Fundamentals
Handling, posture, grip, trajectories, and control before advancing to more complex sequences.
Kobudo · Matayoshi tradition
Traditional Okinawan weapons as a path of martial practice.
Ittai Dojo is incorporating Matayoshi tradition Kobudo into its offering for adults, with its own technical progression and a specific affiliation structure for this discipline.
Matayoshi tradition
A broad system of Okinawan Kobudo.
The Matayoshi tradition is closely associated with Shinkō Matayoshi (1888–1947) and his son Shinpō Matayoshi (1921–1997). Shinkō gathered knowledge from various weapons and methods of Okinawa and East Asia; Shinpō organized and transmitted that legacy as a recognizable teaching system.
In 1976, Shinpō Matayoshi established the Kōdōkan in Naha, named in honor of his father Shinkō. From Okinawa, his students later helped spread this tradition outside Japan.
What is studied
More than learning to move a weapon.
Traditional study includes weapons such as bō, sai, tunkuwa/tonfa, nunchaku, kama, and ēku, as well as other tools and weapons that form part of the historical repertoire of the Matayoshi line.
Practice develops posture, trajectories, coordination, control, distance, footwork, and precision. Fundamentals are built first; then sequences, kata, and applications are integrated progressively.
Kata and continuity
Forms organize technical principles, coordination, and transitions between movements to build a coherent practice.
Practice for life
Kobudo can accompany the practitioner for years, with attention to precision, health, safety, and personal development.
A living tradition
Shinkō and Shinpō Matayoshi.
Shinkō Matayoshi studied traditional weapons in Okinawa and expanded his training during travels outside the island. Among the disciplines he practiced are methods of bō, ēku, sai, kama, nunchaku, and other traditional weapons.
His son Shinpō began training as a child and, decades later, played a central role in preserving and organizing the system. In 1970 he helped establish a federation dedicated to Ryūkyū Kobudo and continued teaching until his passing in 1997.
The history of a martial tradition has different branches and contemporary organizations. Ittai Dojo studies the Matayoshi line within a specific affiliation for Kobudo.
How it fits in
A distinct discipline within Ittai Dojo.
Kobudo does not replace Kyokushin. It is a different discipline, with its own method of practice and progression.
For some students it will complement karate; for others it may become an independent path of study.
Affiliation
Matayoshi Kobudo within IOKK.
Ittai Dojo is affiliated with the International Okinawa Kobudo Kazokukai (IOKK) for the development of Matayoshi tradition Kobudo.
Learn about our Kobudo affiliation →
Branch Chief · IOKK Mexico
Alejandro Zamorano García
Branch Chief · Jun Shihan · 3rd Dan · International Okinawa Kobudo Kazoku-Kai México
Since April 2026, Alejandro has been Branch Chief / Jun Shihan (3rd Dan) of International Okinawa Kobudo Kazoku-Kai Mexico.
He is head instructor at Tora no Tamashii Dojo, where he has taught Kenjutsu (Japanese swordsmanship), Okinawan Kobudo, and traditional Shotokan Karate for 15 years. He has studied Japanese martial arts for more than 20 years and is creator of the Defensa Zensata self-defense method.
Availability
Program opening soon
The regular Kobudo schedule is still to be announced.
If you live in Mexico and are interested in participating when the schedule opens, you can write to us to register your interest.
Check availability →History and context
References on the Matayoshi tradition
To expand the historical context of Shinkō and Shinpō Matayoshi, we consult material published by organizations dedicated to preserving Matayoshi Kobudo. These historical references are independent of Ittai Dojo's affiliation with IOKK.
Learn about Kobudo
Register your interest in the program.
We can notify you when the regular schedule is confirmed and guide you on how to begin.