In the Dojo

Training in Matayoshi Kobudo Kodokan.

To train and learn traditional Matayoshi Kobudo Kodokan International you don’t need to have had any other martial art experience. Most dojo instructors will be able to provide new students with some of the weapons until they purchase their own.

The lessons in the system are structured to progressively improve the student in each of the weapons taught. This allows them to grade at intervals through a coloured belt system, just like other Japanese martial arts. The MKKI Kyu Grade belt system is shown in the table below. Each lesson is based on a miniumu of 1 to 1.5 hours.

Hachi Kyu – 8th Kyu (White Belt Black Stripe)
24 Lessons (3 months) or longer since started training
Nana Kyu – 7th Kyu (Yellow Belt)
24 Lessons (3 months) or longer after 8th Kyu
Roku Kyu – 6th Kyu (Yellow Belt Black Stripe)
24 Lessons (3 months) or longer after 7th Kyu
Go Kyu – 5th Kyu (Green Belt)
24 Lessons (3 months) or longer after 6th Kyu
Yon Kyu – 4th Kyu (Green Belt Black Stripe)
48 Lessons (6 months) or longer after 5th Kyu
San Kyu – 3rd Kyu (Brown Belt)
48 Lessons (6 months) or longer after 4th Kyu
Ni Kyu – 2nd Kyu (Brown Belt 1 Black Stripe)
48 Lessons (6 months) or longer after 3rd Kyu
I Kyu – 1st Kyu (Brown Belt 2 Black Stripes)
48 Lessons (6 months) or longer after 2nd Kyu

The order in which the weapons are learnt are as follows: Bo, Sai, Tunkua, Nunchaku, Nunti and Ueku etc. The syllabus is structured so that the student can build up their skills for each weapon. These skills come from Hojo Undo (Basic Techniques), Kata (Forms), Bunkai (Analysis of these forms) and Kumi Waza (Pre-arranged Sparring). Within the Matayoshi Kobudo system the students are drilled in the Bunkai for each of the weapons. Thereby learning the correct Ma-ai (Fighting distance and speed) of each of the weapon.

Some of the Kata in the Matayoshi Kobudo system are:

  1. Bo
    • Bo Shushi no Kun
    • Choun no Kun
    • Tsuken no Kon
    • Sakugawa No Kun
    • Shi ish No Kun
  2. Sai
    • Sai Nicho Sai
    • Sancho Sai
    • Shinbaru No Sai
  3. Tunkua
    • Tunkau Dai Ichi
    • Tunkau Dai Ni
  4. Nunchaku
    • Nunchaku Nunchaku No Kata
  5. Nunti
    • Nunti Nunti No Kata
  6. Ueku
    • Chikin Ueku Aka Chu No Ueku Di
  7. Kuwa
    • Kuwa No Kata
  8. Tinbe
    • Tinbe No Kata
  9. Sansetsu Kona
    • Sansetsu Kon No Kata
  10. Kama
    • Kama No Kata
  11. Suruchin
    • Suruchin No Kata

These kata are covered as the student progresses to black belt and beyond.