Dojo vows to continue ancient weapons training
Ancient weapons martial arts was adopted by Okinawa Islands natives after they were prohibited to use or carry weapons. This ban gave rise to karate (way of the empty hand).
The New World Shotokan Benoni Dojo recently held a weapons course to teach prospective students critical karate skills.
The course started with the basic training of kihon, then moved to the intermediate phase of kata and eventually to the advanced level of kumite.
All students who completed all levels were awarded a certificate in Nunchaku.
According to the dojo’s senior instructor, sensei John Barnett, the prohibition of the use of weapons in the Okinawa islands of Japan gave rise to karate and the use of ancient weapons by the islands’ natives to protect themselves.
“Because they were not allowed to carry weapons, they took up their everyday tools and utensils in defence of their lives and property.
“Combined with their movements of the unarmed systems, like karate, judo and more and with the capabilities of their tools, which they knew so well, they delivered kobudo and nunchaku,” he said.
Barnett added that he and sensei Janien Potgieter will continue to teach these disciplines.
“It is sad but this art is slowly been forgotten. May these ancient Kobudo arts never be forgotten.”
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