“Fighting with pot lids” – Nabebuta Displays at the London Budokwai

Posted on December 22, 2020 by BartitsuSociety
  • Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 17th June 2017

Exhibitions of kobudo (weaponed martial arts) by members of the London Budokwai during 1919, 1922 and 1924 included displays of combat with a highly unusual weapon – the nabebuta or “pot lid”.  Described by one journalist as resembling “wooden cymbals”, the nabebuta are rare even in koryu bujutsu (“old-school martial arts”), being particularly associated with the Takenouchi-ryu.

Above: nabebuta vs. shinai, from the 1919 exhibition.
Above: the nabebuta fighter employs his left-hand weapon as a buckler and his right-hand weapon as a knuckle-duster during the 1922 display.
Above: blocking a high-line attack and counter-striking to the brachial plexus area.
Above: a simultaneous parry and counter-attack.
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