The tonfa (Okinawan: トンファーtonfā, Chinese: 柺; pinyin: guǎi lit. old man's staff / "crutch"), also spelled as tongfa or tuifa, also known as T-baton[1] is a melee weapon with its origins in the armed component of Okinawan martial arts. It consists of a stick with a perpendicular handle attached a third of the way down the length of the stick, and is about 15–20 inches (380–510 mm) long.[2] It was traditionally made from red or white oak, and wielded in pairs.[3] The tonfa is believed to have originated in either China, Okinawa or Southeast Asia, where it is used in the respective fighting styles.
A pair of tonfaA pair of tonfa with a rounded body throughout.
The tonfa belongs to a group of ancient weapons called kobudo weapons. When the Ryukyu islands were independent from Japan, Ryukyuans used the tonfa against the Japanese samurai.[4] The Japanese confiscated the weapons of the Ryukyuans, who developed clever ways to defend themselves using everyday objects. The millstone handle evolved into the tonfa. The tonfa along with the other kobudo weapons were working tools that were used in farming and fishing in ancient Okinawa. The tonfa was used as the handle of a millstone tool to prepare grains.[5]
Regional variantsedit
Martial artists of the Khmer Empire wield arm shields at the forearm similar to tonfa in this bas-relief at Cambodia's 12th/13th century Bayon temple
Although the tonfa is most commonly associated with the Okinawan martial arts, its origin is heavily debated. One of the most commonly cited origins is China, although origins from Indonesia to Okinawa are also possible.[6][7][8] Although modern martial artists often cite that the tonfa derives from a millstone handle used by peasants,[3] martial arts in Okinawa were historically practised by the upper classes who imported martial arts from China and elsewhere, and it is likely that the weapon was imported from outside Okinawa. The Chinese and Malay words for the weapon (guai and topang respectively) literally mean "crutch", which may suggest the weapon originating from such device. In Cambodia and Thailand, a similar weapon is used consisting of a pair of short clubs tied onto the forearms, known in Thai as mai sok and in Khmer as staupe. In Thailand and Malaysia, the mai sok often has a similar design to the tonfa, with a perpendicular handle rather than being tied on.[3][6] In Vietnam, a similar weapon called the song xỉ is made of a pair of steel or aluminum bars. The song xỉ is used as a small shield to protect the forearms and has a sharp tip at the end to attack.[9]
A pair of Cambodian "tonfa" or staupe which is an arm shield with a pointed edge
Types of tonfaedit
There are different versions of the Okinawa tonfa but the basic design is the same. The small grip is at one end of the tonfa. The main body of the tonfa is where there are variations. The most popular form of tonfa has rounded sides and a rounded bottom which makes a semicircle. The square tonfa has rectangular faces on the main body of the weapon. A paddle-shape tonfa has the bottom half wider than the front half and looks like a paddle. Another tonfa has a rounded body throughout. A crude pointed tonfa has the front heads and back heads ending in a pointed design. This can be used for stabbing defense.[10]
Usageedit
The tonfa can be used for blocking and striking.[10] The tonfa measures about three centimeters past the elbow when gripped.[8] There are three grips, honte-mochi (natural), gyakute-mochi (reverse) and tokushu-mochi (special). The natural grip places the handle in the hand with the long arm resting along the bottom of the forearm. This grip provides protection or brace along one's forearms, and also provides reinforcement for backfist, elbow strikes, and punches. In use, the tonfa can swing out to the gyakute grip for a strike or thrust. Martial artists may also flip the tonfa and grab it by the shaft, called tokushu-mochi. This allows use of the handle as a hook in combat, similar to the kama (sickle).[7][8] This grip is uncommon but is used in the kata Yaraguwa.[8]
Blocking techniques involve a sidestepping maneuver. This allows the block to stop the attack while providing a way to gain entry. The block can be used to block high attack and low attacks.[5]
tonfa, tonfa, okinawan, トンファー, tonfā, chinese, pinyin, guǎi, staff, crutch, also, spelled, tongfa, tuifa, also, known, baton, melee, weapon, with, origins, armed, component, okinawan, martial, arts, consists, stick, with, perpendicular, handle, attached, third. The tonfa Okinawan トンファー tonfa Chinese 柺 pinyin guǎi lit old man s staff crutch also spelled as tongfa or tuifa also known as T baton 1 is a melee weapon with its origins in the armed component of Okinawan martial arts It consists of a stick with a perpendicular handle attached a third of the way down the length of the stick and is about 15 20 inches 380 510 mm long 2 It was traditionally made from red or white oak and wielded in pairs 3 The tonfa is believed to have originated in either China Okinawa or Southeast Asia where it is used in the respective fighting styles A pair of tonfa A pair of tonfa with a rounded body throughout Contents 1 History 1 1 Traditional origin story 1 2 Regional variants 2 Types of tonfa 3 Usage 4 See also 5 References 6 Further readingHistory editTraditional origin story edit The tonfa belongs to a group of ancient weapons called kobudo weapons When the Ryukyu islands were independent from Japan Ryukyuans used the tonfa against the Japanese samurai 4 The Japanese confiscated the weapons of the Ryukyuans who developed clever ways to defend themselves using everyday objects The millstone handle evolved into the tonfa The tonfa along with the other kobudo weapons were working tools that were used in farming and fishing in ancient Okinawa The tonfa was used as the handle of a millstone tool to prepare grains 5 Regional variants edit nbsp Martial artists of the Khmer Empire wield arm shields at the forearm similar to tonfa in this bas relief at Cambodia s 12th 13th century Bayon temple Although the tonfa is most commonly associated with the Okinawan martial arts its origin is heavily debated One of the most commonly cited origins is China although origins from Indonesia to Okinawa are also possible 6 7 8 Although modern martial artists often cite that the tonfa derives from a millstone handle used by peasants 3 martial arts in Okinawa were historically practised by the upper classes who imported martial arts from China and elsewhere and it is likely that the weapon was imported from outside Okinawa The Chinese and Malay words for the weapon guai and topang respectively literally mean crutch which may suggest the weapon originating from such device In Cambodia and Thailand a similar weapon is used consisting of a pair of short clubs tied onto the forearms known in Thai as mai sok and in Khmer as staupe In Thailand and Malaysia the mai sok often has a similar design to the tonfa with a perpendicular handle rather than being tied on 3 6 In Vietnam a similar weapon called the song xỉ is made of a pair of steel or aluminum bars The song xỉ is used as a small shield to protect the forearms and has a sharp tip at the end to attack 9 nbsp A pair of Cambodian tonfa or staupe which is an arm shield with a pointed edgeTypes of tonfa editThere are different versions of the Okinawa tonfa but the basic design is the same The small grip is at one end of the tonfa The main body of the tonfa is where there are variations The most popular form of tonfa has rounded sides and a rounded bottom which makes a semicircle The square tonfa has rectangular faces on the main body of the weapon A paddle shape tonfa has the bottom half wider than the front half and looks like a paddle Another tonfa has a rounded body throughout A crude pointed tonfa has the front heads and back heads ending in a pointed design This can be used for stabbing defense 10 Usage editThe tonfa can be used for blocking and striking 10 The tonfa measures about three centimeters past the elbow when gripped 8 There are three grips honte mochi natural gyakute mochi reverse and tokushu mochi special The natural grip places the handle in the hand with the long arm resting along the bottom of the forearm This grip provides protection or brace along one s forearms and also provides reinforcement for backfist elbow strikes and punches In use the tonfa can swing out to the gyakute grip for a strike or thrust Martial artists may also flip the tonfa and grab it by the shaft called tokushu mochi This allows use of the handle as a hook in combat similar to the kama sickle 7 8 This grip is uncommon but is used in the kata Yaraguwa 8 Blocking techniques involve a sidestepping maneuver This allows the block to stop the attack while providing a way to gain entry The block can be used to block high attack and low attacks 5 See also edit nbsp Japan portal Okinawan weapons Hungarian shield Salawaku Side handle batonReferences edit Rare Kung Fu Weapons Specialty Weapons Weapons Tonfa Lyon Karate Retrieved 29 May 2017 a b c Tonfa history Tonfa org Archived from the original on 14 June 2017 Retrieved 29 May 2017 Randal J 1994 June Tricky Tonfa Techniques Black Belt 100 106 a b Yamashita T 1987 Advanced Tonfa Japanese Weapon of Self defense Spain Black Belt Communications Incorporated a b David 11 February 2009 A Brief History of the Tonfa japanesejujitsu org Archived from the original on 15 January 2018 Retrieved 29 May 2017 a b History cs canisius edu Archived from the original on 14 May 2016 Retrieved 29 May 2017 a b c d Tonfa RKAGB 4 June 2016 Retrieved 29 May 2017 Nghia S 2017 February 19 song xỉ binh khi nha Tay Sơn Vietnam Pictorial Retrieved January 17 2022 from https vietnam vnanet vn vietnamese song xi binh khi nha tay son 274089 html a b Demura Fumio 1982 Tonfa karate weapon of self defense Burbank Calif Ohara Publications ISBN 0897500806 Further reading editRobert Paturel and Alain Formaggio Tonfa securite Chiron editeur 2001 OCLC 421954363 ISBN 978 2 7027 0667 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tonfa amp oldid 1196470661, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
