Tonfa made of wood
We have a wide selection of handmade wooden tonfa for sale. Please contact us if you have further question or need assistance to choose the right tonfa for your budo training.
On one of his journeys (14th century) through China, Grand Master Matsu got to know the Tonfa and brought it to Japan. He developed the tonfa further as a weapon. Around 1430, the peasants were banned from carrying weapons. Carrying of weapons was only allowed to the samurai. Out of this need, the farmers developed weapons from things that they had in their daily use, e.g. Kama, Tonfa etc. The tonfa is widespread among many police forces and the military. But this has nothing to do with traditional martial arts. The traditional type of application can still be found in the various martial arts schools of Kobudo.
Originally, the Kama was used as an agricultural implement for harvesting rice. Since the farmers are not allowed to own or carry weapons, they are allowed to develop weapons from the implements they use in agriculture. The Kama is a striking weapon and is often used in pairs as a Kubudo weapon, mainly in the Koryu.
