KOBUDO (TONFA)

The Tonfa dates back to approximately the same time as other Kobudo weapons. It was originally used as a handle for the rice grinder stone. When attacked it could be pulled out of the stone and used to protect oneself. It was mostly used by women as they were the people who did the rice grinding.

The traditional Tonfa are used in pairs and are made of wood and has a flat base. The Tonfa is most commonly used in circular movements created by a swing of the handle. It can, however, also be used as a tool to perform throws, locks, punches and normal strikes done as with a club.

The Tonfa as weapon is used by many police forces worldwide. An adaptation to the traditional Tonfa was officially introduced to the South African Police in the middle 1980's by Capt. Gubel who was a PT instructor in the Police College in Pretoria. The Tonfa used by most Police forces is made of hard plastic, weighs less than the wooden Tonfa, is completely round and longer than the traditional Tonfa which facilitates backward strikes. As a result of its round form it is not as effective when protecting the arm in a block against a bow or other heavy object as the traditional Tonfa is.

Due to a lack of existing kata with the Tonfa that suits the needs of KUSHIDO, kata were developed by Kyoshi Denis St. John Thomson (8th Dan and KUSHIDO chief director of Kobudo).