Dear All,

Please forgive my lack of knowledge/research/experience in this area, I have played with various weapons for a long time and only recently began to study 'formal' kobudo under my Sensei, namely Bo and Sai.

I havent researched this area very much in comparison to the empty hand side and would welcome any comments or information relating to the late Hohan Soken Sensei and kobudo, how did he fit into the Okinawan scene, his contributions to kobudo - was his 'style' different from the mainstream kobudo methods etc etc.

Anything at all would be most interesting and I thankyou in advance.

I have read the Mr Estrada Sensei interview and found that very useful.

I believe Mark Bishop mentions Hohan Soken in his book Okinawan Karate. Try to find a copy in your local library or bookshop. It's a nice book on the history of karate.

Good luck on your search!

More later. But think about this for now.

O'Sensei Soken was absent from the "Okinawan scene" for almost 25 years.

While his kobudo skills were exemplary (especially Bo and Kama), there is a dramatic difference in what you will see in his performance vs. the evolution of Kobudo on Okinawa.

Food for thought.

This could be a good one Jim!

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Thankyou for the response, I have Mark Bishops book (proberly for over 10 years now!) and it is indeed very interesting and usefull.

Evolution of which kobudo on okinawa? Do you include yammani ryu bojutsu in this "evolution?" This style is like night and day from most other styles of kobudo and is one dear to many Matsubayashi Ryu adepts.