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WABUKAN Arsenal · Shields and protection · Okinawa

Tinbe-rochin

The shield (tinbē) and short spear (rōchin) pair of Okinawan kobudō; the shield was once made of turtle shell.

Also known as

ティンベー・ローチン · tinbē; rōchin

Origin and history

Tinbē (shield) and rōchin (short spear or machete) form a pair in Okinawan kobudō. The shield was traditionally made from a turtle shell or woven vine, and the technique relies on staying covered while closing the distance.

Martial arts that use it

Okinawan Kobudo

Construction

A round shield of about 45 cm in diameter, in turtle shell, rattan, wood or metal, held in the left hand, and a short spear or machete of about 30–45 cm in the right.

Basic techniques

Training

Protective equipment is part of training itself: students learn to put it on correctly, check straps and padding, and move and breathe while wearing it before any contact work.

Safety

Protection only works if it fits: replace cracked, torn or compressed padding, check helmets and grilles regularly and let damp gear dry fully to avoid skin infections.

Legality (general information)

This is training or traditional equipment, not a weapon, and is generally free to buy and own. Clubs and federations may still set rules on approved models and condition. General information, not legal advice.

Did you know?

It is one of the few shield techniques preserved in a traditional East Asian martial art.

More weapons

Buckler Boxing gloves Bogu Tessen

Sources

Original WABUKAN text, written from these cross-checked sources (facts, not sentences).

  1. Wikipedia — Tinbe-Rochin
  2. Wikipedia — Okinawan kobudō