Kobudo Sparring

[Revario]

Anyone actively spar Kobudo techniques with weapon replica either foam or of other types. With padding and protection that technology has allowwd us to have, I see no reason why we shouldn't spar and pressure test Kobudo techniques as much as we do with Karate. 

Having that said, does any of you have any recommendations on store options for solid replicas that can withold heavy contact. What I found in Martial Arts circuits seems to break when working harder with them. I am tempted to look into HEMA stores and LARP that may have solid version. I have had a sword of this kind so far and its one that seems to last. 

[bushido_man96]

My Aikido instructor is looking into getting some HEMA equipment to test out with jo and bokken.  If you're going to start looking, HEMA would be the way to go, as they focus on re-creation of Western European weapons styles.

[aurik]

We don't spar in kobudo per se, but we do perform bunkai of our hojo undo techniques.  We use bamboo or rattan bo as they are much less jarring on impacts and fairly inexpensive to replace.  When you perform the bunkai for the hojo undo it definitely helps with your technique; poor technique definitely shows when someone is actually whacking you with another weapon.

[Revario]

On 3/31/2026 at 12:18 PM, aurik said:

We don't spar in kobudo per se, but we do perform bunkai of our hojo undo techniques.  We use bamboo or rattan bo as they are much less jarring on impacts and fairly inexpensive to replace.  When you perform the bunkai for the hojo undo it definitely helps with your technique; poor technique definitely shows when someone is actually whacking you with another weapon.

 

I have recently seen lots of sparring from Okinawa mostly Bo vs Bo. I have yet to see another weapon being used but it goes to show, times are evolving and technology can/should help us refine tradition. 

[sensei8]

I do get a kick out of all of the protective gear because while they’re necessary from a safety factor, they seem to force unnatural movements with said kobudo weapons.

Sparring with kobudo weapons seems to me unnecessary. Why?!? The damage that can be generated by said kobudo weapons seems to speak for itself.

Forgo the bulky protective gear and perhaps use safety kobudo weapons, but even those affect natural movements, to some degree.

Yes, we Shindokanists do spar with kobudo weapons but like my Soke and Dai-Soke, they both did not use protective gear; just said kobudo weapon. That’s how he taught us but only at Shodan did he slowly strip away whatever protective gear we wore a bit at time. Our kobudo training starts at 6th kyu.

You think getting close to our attacker and staying there can be unnerving, wait until you start shedding protective gear for kobudo sparring…it’ll get your attention quickly.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by sensei8