. I don't think that weapons should be retained soley as "advanced studies" in the Martial Arts. Weapons and empty hand should merge seemlessly.

[sensei8]

You know Brian, I do concur with your post. Having said that, I can only speak with authority where Shindokan is concerned. We start Kobudo training at Green belt...reason: The Hombu wants our students to first have more than a minimum knowledge of the three K's before they begin to wield any Kobudo weapon. Our Soke was fond of saying often during Kodudo training..."What empty hands do is one thing, but when the hand is occupied with a weapon is another; they must be one."

[Montana]

Let's not forget to start any and all students on practice weapons and not the real weapon, otherwise, only bad things might happen. Recently I saw a white belt child donning a pair of kama's, to my grateful eyes I saw the kama's he was wielding were of the practice type...whew!!

'

I don't allow "practice weapons" in my dojo. Weapons training starts around 4-5th kyu and we use the real thing.