Do Okinawan spear techniques exist? Are they hidden within karate kata? How is the spear used in Okinawa Ti / bujutsu? This article introduces the yari and sojutsu techniques taught within Ryukyuan Bujutsu at the Bugeikan dojo in Okinawa.
[includes video of sojutsu methods and Okinawan spear kata]
Motobu Udundi is the secret Te of the kings of Ryukyu that was handed down through the Motobu Udun family. It was passed on only to the eldest sons and, after the abolition of the clans, it was known only to Motobu Choyu, nicknamed Umei Anjikata.
The techniques of Motobu-ryu differ from those of regular karate katas and postures, for, to the utmost degree, the movements of the body are done with softness and opponents are thrown by using hand grappling techniques.
In the closing part of this article Higa Kiyohiko, headmaster of the Bugeikan dojo in Naha, discusses the secret Te technique known as ”Anjikata no Maikata” (dance method of the Lord) and retells what happened when a handful of young karate-ka visited the little known bujin master Machā Buntoku. (Part 1 | Part 2)
…In “Anjikata no Maikata” of bu there are “ogami-te” (prayer hand), “osu-te” (pushing hands) and “koneri-te” (kneading hands) etc. Also there are similar movements found in classical onna odori, zatsu odori, in fact any kind of dance that do not fall into typical categories including Okinawan festival dance, as well as Hindi dancing.