Okinawa sword

[Dark Shogun]

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]

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.

[sensei8]

For your enjoyment...

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

Hopefully this will help in your research.

[Dark Shogun]

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:

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]

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:

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

Yes!! We're taught to use whatever one can if the meant weapon isn't available.

[Dark Shogun]

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]

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?

I've never practiced this, but I'd bet whatever type is taught by the instructor is the type he/she was taught, and on and on through the lineage. Thinking about Okinawan kobudo history, nothing was very standardized. People used what they had, and taught what they knew. One Okinawan might have worked somewhere that used a machete type sword daily, and turned that into his chosen weapon for practical purposes. He taught what he developed and knew to his students, and it was passed down over the generations.

The only flaw to my argument is the other weapons such as bo, sai, tonfa, kama, etc are pretty much standardized.

[sensei8]

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?

Personal choice!!

This, imho, is more valuable than what Kobudo style or Karate style or region or history, while those come into play through experience, yet, and still, I believe it still comes down to a personal choice and what's available, if anything.

[MatsuShinshii]

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.

The answer is yes and no. Typically now a days you will see the short spear "Rochin" utilized. However the original "sword" was very much like the Chinese Dao. The Okinawans where heavily influenced by the Chinese and thus along with the empty hand arts "Quan Fa" they also were influenced by the weapons arts "Buki-gwa".

You may see the Tinbe paired with these weapons or anything from a knife to a machette like short sword or even a full length spear.

However most common is the Rochin.