AOKK Tōkōmini-Nō-Kun Kata

This form has many variations. Depending upon the age of the instructor, the techniques in this kata can vary as within any particular kata. If the instructor was younger the kata may ell be more flowing or more acrobatic and less detailed because the instructor’s knowledge is not as great.  The middle-aged instructor’s kata could be less fluid and more detail oriented because their knowledge base is greater. An old instructor might leave out techniques they can no longer perform. These are only a few of the reasons weapons kata with the same name vary in techniques.

I first learned this kata from sensei Rick Robinson. In the mid eighties, 8^th dan Nick Adler, gave a week’s worth of seminars that focused on weapons. Both of these instructors influenced the AOKK version of this kata. Later, in the late eighties, I received a VCR tape of Tatsuo Shimabuku performing all the weapons kata. Each instructor had small differences in the way the form was performed. The mechanics were not greatly changed, but any alteration can affect the bunkai of a form. Adler sensei’s form flowed more like the Chinese staff. Adler also incorporated sliding the hands up and down the Bo as opposed to the hand changes found in the Shimabuku’s version. This sliding implies that the opponent’s weapon is a blunt weapon or another Bo. Bladed weapons cut up the Bo’s surface area, and hand sliding on the weapon can cut your hands. Blood on the weapon makes it harder to grasp, so it becomes easier to pry your hands from the weapon. There are advantages to hand sliding. Hand sliding on the weapon allows you to maintain contact with the Bo even in transitions. I added this technique to the version I had previously learned, so that I could pass the technique on to my students. Sensei Adler also added the scuffle step to the kata’s footwork while vertically and horizontally striking with the Bo. In Robison’s and in Shimabuku’s version the strikes are performed from a static position. In battle an opponent rarely stands in one spot, so this was also incorporated into the version taught in the AOKK. My last instructor was Chuck Baehr. He studied Chinese weapons and that was the last influence on the AOKK versions practiced today. From Beahr sensei we gained a more flowing movement in the form.

This kata is more complex that Sunokaki-No-Kun. This form is taught at brown and should be mastered by ni-dan.

This is the first Isshin-Ryu weapons kata, and it is the second AOKK weapons’ kata. Tatsuo Shimabuku was trained in weapons by Moden Yabiku and Tiara Shinken. Shinken sensei was a student of Yabiku sensei.

The purpose of this written description is not a tool to learn the kata, but a tool to help the student with sticking points when learning the form from a qualified instructor.