List of Martial Arts Weapon Katas

This section provides details on katas that use traditional martial arts weapons such as the Bo (Bo staff), Nunchaku (Nunchucks), SaiKama and Tonfa. Weapons katas are used to teach a set pattern of techniques so martial arts students can practice offensive and defensive techniques. These katas are usually performed by a single individual.

Weapons katas or kobudo katas are used by many different styles of Karate such as Shorin-RyuShotokan and Chito-Ryu. Moreover, weapons katas are also used by other Japanese martial arts such as Aikido. Traditional Japanese weapons katas usually use Okinawan Kobudo weapons. However, even though some katas might have the same name, they could use different kata techniques and movements based on the style of martial arts performing the kata. Check with your instructor.

For unarmed (non-weapon) katas, please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main martial arts Katas & Forms section.

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Weapons Katas by Martial Arts Style

Aikido – Jo Katas

Karate – Chito-Ryu Weapons Katas

Karate – Gensei-Ryu Weapon Katas

  • Bojutsu Kihon Kata
  • Nunchaku Kihon Kata
  • Bojutsu Kumite Kata
  • Nunchaku Kumite Kata

Karate – Isshin-Ryu Kobudo Weapons Katas

Karate – Ryu Kon Kai Weapons Katas

Karate – Shorin-Ryu Weapons Katas

  • Shiromatsu No Kon (Bo kata)
  • Shorin-Ryu Kata – Shirataro No Kon (Bo kata)
  • Sakugawa No Kon (Bo kata)
  • Shushi No Kon or Shusi No Kon (Bo kata)
  • Shorin-Ryu Kata – Choun No Kun (Bo kata)
  • Kishaba No Kama (Kama kata)
  • Maezato No Sho (Nunchaku kata)
  • Nunchaku Sho (Nunchaku kata)
  • Chomo Hanagusku No Sai (Sai kata)
  • Kyan No Sai (Sai kata)
  • Tonfa No Kata (Tonfa kata)

Karate – Shotokan Weapons Katas

  • Shotokan Kata – Kanazawa No Bo Dai (Bo kata)
  • Shotokan Kata – Kanazawa No Bo Sho (Bo kata)
  • Shotokan Kata – Shushi No Kon Dai (Bo kata)
  • Shotokan Kata – Shushi No Kon Sho (Bo kata)

Karate – Shudokan Weapons Katas

Karate – Shuri-Ryu Weapons Katas

Karate – Uechi-Ryu Weapons Kata

Karate – World Oyama Karate Weapons Katas

Yamanni-Ryu

Weapons Katas by Weapons Type

Bo Katas

Eku Katas

  • Chikin Akachu No Eku Dai

Jo Katas

  • Aikido Jo Katas
  • Arakaki No Jo
  • Nobori-Ryu No Jo
  • Nobori-Ryu No Jo Sho
  • Nobori-Ryu No Jo Dai

Kama Katas

Kuwa Katas

  • Kuwa No Kata

Nunchaku Katas

Sai Katas

Surujin (or Suruchin) Katas

  • Surujin No Kata (or Suruchin No Kata)

Tinbe Rochin (Shield & Short Spear) Katas

Tonfa/Tuifa Katas

Sansetsukon Katas

References

  1. World Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-Do Federation, The Kobudo of Matsubayashi-ryu, http://www.matsubayashi-ryu.com/content/kobudo-matsubayashi-ryu
  2. Isshin-Ryu World Karate Association, Kata, http://www.isshinryukarate.com/
  3. Matayoshi Kobudo Kodokan Honbu, Matayoshi Kobudo Weapons, http://www.matayoshikobudokodokan.com/Weapons/WeaponsIndex.htm