Sunday 28 February 2010

Kobudo: The Bo Staff


A Brief History of the Bo Staff   (棒: ぼう)

The Bo staff on the surface is one of the most simplistic of all Japanese weapons. Used in many different art forms from karate to jujitsu, the Bo staff is one of the most destructive and adaptive weapons available to the martial artist.  The Bo Staff is used extensively in Jujitsu kobudo (weapon training) as it offers a range of opportunities for disciplining kata, footwork, distancing and control.

Unlike many other martial weapons, the bo staff has a very long range to enable the attacker to have superior reach on his opponent. Most Bo staffs are about 1.8m long, although the concept of a wooden stave as a weapon can be found easily in most cultures – the Quarter Staff in medieval English for example that rose to popular culture fame through the duel of Robin Hood and Little John.

An expert armed with a Bo can keep a much heavily armored and armed opponent at bay frustrating and neutralising their effectiveness. While this weapon can not be easily concealed, it is so common that most armed opponents will not even think twice about it. For example, in these times it could easily be disguised by carrying buckets or baskets. These buckets would be carried on either end and the Bo staff would be draped across the back. Simply set the buckets down, slide the staff out and you are instantly armed. The key is that you are trained in the proper technique to make the weapon as effective as possible.

The Bo Staff – Simple Tool to Deadly Weapon

While staffs have a history of being used throughout mankind, the Asian martial artist has taken this weapon and turned it into an art form. The staff is traditionally about two meters long and three centimeters thick.
While the weapon has been used informally since the earliest recorded history, a martial art called kobudo emerged from Okinawa in the early 1600s that featured this weapon. The reason for this was one of necessity as all the commoners of Okinawa were banned from having weapons. This ban forced the people to find other ways to defend themselves and using a simple staff proved to be the best.

Thursday 25 February 2010

Go with the flow.....

“Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.”

Bruce Lee

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Flying Kick Winner!!

Matthew Philbin's outstanding flying kick wins him a headband award.
This is very rare for a redbelt so congratulations Matthew.
This was presented to Matthew by Sensei W.Riley

To win a headband, students must win 3 flying kick awards
To win a prefect medal, students must win 5 flying kick awards

WELL DONE MATTHEW

Sunday 21 February 2010

Kobudo: SAI



SAI - (釵) is a traditional Japanese weapon. The basic form of the weapon is that of a pointed, dagger-shaped baton, with two curved prongs called yoku projecting from the handle. The ball of the handle is called the knuckle. Multiple sai are called zai.

Saturday 20 February 2010

10 year service awards

A special TEN Year Award certificate go's out to Sensei Bonar and Sensei Karen.

Awarded to them on grading day at Middleton Jan 31st 2010

Two very proud Sensei's

Wednesday 17 February 2010

The Middleton Guardian Headlines


William Riley, chief instructor at the Katana jiu-jitsu, was awarded one of the highest awards available when he collected his 8th degree black belt at a gradings event in Liverpool.

Very few people in the world hold this award, and after 36 years in martial arts, William was understandably proud of his achievement.

Students from the Katana club also went to Liverpool for their junior black belt and kobudo gradings while senior Steven Peers took his 3rd degee black belt.

POLL: How often do you train?

In a recent study of 325 Jiu-Jitsu martial artists from across the world, the question was asked.....

"In a regular month, how often do you get down to the dojo and train? Include any courses, high-grade sessions etc.. (but trying stuff out on your housemates in the kitchen doesn't count as a session)"


0-3 times a month.............9% [ 30 ]
4-8 times a month.............27% [ 90 ]
9-12 times a month............31% [ 103 ]
13-16 times a month...........17% [ 58 ]
17+ times a month.............13% [ 44 ]

Total Votes : 325

Source: Planet Jitsu


This shows that a third train on average between 9 and 12 times a month, approximately 2-3 times a week. Clearly, someone who trains at that frequency could potentially pick up the techniques easier than someone who may only train once a week or once a fortnight. Im not saying that everyone should go out and train 3 times a week, im just pointing out the reason I have shown these survey results is to highlight that sometimes it may be necessary (especially on the higher belts) to try and get another few sessions a month under your "proverbial" belt, just to make sure that your technique is good and not just rushed to get through the sylabus.


Feel free to leave some comments below

Kobudo: Tonfa


TONFA (トンファー), also known as tong fa or tuifa, is an Japanese weapon. It was traditionally made from red oak and wielded in pairs.

Monday 15 February 2010

Kobudo: Nunchaku


Nunchaku - (ヌンチャク, 双節棍) is a traditional Japanese weapon and consists of two sticks connected at their ends with a short chain or rope.


Students start by learning how to practice with this traditional martial art weopon. Developing a range of defensive techniques.

Katana Jui-Jitsu offers the chance for students to study Kobudo for free at the designated times on the right. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us (link on right) or ask Sensei Bill on any night.

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Be water my friend

“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

Bruce Lee

More at Castleton



Sensei Riley demonstrates a takedown on Sensei Bernard

Tuesday 9 February 2010

Castleton on Fridays




Friday night unfolds down at Castleton

Sunday 7 February 2010

More from Grading September 2009




Glenn and Max take a break for a photo

Achievements















Max wins a Prefect award for outstanding kicks

Saturday 6 February 2010

Middleton Arena grading dates announced





The next gradings for White belt to Brown Belt (also known as Kyu) will be on 30th May 2010 at Middleton Arena, Corporation Street, Middleton, M24 1AG‎ - 0161 662 4000‎

Black Belt Grading dates announced



Saturday 6th March 2010 at WJJF Dojo in Liverpool

8:45am - Junior Blackbelt

12.00noon - Gold Tabs



Sunday 7th March 2010 at WJJF Dojo in Liverpool

10:00am - Senior Blackbelt

The senior examiner on the grading dates will be Sensei Clark head of the WJJF.

The Liverpool Dojo address is: Barlows Lane, Fazakerly, Liverpool, L9 9EH

Grading Day January 2010




Yellow belts celebrate passing their grading

Thursday 4 February 2010

Practice makes perfect

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

Bruce Lee

Wednesday 3 February 2010

Grading Day September 2009






Harrison, Ellie & Lydia Bagshaw show off their certificates

Tuesday 2 February 2010

Think about it......

A quote that I hear a lot at our training sessions....


If it doesnt work in here....it wont work on the street!!
Sensei William Riley
8th Dan

When you think about how powerful the statement is, it makes you appreciate that no matter how many times you perform a certain move or defend a particular attack, if your doing it wrong....it simply wont work out there, in the real world.
It certainly makes me strive to perfect my technique, but ive still got a long way to go.

Jason Bagshaw
Student of Katana Jiu-Jitsu
training for Brown Belt

The History of Ju-Jitsu

With a history that can be traced back as far as 2,000 years, Ju-Jitsu, as opposed to Judo for example, strived to avoid the lure of the sporting arena and retained its status as a martial art. Jui Jitsu is a Japanese expression meaning compliant art. In other words the opponent pushes, but instead of pushing back you go along with - 'comply' with him and pull him towards you. Ju-Jitsu also incorporates striking and leverage techniques and makes use of the body's many vulnerable points (kyusho or atemi). Though it is mainly an unarmed combat method, weapons traditionally form part of the syllabus. Mental awareness and discipline are given as much emphasis as physical training, because Ju-Jitsu utilises skill rather than strength and brute force, this martial art is accessible to all, regardless of age, gender or build.