Thoughts on Okinawan Kobudo Secrecy

 

Yes, there is more than a little secrecy regarding kobudo, and perhaps its bred into its roots.

I participate on a number of different discussion groups. Why I'm not sure, but some people think I'm not too offensive, I guess. Some of them operate with the same 'vow of secrecy' and as a result I cannot share direct information of theirs as I wouldn't share that of yours, either.

So, take this for what it's worth.

Regarding Yamani Ryu, on gentleman I have great personal trust in, who operates in the lineage that the Yamani Ryu does, tells me that nobody outside of the direct lineage has received Yamani Ryu tradition. Yes Oshiro Sensei is in that tradition, but apparently his public sharing is a modified version of the family system as he is remaining true to their original values and keeping it in house.

Similarly, I've heard that Chinen Sensei is also trained in the Yamani tradition but will not teach it, either.

Now I'm really not very interested in the Yamani tradition, having more than enough to work on myself as it is, so I'm just repeating (without details) the general outline of what Yamani represents.

Except for this individual's word, I have no proof behind it either. But it does seem consistent with the Matayoshi concept of what you show the public, too. And also, with the Sutrisno tradition I did study.

Truthfully, I believe much kobudo really doesn't care that the public has the correct tradition. In no small part that may be to the belief that you can only get their tradition from hands on training. Something I fully subscribe too anyway.

And frankly, I'm of the belief, my goal training is to learn how to use what I have to demolish any other tradition anyways. Of course, I'm old and believe in being devious in combat anyways <GRIN>.

Regarding Mario McKenna's incredible piece on Taira Shinken, I can understand he likely had more studies than he ever taught. Been there and wrote the book and have friends in the same place. After all who in today's world will spend 30 years studying my friends Northern Eagle Claw to get all of it (much less the 200+ other forms he's studied).

But isn't the case, have your students gotten enough to make a case on their own studies. If so, I believe they got all of it, or at least the important part.

Reading Pat McCarthy's work on Motobu this morning, one line struck me, where one of Motobu's students mentioned that a formal Ryuhya was never formed because he was always changing what he taught. He was always trying to improve what he was doing.

Somehow, I believe all of this ties together.

Thinking furiously,