About us


Karate and Kobudo

The principles of Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan/Okikukai Uechi Ryu:                People who train in Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan/Okikukai Uechi Ryu increase their mental and physical well-being.

We collaborate with other martial arts schools and martial arts styles that are also interested in promoting, preserving and passing on the traditional martial arts of Ryukyu Kobudo. We serve the community and desire to contribute to the spread and development of martial arts worldwide in a friendly and peace loving spirit.

The symbol expresses these two aspects: the enhancement of mental and physical well-being, as well as the friendly and peace loving spirit that the members of Ryukyu Kobudo cultivate.

The Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan: Our society is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Ryukyu Kobujutsu, the traditional Ryukyu martial arts with weapons. It was founded in 1955 by Shinken Taira (1897-1970).

It emerged from the "Ryukyu Kobujutsu Kenkyu Kai", which was called into the world by the teacher of Shinken Taira, Moden Yabiku (1878-1941).

Shinken Taira traveled to Tokyo in 1922 and became a karate student of Gichin Funakoshi(1868-1958). In 1929 he began to study kobujutsu under Moden Yabiku Ryukyu.

In 1933 he established a branch dojo of Gichin Funakoshi's Shotokan style in Gunma Prefecture, where he taught karate and kobujutsu, and studied martial arts with weapons under the teacher Kenwa Mabuni(1889-1952).

In 1942 he returned to Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War.

About the time the older generation of karatekas began to open dojos amidst the post-war poverty, Shinken Taira, concerned about the disappearance of Ryukyu Kobujutsu, became active and founded our Society for the Preservation and Learning of Traditional Weapon Martial Arts.

He became its first president and worked steadily to develop it. 

In 1970, after the death of Shinken Taira, his first disciple Eisuke Akamine became the second president of the association.

Moden Yabiku practiced the Yamani style and was a student in the direct line of Sanda Chinen ( Yamani Nusume,1840-1922). Before being taught by Shinken Taira, Eisuku Akamine studied under Chinen's student Seichir Higa(1890-1991), Reisuke Higa, Yohei Akamine (1904-1989) and Jinsaburo Higa (1900-1981). He was initiated into the katas Sakugawa no Kun, Shushi no Kon, Yonegawa no Kon, and Shirotaru no Kun Bo.

Our characteristic way of using weapons has Shorin Ryu Karate as its basis. With the primary emphasis on Bo and Sai techniques, over 20 different Kobujutsu Katas have been preserved and passed down.

Hiroshi Akamine, son of Eisuke Akamine, was elected the third president to carry on his father's work.

The association expanded under his leadership, adding more international dojos as well.

The southern Japanese island of Okinawa is considered the cradle and center of the original Karate/Kobudo martial arts. Okinawa Karate is a synthesis of ancient Chinese boxing styles and the traditional self-defense arts native to Okinawa that has evolved over centuries. The "all-Okinawa Karate Association" (Okikukai)) unites worldwide authorized training centers.

Okinawa Karate/Kobudo is self-defense, fighting and hardening, as well as a school for mind, will and concentration. A holistic experience for head, soul and body.

Silvia Bürki-Caduff
Sensei
4. Dan Uechi-Ryu Karate
5. Dan (Shihan) Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan
Jugend + Sport Leiterin (J+S)

​In November 2004, I began training with Dell Hamby Sensei in Uechi-Ryu (ShoHei-Ryu) Karate ( 上地流昭平流 ) and Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan ( 琉球古武道信武舘 ). 

I have also been learning Japanese since 2006.

During my trip to Japan in 2016, where I passed my 3rd Dan test in Uechi-Ryu ShoHei Ryu Karate, I was encouraged by Hirokuni Yamashiro sensei (8th Dan) to open a dojo in Switzerland. During this time I was also allowed to train together with a high ranking master of this style Tsutomu Nakahodo sensei (10th Dan).

From 24.01. - 14.02.2018 I was again in Okinawa (Japan) to train for 1 week in Uechi-Ryu Karate and 2 weeks in Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan with high-ranking masters. Thereby I was able to successfully pass my 4th Dan exam in Ryukyu Kobudo by Hiroshi Akamine Kaicho (9th Dan).

It was again a very instructive time, with many impressions, intensive trainings, new acquaintances and also renewals, which concern the Uechi-Ryu ShoHei-Ryu Karate. I have learned that from now on it is no longer called Uechi-Ryu ShoHei-Ryu Karate, but now only Uechi-Ryu Karate. In this regard, the patches will be labeled Uechi-Ryu from now on.

I am already looking forward to when I fly to Okinawa again to train.

In May/June 2018, I completed the youth + sports leader course.

On 12.01. - 13.01.2019 I attended the EK children's sport in Liestal. Peppered with lots of information and practical exercises, the course was very interesting and I was able to expand my knowledge enormously. Thus, I can now call myself children / youth sports leader.

From 07.02. - 27.02.2019 I was again in Japan to train 11 days Karate in Okinawa and 10 days Kobudo in Naha with high-ranking masters. It was a very instructive and intensive time, where I could train 4 - 6 hours every day. In karate I was allowed to gain specific insights in different dojos, which train the same style as I do, as every sensei has his preferences, e.g. speed training, katas, techniques, kicks etc.. Some inspired me to implement these in my dojo with my students as well. I am looking forward to flying to Okinawa / Naha again next year to train.

From 30.01. - 26.02.2020 I traveled to Okinawa again to train 18 days of Karate and 9 days of Kobudo. It was a very instructive, intensive and beautiful time, because I trained every day, also Saturday and Sunday, in the morning and in the evening 2-3 hours each. Through this I also had new and intressing encounters, with people who inspired me. One feels there like in a big family, who share the passion for Karate and Kobudo with one and let one feel, one belongs to it! Thanks to the intensive trainings with high-ranking masters who pass on their knowledge and skills, I was able to pass my 4th Dan test in Karate on 14.02.2020. In Kobudo, the focus was to control the katas with weapons for the 5th Dan and record the corrections on video. So that now at home, until I travel again next year to Okinawa, I can improve and prepare the katas for me. I am already looking forward to next year!!!

On 08.11.2020 I received the certificates from Hiroshi Akamine Kaicho, President Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan Okinawa from the 5th Dan and Shihan, which filled me with pride and joy!

From 05.10. - 01.11.2023 I was back in Okinawa/Japan for the first time in over 3,5 years to train Ruykyu Kobudo Shimbukan for 2 weeks and Uechi-Ryu Karate for 2 weeks. In Kobudo I had some seminars in 2022 and 2023 and was able to improve my knowledge and skills there. But in karate, I was very happy to be able to train with great masters again and receive corrections from them. It was very nice to vist my friends and masters again and receive corrections from them. It was very nice to visit my friends and masters there again after such a long time, to spend time with them and to train. I got a lot of details explained by the various masters during training and made many warm encounters and new acquaintances! As always, it was a very instructive and interesting time with super beautiful weather and great experiences. I`m already looking forward to the next time I travel to Okinawa!

My Dojo
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