Kobudo was a martial art developed in Japan when the people had their weapons taken away, and they trained and came up with how to to turn farming tools into deadly weapons. Giving birth to the use of the Kama (hand sickles),Tonfa (used for grinding grain, are now popular with criminal justice as knight sticks), Bo (A staff, really), Jo(A shorter staff), Boat oars(You know), Canes(easily hidden) and it also gave birth to Karate-Jutsu, to later become a true budo and be known as Karate-Do, then to come to America and just be referred to as Karate, and then be a term used by ignorant people to stereotype martial artists of all sorts when not resorting to a popular kung fu movie actor’s name followed by the word "stuff" (Jackie Chan stuff, Bruce Lee stuff, Jet Li stuff). With the word kobudo in mind, we’re going to learn how to train and use a skateboard as... you guessed it, a weapon!

*1-3 are from the ground

Technique 1.- A very basic move, with a skateboard on the ground, plant your foot on it, and then shove it hard toward the opponent’s ankle/shin.

Technique 2.- Adapting from the first technique, this time, gain a little speed and roll towards the opponent (for surprise attacks, make it look like you’re heading that way to go by, or come up from behind). As you approach your opponent press on the tail of the board with one foot, and shove it as previously described with the other. As you do this you should hop slightly so you’re not throwing yourself to the ground in performance of the technique. If done correctly, the lip of the board this time should actually lift off the ground and hit the shin or knee. If you excel in ollie, a great variation is to ollie the board toward them.

Technique 3.- If you do not excel in the ollie,this is a great way to send a board flying toward their torso or head from the ground, though it may lack accuracy until you study the dynamics of how your board will fly and the way you launch it. Practice first by setting the board in front of you, and stomping on the tail while thrusting the foot forward. If done correctly, you will flip the board and it will head forward a slight bit. Now what you need to do to perform the attack is to skate up to them as before in the second technique, but this time hop off the board, perhaps pushing it a tad ahead of you, and then while in mid hop position your foot to perfrom the stomp that will send it flipping. If done correctly the board will flip, possibly uppercutting them in the chin if skill is mastered, or may bounce off torso or head. In either case it is great for surprise, and you may follow up with an attack with another concealed weapon or the empty hand after they duck or dodge the board.

4-5 require the skateboard in hand

Technique 4.- Another very basic, but very effective move, pick it up, hold it in two hands, and swing. If you have a steel plate, practice with that first, and then get used to the board, it will build up your board-swinging muscles quicker. Also, as another aid to add to the style and quickness of getting the board into your hand, practice pressing on the tail just hard enough that it will pop up into a position where you can grab hold of it and bring it into a defensive/offensive position. (See the movie, Back to the Future, for more details)

Technique 5.- If you’ve seen the movie Surf Ninjas, you know the trucks are perfect as handles to use it as an effective weapon. Remember that when holding each truck in one hand, that when you send one side of the board outward, to pull the other side inward, and use your hips to torque into the attack for maximum power.

Warped Perspective: This is where you need to look at the skateboard in a whole new light and consider its different surfaces and what they are good for. A warped perspective unveils every item’s lethal use.

Deck- the deck makes a good shield, and is good for regular head bashing. To inflict more concentrated pain, use the edges to block and hit when possible.

Trucks- They are good for grabbing hold of the board like handles, but they also make excellent board appendage for bruising the opponents, that concentration of metal and plastic makes an excellent hammer blow.

Mini- skateboards- If you have mini-skateboards, by all means, don’t be afraid to include them as alternate weapons into your style. Heely roller skate shoes are excellent as well for adaptations of rolling momentum gone lethal. If you excel at doing tricks with the skateboard, you already have an advantage in skateboarding kobudo, for you are in touch with your weapon and understand its physics and dynamics.

L8r my kobudo sk8rs!