Kanazawa No Bo Dai

with Sensei Michael Ring 7th Dan

On Sunday 18th May 2025 thirteen Karate students from the Bishops Stortford and Stansted Mountfitchet based Shotokan Karate Ryu (SKR) met at the Thorley Community Centre opposite the Harvest Moon Public House for a special weapons course with Sensei Michael Ring (7th Dan), one of the UKs senior Karate instructors.

The aim of the course was to teach students the art of fighting with a Bo (long staff) and Jo (short staff) by practicing the formal exercise (Kata) Kanazawa No Bo Dai and practical applications from the Kata. Techniques included Age Uke (upper block), Gedan Uke (lower block), Mawashi Uchi (round strikes) and Jun Uchi (lunging strikes). The Kata also incorporates a Tobi Uchi (Jumoing strike).

Sensei Michael commented: “Kanazawa No Bo Dai was created by the late Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa (10th Dan) one of the most famous Karate-ka in the world and the Japanese master responsible for bringing Karate to the UK. The aim of the Kata is to add weapons training to the traditional practice of Shotokan Karate. I was fortunate to learn the Kata with Sensei Kanazawa which requires considerable skill and coordination to perform. The Jumping strike (Tobi Uchi) is particularly challenging. The Karate-ka (Karate students) did exceptionally well in learning the basic techniques which they applied in partner work as well as grasping the difficulties of the Kata itself.”

Sempai Phoebe Kendall demonstrates strikes and blocks preformed with the Japanese Jo Staff from the Kata Kanazawa No Bo Dai