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'[[Image:Tonfas.jpg|thumb|250px|A pair of Tonfa]] The '''tonfa''' ([[Japanese language|Japanese]]: トンファー), also known as '''tong fa''' or '''tuifa''', is a traditional [[Okinawan weapon]] from which the modern side-handled [[Club (law enforcement)|police baton]] is derived. ==History== The origin of the Tonfa is debated but experts believe it either originated in [[China]] or [[Indonesia]].<ref name=weapon>"Weapons - the Tonfa." Tonfa Martial Arts Weapons. 15 July 2008 <http://www.martialarm.com/weapons/weapons-tonfa.html</ref><ref>"Weaponry Anatomy." Seishinkan Sogobujutsu. 2008. Seishinkan Dojo. 15 July 2008 <http://www.seishinkan.com/seishin/sskbuki/5system/anatwep.htm#TONFA>.</ref> It is used in both [[Southeast Asia]]n and [[Chinese martial arts]] and was possibly brought to [[Okinawa]] through their influence. A similar weapon called the ''mae sun sawk'' is used in [[Thailand]]. Tradition holds that during the reign of Okinawan ruler [[Shō Shin]], restrictions were placed on the use of weaponry in order to stabilize the country after a period of civil war. This restriction is said to have favoured the development of unconventional agricultural tools as weapons of self-defense. In this context, it is believed that the tonfa was developed from a wooden handle of a [[millstone]], a common agricultural implement much like the [[kama (weapon)|kama]].<ref name=weapon>"Weapons - the Tonfa." Tonfa Martial Arts Weapons. 15 July 2008 <http://www.martialarm.com/weapons/weapons-tonfa.html</ref> ==Technique== [[Image:Practicante tonfas.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Person holding a pair of tonfa.]] There are numerous ways to defend and attack with the tonfa. In defense, if the handle is grasped then the shaft protects the forearm and hand from blows from the opponents and the knob can protect the thumb. If both ends of the shaft are held, the shaft can be used to ward off blows and the handle can be used as a hook to catch the opponent's weapons. In attack, one can swing the shaft to strike the target. Large amounts of momentum can be imparted to the shaft by twirling the tonfa by the handle. The tonfa can also be wielded in such a way as to use the knob as a striking implement, held either by the handle or by the shaft. One can also stab one's opponents with the shaft of the tonfa. By holding the shaft and the handle of the tonfa together, one can use it for holding or breaking techniques. Tonfa are traditionally wielded in pairs, one in each hand. This is unlike police nightsticks, which are generally used alone. As the tonfa can be held in many different ways, education in the use of the tonfa often involves learning how to switch between different grips at high speed. Such techniques require great manual dexterity. ==In Popular Culture== [[Sun Ce]], a character in [[Dynasty Warriors]], used a pair of tonfas in [[Dynasty Warriors 4]] and [[Dynasty Warriors 5]], but was given a generic spear in [[Dynasty Warriors 6]]. [[Talim]], a character in [[Soulcalibur II]], uses a pair of bladed tonfa as her weapon of choice. Orchid of [[Killer Instinct]] uses tonfa. The protagonist of [[Suikoden II]] (named Riou by default) uses a pair of large, heavy tonfa. [[Hibari Kyoya]], one of the protagonists in the manga/anime [[Reborn]] uses dual metal tonfa as his weapon of choice. Okina in the anime [[Rurouni Kenshin]] wields dual steel tonfa during his duel with [[Shinomori Aoshi]] In the Star Wars universe, the Dark Jedi Maris Brood used tonfa-hilt shaped lightsabers. [[Naizer]], of the manga and anime Black Cat, wields a pair of oversized tonfa during an attack on Creed Diskenth. Gin, of the manga and anime [[One Piece]] used a pair of customized tonfa with iron balls in its edge. The video game [[Ninja Gaiden II]] offers tonfa as a selectable weapon. in [[Hellboy]], [[Karl Ruprecht Kroenen]] wields tonfa-like swords. ==See also== * [[Okinawan weapons]] * [[Krabi Krabong]] * [[Silat]] * [[Cuong Nhu]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{KobudoWeapons}} [[Category:Blunt weapons]] [[Category:Mêlée weapons]] [[Category:Weapons of Japan]] [[Category:Clubs]] [[Category:Law enforcement equipment]] <!-- The below are interlanguage links. --> [[bg:Тонфа]] [[de:Tonfa]] [[es:Tonfa]] [[fr:Tonfa]] [[ko:톤파]] [[id:Tonfa]] [[it:Tonfa]] [[lt:Tonfa]] [[nl:Tonfa]] [[ja:トンファー]] [[no:Tonfa]] [[pl:Tonfa]] [[pt:Porrete#Tonfa]] [[ru:Тонфа]] [[sl:Tonfa]] [[fi:Tonfa]] [[sv:Tonfa]] [[zh-yue:枴]]'