KOKUSAI RENGOKAI KOBUDO
Authentic Okinawan Weapons Training at Franz Karate

Franz Karate students have a unique opportunity to study actual Okinawan Weaponry at Franz Karate. The Kokusai Rengokai Kobudo program is one of the world's most highly respect systems and was developed by Shugoro Nakazato Hanshi. Nakazato Hanshi was worldwide sought after as one of the leading experts in Kobudo. Kobudo means "Old Martial Arts Way" and has sometimes been translated as "Ancient Ways" but it primarily only refers to Okinawan Weapons. Our Kobudo system is great for all ages and also promotes the building of coordination, focus, discipline and all with a heavy emphasis on respecting the weapon and its uses. Students love Kobudo and our Karate training!

Karate and Kobudo developed alongside one another in Okinawa. The system of Kobudo we teach is integrated into our Shorinkan but offers separate ranking structures so our students can actually become internationally certified along side their Karate ranks.

Kobudo includes the study of weapons such as the Nunchaku, Tonfa, Sai, Kama, Bo and Eku (Oar) among others. Our students don't just learn the manipulations of each weapon but also their historical importance, applications with them and several of the most prestigious Kata in the world for Kobudo. Students must earn a minimum of their 7th Kyu rank to begin the study of weapons at Franz Karate. This is done to ensure that respect, responsibility and understanding of safety, along side when it is appropriate to train / use such weapons is held to a high standard.

Franz Shihan teaches many people the art of only Kobudo as well since many schools simply do not offer Authentic training. We have students from other styles that travel to attend our Kobudo classes because they want to learn more than just "swinging" around the weapons and actually gain expertise with an authentic Okinawan Kobudo system.

Shugoro Nakazato Hanshi's Kobudo training is very prestigious. Beginning his study of Kobudo in 1935 under Tonaki Seiro, a student of the famous Chinen Sanda, Nakazato Hanshi studied Tonfa, Kama, Bo and Nunchaku to high expert levels. After the end of World War II, he received training under the great Bojitsu Master, Chinen Masami. Many of our weapons Kata have been passed down generation after generation leading back in lineage to Kanga "Tode" Sakugawa and other famous founders of Okinawan Martial Arts.