How to Use Tonfa or Tuifa

Tonfa, also called tuifa, are martial arts weapons that resemble night sticks used by police. It's thought that they were originally the handles of grist mills, adapted as weapons by the Okinawans during a period of occupation by the Japanese, who had seized all other weapons. Following are steps for using the tonfa during martial arts training.

Things You'll Need

  • Pair of tonfa
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Grip your tonfa by the handles. Hold the handles perpendicular to the floor and allow the blades to lie along your forearms. The end that extends beyond your fist in front is the front head and the end near your elbow is the back head.

    • 2

      Chamber your arms in the normal fashion, with your fists tight against your sides and above your hips.

    • 3

      Block blows by your opponent by moving your forearm to intercept the strike or kick and letting the blade receive the blow.

    • 4

      Punch your opponent with the front head. Turn your arm as you do with an empty-handed punch.

    • 5

      Strike an opponent that is out of arm's reach by extending your arm, loosening your grip on the handle and whipping your wrist. The tonfa should swing around so the back head strikes your opponent from the side. Tighten your grip on the handle before the tonfa swings around far enough to strike your own body.

    • 6

      Repeat the strike from the other direction by swinging the tonfa back to its starting position along your forearm.

    • 7

      Practice flipping the tonfa forward from its starting position, letting go of the handle and catching the tonfa by the back head. Strike your opponent with the front head, taking care not to strike with the handle, which can break and compromise your ability to use your tonfa.