FAQ - Do you train with Weapons?

We train with the classical Japanese weapons although we don’t fight with them. Many of our students find the weapons practice therapeutic and an additional way to enhance balance, power and speed and quite importantly rhythm and timing. More importantly we learn defences against knives and bottles. In addition to the following weapons there is also a section of the syllabus dedicated to short stick work. All weapons are taught through a number of Kata to minimise accidental injury.

Sai

The sai (釵) is a weapon found predominantly in Okinawa. The sai's utility as a weapon is reflected in its distinctive shape. With skill, it can be used effectively against a sword by trapping the blade in the sai's tsuba. There are several different ways of wielding the sai in the hands, which give it the versatility to be used both lethally and non-lethally.

Tonfa

Folklore says these were originally used as wooden handles that fit into the side of millstones and were later developed into weapons when Okinawan peasants were banned from using more traditional weaponry .

Tonfa are traditionally wielded in pairs, one in each hand, unlike the police nightstick which is a single-hand weapon. 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, as they involve flips and slides with the weapon.

Nunchaku

Nunchaku (ヌンチャク) consist of two sticks connected at their ends with a short chain or rope. The popular belief is that the nunchaku was originally a short flail used to thresh rice or soybeans (that is, separate the grain from the husk) peasant farmers were forbidden conventional weaponry such as arrows or blades by a moratorium on edged weaponry under the Satsuma daimyo after invading Okinawa in the 17th century so they improvised using only what they had available.

Nunchaku training has been noted to increase hand speed, correct posture, and condition the hands of the practitioner. The ideal length of each piece should be the length of the user's forearm; the bone between elbow and wrist. Traditionally both ends are of equal length, although asymmetrical nunchakus do exist.

Although it may cause injury to an inexperienced user, the nunchaku is a very effective close-range weapon. When used in combat, the nunchaku provides the obvious advantage of an increase in the reach of one's strike. Somewhat difficult to control, the rope or chain joint of the nunchaku adds the benefit of striking from unexpected angles. Practitioners contend that the motion of the nunchaku is often found distracting by opponents, who may have trouble keeping up with the nunchaku's rapid movement. When swung, the nunchaku loses between one to two inches in reach, however, the reach of the nunchaku is often underestimated, even by those experienced with its use.

Bo

The basic purpose of the Bo is increasing the force delivered in a strike, through leverage, and to benefit the wielder from the extra distance this weapon affords. The user's relatively slight motion, effected at the point of handling the Bo, results in a faster, more forceful motion by the tip of the Bo against the object or subject of the blow; thus enabling long-range crushing and sweeping strikes.

Katana

What can we say, you get to wield a Samurai Sword.

Naginata

Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀) is a pole weapon that was traditionally used in Japan by members of the Samurai class. It has become associated with women and in modern Japan it is studied by women more than men; whereas in Europe and Australia naginata is practiced predominantly (but not exclusively) by men. A naginata consists of a wood shaft with a curved blade on the end - it is similar to the European glaive. Usually it also had a sword-like guard (tsuba) between the blade and shaft.

Back to FAQs