Tekkō: Difference between revisions
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Artisans crafted the traditional stirrup upon which the modern design evolved from either wood or metal and were often made from a piece of flat bar, bent into a horseshoe shape and held together by a bolt.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}, to form a "D" shape. For weapons application, would be combatants sometimes enhanced the design by embedding additional bolts into the horseshoe shape, to inflict greater injury.<ref>7</ref> Other styles of tekko exhibit sharp protrusions at either end and three spikes representative of the position of the knuckles.<ref>8</ref> Other designs feature a bar, pointed at either end, with a ring positioned in the middle of the bar, through which the middle finger is inserted in order to maintain a tight grip.<ref>9</ref> The latter led to more condensed form of the tekko, not arising out of horse equipment, but out of a simple stick carved as a bar with a conjoined pointed finger ring, which design author Sid Campbell described as a "significant improvement in the evolution of fist loaded weapon",<ref>10</ref> the "proto" brass knuckle, quite possibly the predecessor of true brass knuckles. |
Artisans crafted the traditional stirrup upon which the modern design evolved from either wood or metal and were often made from a piece of flat bar, bent into a horseshoe shape and held together by a bolt.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}, to form a "D" shape. For weapons application, would be combatants sometimes enhanced the design by embedding additional bolts into the horseshoe shape, to inflict greater injury.<ref>7</ref> Other styles of tekko exhibit sharp protrusions at either end and three spikes representative of the position of the knuckles.<ref>8</ref> Other designs feature a bar, pointed at either end, with a ring positioned in the middle of the bar, through which the middle finger is inserted in order to maintain a tight grip.<ref>9</ref> The latter led to more condensed form of the tekko, not arising out of horse equipment, but out of a simple stick carved as a bar with a conjoined pointed finger ring, which design author Sid Campbell described as a "significant improvement in the evolution of fist loaded weapon",<ref>10</ref> the "proto" brass knuckle, quite possibly the predecessor of true brass knuckles. |
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The horseshoe version consists of two horsehoes welded together in position directly facing and overlapping each other.<ref>11</ref> [http://http://www.okinawanweapons.com/tekko |
The horseshoe version consists of two horsehoes welded together in position directly facing and overlapping each other.<ref>11</ref> [http://http://www.okinawanweapons.com/tekko.html] "According to historians (McCarthy, 1998; Nakamoto, 1983) the horseshoe style is the original form".<ref>[http://www.okinawanweapons.com]</ref> This incarnation features not so much of fist loaded "bludgeoning", as of "shielding" against (blocking) and "hooking" (capturing) incoming weapons attack, as well as "stabbing" an opponent or "hooking" anatomically vital points.<ref>11</ref> Advocates of the horseshoe version such as Master Kensho Tokumura in Okinawa and Sensei Maurey Levitz in the United States argue that the design best suits the functions as passed down in traditional kata for the weapon.<ref>12</ref> The kata include heavy use of slashing and stabbing movements.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} The Tekko of Okinawan Kobudo (weapons kata) can be used to grip, squeeze and impale various parts of the anatomy at close quarters.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} |
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Controversy surrounds the Tekko because of the resemblance of the stirrup version to the brass knuckle.<ref>13</ref> However, the modern brass knuckle remains the weapon of choice for the untrained user, with large volume manufacture and distribution throughout the world.<ref>14</ref> The use of Tekko remains an eclectic weapon used by select martial artists to practice discipline, and to express an ancient form of art.<ref>15</ref> Current experts in the area usually will not teach the discipline unless the prospective student already has displayed appopropriate demeanor over the course of many years for the training in other martial arts areas.<ref>16</ref> Sensei Maurey Levitz, an advocate for the horsehoe Tekko, contends that the form and function of the horsehoe tekko more closely resembles legal weapons "double knife," a miniature "moon knife" or "duck knife",<ref>17</ref> rather than the brass knuckles, the possession of which many state jurisdictions prohibit: effective use of the Tekko only arises through diligent practice of Kobudo kata, and an understanding of the spirit in which prior practitoners viewed the art. |
Controversy surrounds the Tekko because of the resemblance of the stirrup version to the brass knuckle.<ref>13</ref> However, the modern brass knuckle remains the weapon of choice for the untrained user, with large volume manufacture and distribution throughout the world.<ref>14</ref> The use of Tekko remains an eclectic weapon used by select martial artists to practice discipline, and to express an ancient form of art.<ref>15</ref> Current experts in the area usually will not teach the discipline unless the prospective student already has displayed appopropriate demeanor over the course of many years for the training in other martial arts areas.<ref>16</ref> Sensei Maurey Levitz, an advocate for the horsehoe Tekko, contends that the form and function of the horsehoe tekko more closely resembles legal weapons "double knife," a miniature "moon knife" or "duck knife",<ref>17</ref> rather than the brass knuckles, the possession of which many state jurisdictions prohibit: effective use of the Tekko only arises through diligent practice of Kobudo kata, and an understanding of the spirit in which prior practitoners viewed the art. |
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Revision as of 18:15, 24 March 2008
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2007) |
The Tekkō (鉄 tetsu "iron", 甲 kō "back of hand") is a weapon that originated in Okinawa, Japan[1]. Because weapons were banned in Okinawa, the Okinawans sought to put otherwise agricultural implements to martial use.[2] The "Tekko" arose as a dual use for horseriding gear, although the exact part of that gear remains in some dispute.[3] Differing schools advocate for the stirrup or horsehoe.[4]
The stirrup version consists of a semicircle, with two ends connected by a bar.[5] Some think of this as solely a fist loaded weapon: primarily a form of knuckleduster (brass knuckles). However, stirrup of Okinawan lineage does not have dividers to separate the fingers.[6] Furthermore, the traditional stirrup tekko consists of light metal and wood, whereas modern day manufacturers of the knucklebuster version tend to focus on heavy metals such as [brass]], although modern models made out of such diverse materials as aluminium, wood, steel, iron, and even plastic do exist.[citation needed]
Artisans crafted the traditional stirrup upon which the modern design evolved from either wood or metal and were often made from a piece of flat bar, bent into a horseshoe shape and held together by a bolt.[citation needed], to form a "D" shape. For weapons application, would be combatants sometimes enhanced the design by embedding additional bolts into the horseshoe shape, to inflict greater injury.[7] Other styles of tekko exhibit sharp protrusions at either end and three spikes representative of the position of the knuckles.[8] Other designs feature a bar, pointed at either end, with a ring positioned in the middle of the bar, through which the middle finger is inserted in order to maintain a tight grip.[9] The latter led to more condensed form of the tekko, not arising out of horse equipment, but out of a simple stick carved as a bar with a conjoined pointed finger ring, which design author Sid Campbell described as a "significant improvement in the evolution of fist loaded weapon",[10] the "proto" brass knuckle, quite possibly the predecessor of true brass knuckles.
The horseshoe version consists of two horsehoes welded together in position directly facing and overlapping each other.[11] [1] "According to historians (McCarthy, 1998; Nakamoto, 1983) the horseshoe style is the original form".[12] This incarnation features not so much of fist loaded "bludgeoning", as of "shielding" against (blocking) and "hooking" (capturing) incoming weapons attack, as well as "stabbing" an opponent or "hooking" anatomically vital points.[13] Advocates of the horseshoe version such as Master Kensho Tokumura in Okinawa and Sensei Maurey Levitz in the United States argue that the design best suits the functions as passed down in traditional kata for the weapon.[14] The kata include heavy use of slashing and stabbing movements.[citation needed] The Tekko of Okinawan Kobudo (weapons kata) can be used to grip, squeeze and impale various parts of the anatomy at close quarters.[citation needed]
Controversy surrounds the Tekko because of the resemblance of the stirrup version to the brass knuckle.[15] However, the modern brass knuckle remains the weapon of choice for the untrained user, with large volume manufacture and distribution throughout the world.[16] The use of Tekko remains an eclectic weapon used by select martial artists to practice discipline, and to express an ancient form of art.[17] Current experts in the area usually will not teach the discipline unless the prospective student already has displayed appopropriate demeanor over the course of many years for the training in other martial arts areas.[18] Sensei Maurey Levitz, an advocate for the horsehoe Tekko, contends that the form and function of the horsehoe tekko more closely resembles legal weapons "double knife," a miniature "moon knife" or "duck knife",[19] rather than the brass knuckles, the possession of which many state jurisdictions prohibit: effective use of the Tekko only arises through diligent practice of Kobudo kata, and an understanding of the spirit in which prior practitoners viewed the art.
Current practitioners of Tekko kata include those in the lineage of Master Taira Shinken, also called Ryukyu Kobudo, which features the kata Maezato no Tekko. Other Tekko kata include Maezato no tekko (Ryu Kon Kai), Akamine, Takemyoshi, Miyazato, Kakazu, Kaneigawa, and Matayoshi (odo).[20]
External links
- A maker of wooden tekkos
- Tekko article (The Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas, Texas)
- Image of some tekkos (The Society Of Promotion & Preservation of Ryukyu Classical Martial Arts, Japan)
- Maezato no Tekko Kata videos
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