About our association

The ancient martial arts of the Ryukyu Islands consist of Toshu-jutsu (the Way of Empty Hand), and Emono-jutsu (the Way of Weapon Techniques). Today, the former is generally called karate and the latter Ryukyu Kobujutsu.

Ryukyu kobujutsu uses eight different weapons, consisting of bo, sai, tonfa, nunchaku, kama, tekko, tinbe and surujin.

The kobujutsu practiced by members of the Canadian Ryukyu Kobudo Kobujutsu Association is associated with the Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozon Shinko Kai, currently headed by Mr. Kisho Inoue.

Higashi Sensei introduced kobujutsu into Canada in 1974. Through the efforts of Mr. Michael S. Delaney of Nova Scotia, the Canadian Ryukyu Kobudo Kobujutsu Association was created in 1996. The concept to formalize the group into an association was formulated at a meeting of interested students at a clinic in Chester, Nova Scotia during the spring of 1995. Present also at the 1995 meeting were Mr. Max Wolfe (New Brunswick), Mr. Randall MacLean (Nova Scotia), Mr. Ken Roper (Prince Edward Island), Commander Patrick Finn (Ontario), Mr. Derek Ryan (Newfoundland), Mr. Don Mazarolle (New Brunswick), and Higashi Sensei. Mr. Wolfe accepted the position on the Executive Board as its first president.

The Association has existed since that time and remains dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Ryukyu classical martial arts in Canada.