Kobudo Weapons

As we stated, Okinawan people used many different objects as weapons. Each weapon comes with different techniques and kata to learn and were used in different ways. But, they were all based on the same principles and movement patterns. Training Karate with weapons could be very useful in self-defense, but you should be careful when performing with any of them. Use foam versions if there is a possibility to get one.

1. Nunchaku

The nunchaku (also known as nunchucks) is probably the most well-known Karate weapon. They were particularly popularized by classic Asian martial art movies. Bruce Lee was the biggest star known for his expertise with the nunchaku.

The weapon is made of two sticks (most often wooden) connected with a short piece of chain or rope. Their primary purpose was actually for training because practicing with them immensely develops hand quickness, precision, and hand-to-eye coordination. Nevertheless, they can be used very effectively in combat as well, if you learn how to handle them properly

The traditional nunchaku is made of wood, but modern versions of the weapon can be found in fiberglass, plastic, metal, rubber, or even foam. The old Okinawan nunchaku was, like almost all other weapons, stylized from an everyday object. They used a tool resembling a baton used to thresh rice.

However, at the time, it wasn’t very effective against other weapons at the time, such as swords or long staffs, so its practical use remained mostly in training and kata. There are masters around the world that still teach the craft of nunchaku handling, and it can be very useful to develop your overall motoric abilities.

2. Tonfa

This particular weapon is very interesting in many ways. First of all, the origins are still very unclear, as to where was tonfa used as a weapon first. It is believed that the first forms of the tonfa were the handles of a millstone used as batons. If you have never seen a tonfa, it practically looks the same as a modern police baton – a longer sting with a handle at around 1/3 of its length.

As for the old Kobudo tonfa, it was almost always used as a dual weapon (meaning, you’d use two). Traditionally, they were made from hardwood, most commonly oak). They were quite useful in close combat because they allowed very versatile movements without limiting your quickness.

When practicing with a tonfa, there are three different grips from which techniques are developed. The regular grip is called honte-mochi. When grabbing the handle, the longer part of the weapon laying along the arm. From that position, you can use it as protection and dealing greater damage when performing elbow strikes or hooks. Also, blocks are a lot easier that way.

There is also the gyakute-mochi or the reverse grip. You are still gripping the handle, but rotate the tonfa 180 degrees. Now, the longer part is facing your opponent, which gives you more range for thrusting strikes or shortening the distance. The third and most unusual grip is the tokushu-mochi. You grab the tip of the longer part of the tonfa, using the handle as a sort of a pick, ax, or hook. That way, a tonfa resembles a kama the most.

3. Kama

The Kama is a traditional weapon used as a necessity. It resembles a sickle the most and was used the same way as one by the Okinawan farmer. Similar to the tonfa, these were also very commonly used in pairs, and required a lot of skill to handle, due to the nature of the weapon.

As with all sickles, the kama is traditionally made with a wooden handle and a metal blade that is slightly curved. In Karate training, the blade, the sharp point, and the handle can all be used effectively in combat. Some kata show techniques where you can also use the kamas for defensive purposes, such as blocks and disarming.

Due to the dangerous nature of the weapon, training is usually done with blunts or bladeless versions of a kama, until enough skill is developed to wield the real version. If you are considering kama training, make sure not to do it without professional help.

When kama was already in use as a weapon for some time, the Okinawan started to stylize them to be even more effective. Therefore, they started making small nooks at the spot where the handle and the blade meet. It was designed to block and tram wooden staffs very commonly used as weapons at the time, known as bo.

4. Bo

The most simple weapon out of all that we mentioned so far is the Bo. It is a long wooden staff used as a weapon that was the most common object used at the time. There were several versions of the staff developed later, such as the Hanbo and Tanbo.

The real Bo (the long wooden staff) is believed to be developed from a tenbin – the long stick carried on the shoulders with buckets on each end. It was great for use to avoid damage and keep a distance from the opponent while allowing various techniques. You can work defensively and strike from the counter-attack, you can try sweeping techniques to incapacitate your opponents, block strikes, etc.

Hanbo is a middle-length staff that commonly has a similar use as the full-length Bo, but allows quicker techniques and a bit more agility, sacrificing range in exchange. The Tanbo is a short stick meant for close combat, often used as an alternative for the much more popular Sai.

5. Sai

This weapon is one of those we see in movies a lot. Sai is a sort of a mix between a trident and a dagger, with the middle spike being longer than the other two. It was almost exclusively used in pairs and allowed all kinds of techniques, especially when it comes to defense and disarming the opponent.

It is believed that the Sai was first used as a type of a small rake, but was proven to be very effective in battle. The techniques that are presented in kata are often quite flashy, which is why training with this weapon is attractive to a lot of people even today. However, just as with all other mentioned Karate weapons, it is best to train with a safe version of the weapon, made of rubber, foam, or a similar material.

There are a lot more weapons we haven’t had the chance to mention that were used. Some of them are very similar to the popular weapons used today. For instance, Tekko is very similar to brass knuckles used today. Other weapons also had origins in everyday objects, such as the Eku – a type of oar or a boat paddle or a Kuwa – a farmer hoe.