Another
Okinawan kobudo practice is that of the Kuwa, of the Hoe.
A
tool for gardening and farming, it would have been readily available in the
Okinawan farmers life, It also can be used in a devastating manner for
defensive purposes.
Using the Kuwa
When people first think about using the kuwa, they
usually imagine a big gashing motion with the blade edge. It would seem at
first glance that this is the most devastating move for the weapon. While that
is indeed an option, there are actually more dynamic tactics you can utilize.
First of all, the egashira (top end) can be used for
thrusting purposes. As opposed to relying purely on large swinging motions, the
kuwa can be prepped almost like a bo and thrust forward at extremely quick
velocity. Due to its relatively small size, the egashira can also be pulled
back quickly and “reloaded” for another thrust.
The reverse end of the egashira (as in, the side
opposite the cutting hoe blade), is also utilized. Swinging motions with this
part of the kuwa result in blunt trauma. This may seem less effective than a
full-on blade strike, but it also allows for quick follow-up techniques. If
there are multiple opponents, or reasons to hit one opponent more than once, it
is critical not to get the blade stuck or snagged in the opponent’s clothes,
body, etc.
The ejiri (butt end) is an equally important aspect
of kuwa technique. If you have a hoe with a thick metal blade plate, it can be
fairly hefty at the top. This results in slower movements, especially when
compared to a perfectly balanced weapon like a sword. In order to compensate
for that disadvantage, one can use the ejiri as the initial blocking and
striking aspect, and then follow up with a finishing technique with the solid
front end.
The ejiri can be manipulated very quickly. When
holding a kuwa with the ejiri facing your opponent and the heavy metal end to
the rear, the metal actually serves as a fulcrum and helps increase the speed
and dynamics of the ejiri. What results is a tool that can keep pace even with
fast weapons, but can then follow up with punishing, heavy blows
The following are some of the Okinawan kobudo
studies that incorporate the Kuwa.
Shihan Nishiuchi
Matayoshi kobudo Kodokan Kata: Kuwa no te
Kwa -Demura Fumio
No comments:
Post a Comment