Matayoshi Kobudō (又吉古武道) is the Okinawan weapons art system developed by the Matayoshi family, most notably by Matayoshi Shinkō (又吉眞光, 1888–1947) and his son Matayoshi Shinpō (又吉眞豊, 1921–1997).
The Matayoshi family studied both native Okinawan weapons traditions and Chinese martial systems during their travels through Fujian and Manchuria. Their approach combined practical weapon use with the philosophical and technical depth found in traditional budō.
古武道 (kobudō) means “ancient martial way.” The term refers to classical Okinawan weapons arts that predate modern karate, focusing on implements once used in everyday village life. Bo (staff), sai (trident), tonfa (mill handle), nunchaku, kama (sickle), and eku (oar) are among the core weapons.
The Matayoshi system preserved not only the techniques but also the spirit of this practice — blending bu (martial discipline) and dō (way) into a form of lifelong cultivation.
Kingai-ryū Matayoshi Kobudō
The term “Kingai-ryū” (金外流) appears within the Matayoshi lineage, sometimes used to describe the family’s integration of Chinese martial elements with Okinawan tradition. “Kingai” can be read as a reference to cross-cultural synthesis — a bridge between the golden (金) Okinawan heart and the external (外) influences of China.
Matayoshi Kobudō includes over fifteen weapons and more than thirty kata (型), depending on the organization. Each kata preserves a sequence of techniques, distancing and timing that reveal both combat function (bunkai) and deeper movement principles. Partner drills and kata bunkai remain the central methods of transmission, as the art values repetition, precision, and intent more than sparring spectacle.
The system represents the living continuity of Okinawan culture: simple tools turned into extensions of human intent, shaped by generations of practice.
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