Practical Kata Bunkai: Tekki / Naihanchi with Kubotan

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In this video we look at how the kubotan can be used to augment methods found in Naihanchi / Tekki Shodan. The kubotan is a short staff which is often made into keyring for everyday carry. The legality of the kubotan is something you need to check in your locality. In the UK, you could not carry the kubotan in public. Section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 prohibits the possession in a public place of an offensive weapon without lawful authority or excuse (potential use in self-defence is not considered a good reason / excuse). The term 'offensive weapon' is defined as: "any article made or adapted for use to causing injury to the person, or intended by the person having it with him for such use". A kubotan is made to be a weapon (“made for causing injury to a person”) and hence should not be carried in public in the UK. The law is clear and people have been prosecuted for having kubotan in a public place.

Studying the use of the kubotan, as it relates to kata, is useful even if you live in an area where every day carrying of the weapon is prohibited. The kubotan remains a good proxy for everyday items such as a pen (shown in the video), keys (also shown), certain makes of cell phone, etc. The use of everyday items – that are not carried as a weapon, but are nevertheless to hand – in self-defence is something to consider.

In the 1934 book, “The Study of Karate Techniques” Morinobu Itoman wrote, “Make sure you are in a position that allows you to make use of the objects surrounding you.” He goes on say that the use of objects to hand is a fundamental part of karate, “Karate is a martial art that completely and freely uses the entire body, objects to hand, and a person’s surroundings.” This is something we should practise in modern day karate.

As always, great care must be taken when practising with weapons. Do not practise these methods unless under suitably qualified and experienced supervision.

All the best,

Iain