| Origin |
Tonfa are the crank handles from grain
milling stones. |
| Hands |
When used as part of a block, the tonfa are held
along the outside of the forarm, protaecting against bo or sword
attack. When spun out as part of a strike, or back in after a strike,
they swing on the body side of the arm. |
| Symmetry of Rotation |
In almost all cases, the tonfa extends and retracts
symmetrically. If extended from the inside, it returns by the inside;
likewise for outside rotation. However, in Hayai Nagareru
there are three places where this symmetry is not followed.
- when the left hand block to the head is converted to a thrust to
the head, the tonfa returns tp the outside, rather then the
inside
- in the left hand forearm block, punch combination, the blocking
tonfa continues to rotate to the outside so as not to tangle
with the punching tonfa
- in the following right hand combination, the same circumstance pertains.
|
| Techniques |
Strike |
Tonfa is spun in a half circle as the arm makes
the strike, so that it ends up pointing forward, parallel o the forearm,
and connecting smartly with the attacker at the moment of full power/extension.
For uraken, the tonfa rotates 'inside-out'.
For haito, the tonfa rotates 'outside-in'
|
| Front Block |
Tonfa covers outside of forearm in direction of block |
| Ude uke |
For ude uke, the tonfa rotates 'inside-out'. |