Okinawan Kobudō : the history, tools, and techniques of the ancient martial art

Japan’s Ryukyu archipelago was the birthplace of two methods of self-defense now practiced worldwide: Okinawan Karate and Ryukyu Kobujutsu, known as Okinawan Kobudo. Kobudo is the study of weapons adapted from the tools of farming and fishing. __Okinawan Kobudo__ reveals, for the first time through print and photographs, the rich history and techniques of this most prestigious martial art known worldwide as Matayoshi. Andrea Guarelli traces the history of Matayoshi Kobudo, explores the background of each weapon, and demonstrates the form and technique of practice through rare photos, many of which the author took while a student of Shinpo Matayoshi Sensei (1921–1997). Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, is proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. In addition to books on popular team sports, we also publish books for a wide variety of athletes and sports enthusiasts, including books on running, cycling, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, martial arts, golf, camping, hiking, aviation, boating, and so much more. While not every title we publish becomes a __New York Times__ bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home. ORIENTAL MARTIAL ARTS. Self-defense is a vital part of survival. Today, different forms of martial arts--karate, tae kwon do, wushu--are becoming increasingly popular. Okinawan Kobudo is an ancient martial arts practice--originally developed on the islands of Okinawa--that involves the usage of various farm tools as weapons. Today it has gained popularity worldwide and is one of the most respected forms of martial arts. "Il Maestro" Andrea Guarelli is one of the most respected names in Okinawan Kobudo. In this comprehensive guide of this widely popular martial arts form, Guarelli discusses the history of Kobudo, the various weapons-- the bo, the sai, the tonfa, the nunchaku, and more--and teaches practitioners how to hone their respective skills. With 100 full color photographs of weapons, positions and stances in this ancient form of self-defense, this book is a must have guide for martial arts practitioners everywhere "Japan's Ryukyu archipelago was the birthplace of two methods of self-defense now practiced worldwide: Okinawan Karate and Ryukyu Kobujutsu, known as Okinawan Kobudo. Kobudo is the study of weapons adapted from the tools of farming and fishing. Okinawan Kobudo reveals, for the first time through print and photographs, the rich history and techniques of this most prestigious martial art known worldwide as Matayoshi. Andrea Guarelli traces the history of Matayoshi Kobudo, explores the background of each weapon, and demonstrates the form and technique of practice through rare photos, many of which the author took while a student of Shinpo Matayoshi Sensei (1921-1997)."--Amazon.com