TONFA, Karate Weapon of Self-Defense

Hondo-wa (handle strike) with tonfa. Not all tonfa are equal, many found
at various martial arts supplies are poorly made, and will lose their handles
particularly when using an handle strike. Hanshi Finley demonstrates
handle strike at the Seiyo Hombu in Mesa, Arizona.

Tonfa has an enigmatic history. Tools similar to the Okinawan tonfa are found in other Asian countries including China, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines. Some suggest tonfa was developed in southeastern Asia and later introduced to Okinawa. Others argue the weapon is indigenous to Okinawa. 

Mae Sun Sawk is a similar weapon developed in Thailand, and has a rope to wrap around the elbow. A Chinese version of tonfa, known as guai, roughly translates as crutch (or walking stick). Guai is thought to have originated in China prior to 700 BC. A variation of guai is made from iron and called ma guai (horse crutch). Having a close martial arts kinship, any connection between China and Okinawa must be considered.

Demonstrating maewashi-ka (extended strike) following furi
uchi (whipping strike) with tonfa. Seiyo Hombu in Mesa, AZ

Also referred to as tunfa, tong fa or tuifa, feudal Okinawans often made tonfa from a native tree species similar to white oak. On Okinawa, farmers used tonfa in millstones with their projecting knobs that inserted into sockets on either side of the grinding stone. The millstone was driven along a trough designed to grind grain into flour. In its original form, handles of tonfa likely were not rounded and possibly looked like wooden hammers. As they evolved, tonfa were modified for combat.

In combat, tonfa is gripped by the short perpendicular handle (nigiri) or by the longer main shaft (monouchi) away from the handle. When the handle is grasped, the shaft protects the forearm & hand during blocking, while the knob (tsukagashira) & (tsuka) protects the thumb. If the end of the shaft is held, the shaft can be used to ward off blows, and the handle used to hook an opponent's weapon, arm, leg or neck. Traditionally used in pairs, large amounts of energy can be imparted to the shaft of the tonfa when swinging the tool by the handle. The tonfa can also be held by the shaft to strike with the knob similar to a hammer. In some instances, handle knobs were made with points to impart greater damage. One can also thrust either end of the shaft (ushiro atama or zen atama) to strike.

Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo classes, Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona

Some suggest the tonfa shaft should extend about one inch beyond the elbow for combat; however, the weapon need only extend to the tip of the elbow (or slightly less). The shaft is 20 to 24 inches in length. Three traditional grips of tonfa include: (1) natural (honte mochi), (2) reverse (gyakute mochi), and (3) special grip (tokushu mochi).

The tonfa is just one of many weapons in the arsenal of Okinawan kobudo (古武道). Okinawan kobudo is also referred to as Ryukyu kobujutsu (see koryu). Weapons of kobudo are thought to have connections with farmers, merchants & fishermen of Okinawa. It is a common belief that tools evolved into self-defense weapons used by peasants because of restrictions ordered by King Sho Shin and later by the Satsuma Samurai. However, modern martial arts scholars have been unable to verify this & some suggest karate & kobudo were restricted to the Pechin (samurai) caste, rather than the Heimin (commoner). But it is likely there was influence by both groups. The genius of Okinawan kobudo was the addition of kata which became an extension of karate & the same strikes & blocks used in kobudo were used in karate with minor modifications.

Grandpa defends Grandma's attack.

After evolving on Okinawa, the tonfa was later introduced to the world & became popular with law enforcement throughout the world until replaced by expandable baton. However, few law enforcement agencies (other than in Japan) trained more than a few hours with tonfa. As a result, such law-enforcement weapons become awkward & under-used.

For members of Seiyo no Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai, learning tonfa is important and is considered to be an extension of our martial arts system. Members train in three tonfa kata and learn all of the bunkai (applications in the kata) along with kumite. Kumite typically matches tonfa against other kobudo weapon such as bo, kama, tanto, etc.

Jeff and Adam train in kumite during kobudo class at the Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu in Mesa,
Arizona.

Arizona Hall-of-Fame Karate & Kobudo Grandmaster

Soke Hausel demonstrates handle strike (hondo wa) at Seiyo Shorin-Ryu
Hombu, Mesa, Arizona.

Tonfa (トンファー) or tuifa is a side-handled baton that was likely introduced as a martial arts weapon on Okinawa centuries ago after a peasant discovered this farming tool could be used as a weapon with some modifications. It has been suggested that the weapon originated in China, others suggest it was a modified millstone grinder handle, part of the millstone axle frame, or a modified primitive horse harness.

Tonfa-bo kumite

Just like Okinawa's farmers and fishermen of old, our Shorin-Ryu students and faculty train with this weapon in basics, forms and self-defense applications. 

The tonfa at one time was used by nearly every law enforcement agency in the world, but it lost favor to the expandable police baton and stun gun. But to martial artists who train with tonfa, these are very effective martial arts tools whether held in a normal grip, reverse grip or extended grip. 

After likely being developed on Okinawa and evolving over decades, the weapon was introduced to the world in the 20th century and became popular with law enforcement agencies until it was replaced by the expandable baton. However, few law enforcement agencies (other than in Japan) trained more than a few hours with tonfa, or the side-handle baton, making it less than effective with poorly trained police officers. As a result, as a law-enforcement weapon, the tonfa became awkward and under-used.

On Okinawa, the tonfa was constantly used in kata and bunkai practice to reinforce muscle memory particularly in the Shorin-Ryu Karate Schools. Thus it has more pragmatic application to Shorin-Ryu martial artists and the Japanese police. Shorin-Ryu martial artists learn to use all surfaces of the tonfa for defense and striking.



By training with the kobudo weapon in basic (kihon) techniques and in kata students begin to learn valuable muscle memory. For example, the Seiyo Kai Shorin-Ryu Karate system has three tonfa kata and each movement in all three forms must be learned as practical applications (bunkai) in one-step sparring (ippon kumite) and kumite (free sparing) and students demonstrate use of the weapon without hesitation. After this is accomplished a student can apply for tonfa certification from Soke.

Not quite a rice mill, but same principal. This is an actual gold
 mill from Jerome, Arizona.

Training also involves using one tonfa and two tonfa in self-defense techniques. The more advanced stage of training with tonfa is using it in sparring (jiyu kumite) against armed opponents with a knife (tanto), bo, hanbo, nunchaku, etc. This type of kumite requires the student to use good technique and to have excellent control so they do not injure their training partners.

Tonfa and other kobudo weapons are used on kobudo nights at the Arizona Hombu dojo on the border of Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona. Thursday evenings, classes are devoted to kobudo training and it typically takes a year or two of training to certify in Okinawan tonfa. The weapon is held by side handles (tsuka) either in a normal or extended position, as well as in a reverse grip. It is used for blocking, striking and hooking.

An arastre gold mill at Jerome, Arizona. This mill was not used for any Okinawan weapons. Instead, it was used to
extract gold.  But imagine if the Okinawans had this - just think what those chains could have been used for - maybe
a manrikigusari or kamagusari.