Master Jay S. Penfil Visits South Hills Karate
24/05/12 13:23
Sa Bom Nim Garbowsky invited Sensei Penfil onto the dojang floor to assist with the instruction of the night’s Children Class and to introduce the students in attendance to Okinawan Kubodo. Make no mistake about it, both the way we practice Tang Soo Do and a majority of the techniques and forms we practice including the Pyong Ahn hyung have their roots in Okinawan Karate-do. Kubodo 古武道, also known as Ryūkyū Kobujutsu is a Japanese term that translated means “old martial way of Okinawa” and it refers to the use of the classical weapons of Okinawa. Master Penfil was kind enough to share with us the use of the rokushkubo or ‘bo’ staff. He took time to teach the students in attendance the proper use and basics of this weapon. The students in attendance were very excited to have this opportunity!
He also demonstrated very briefly the nunchaku and the sai. Many of the students had an opportunity to practice with the bo and to observe the other weapons that Sensei Penfil brought with him. This was done in a very controlled manner.
Following the students departure, Master Garbowsky and Sensei Penfil discussed and trained a bit on the bunkai (Japanese) or Bun Hai Ki Sul from selected traditional forms (kata in Japanese, hyung in Korean). This was a sharing of “martial knowledge” between two experienced and accomplished martial artists.
Master Garbowsky will be working with Sensei Penfil in the future to bring more of the Traditional Weapons of Okinawa to the Independent Tang Soo Do Association. Look for more information coming in the future!