Yabiku Moden

Yabiku Moden was born in Shuri, Okinawa in 1878, and was the eldest son of four children. Because he was such a frail and skinny boy in his youth, Yabiku Moden was nick named “scarecrow” and was often teased and bullied by other children. Like many of his contemporaries, Yabiku Moden resolved to make his body and mind strong and as a result began the study of karate under Itosu Anko Sensei. He also trained in Ryukyu kobudo, and among his teachers was Chinen Sanda, master of Yamane-ryu bojutsu (staff art). He also trained under Tawata (Tawada) Shinboku Pechin and Kanagusuku Sanda, both of whom where students of the legendary Bushi Matsumura Sokon. (1)

After graduating from the Okinawa Prefectural teachers College, he taught at Bito elementary school. Already by this time he had excelled in his karatedo and kobudo training. It was also during this time that he began to teach karatedo and kobudo formally to the local people of Bito.

Around 1911, after moving to the Japanese mainland in search for better work, Yabiku founded the Ryukyu Kobujutsu Kenkyu Kai (Ryukyu Kobujutsu Research Association) in order to promote and popularize Ryukyuan weapon arts throughout Japan. He is credited with being the teacher who first introduced the Japanese to Okinawan kobudo, and in many ways his organization was the precursor of the RKHS. One of his most famous students was the founder of Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai, Taira Shinken. Taira Sensei would eventually carry on the work started by his teacher, as well as make his own unique contributions to Ryukyu kobudo.

In his daily life it was said that Yabiku was constantly challenging himself through the study of Budo by always trying to overcome his physical and mental limitations. He is known, for example, to have worn iron geta (clogs) from morning to night in order to strengthen his legs and hips. To strengthen his arms and hands, he would grasp the frame of the ceiling of his home and travel around its perimeter using only his arms. On a personal level, Yabiku was said to have been a deeply religious man who did not drink alcohol or smoke and was never heard to say a bad word against anyone. Yabiku died on June 23, 1941 at the age of 63. (2)

(1) Zen Kobudo by Mark Bishop

(2) Yabiku Moden Hanshi by Doug Dalton