There are dozens of different kinds of weapons used in karate. Different styles of the martial art study different weapons. Most of these are variations of five main types. These are the bo staff, nunchaku, tonfa, sai, and kama. They are traditional karate weapons developed on the island of Okinawa by the original practitioners of karate. All of these karate weapons evolved from simple farming tools. They were developed when swords and other obvious weapons were outlawed for peasants in feudal Japan.
Bo Staff
The simplest and most basic karate weapon is the bo staff. It is essentially a long stick. At first glance it might not seem threatening, but in the hands of an experienced martial artist it can be a deadly weapon. A standard bo staff is six feet long and about one inch thick in the middle. The ends are slightly tapered and rounded. The bo developed as a karate weapon because it could be used to disable a man with a sword from a distance. The long length of a bo staff is its advantage.
Nunchaku
The nunchaku is a pair of short sticks connected by a short string or chain. The force produced by whipping the sticks around is many times greater than the force that can be generated by a single stick. The flexibility of the connected design also allows for much greater mobility and speed. The nunchaku developed as a karate weapon from simple grain thrashing instruments. They are so dangerous in the hands of an experienced martial artist that they are illegal in many states.
Tonfa
Tonfa consist of a stick slightly longer than the length of a man's forearm with a handle attached. All the edges on a tonfa are smooth so that the weapon can be swung around. Tonfa are held in each hand by the handles. The long stick part can be pressed against the forearm for blocking or swung around for striking. Many modern police batons resemble tonfa. They are utilized for their versatility in both offensive and defensive techniques.
Sai
Sai resemble miniature pitchforks. They consist of a handle, a long central spear, and two shorter curved points on the sides. Despite its relatively small size, sai are quite potent as both an offensive and defensive instrument. Swords can be trapped in the shorter prongs and the center point is an effective stabbing tool. Sai can also be thrown at an opponent.
Kama
Kama are sickle shaped weapons but are much smaller than farm tools. They consist of a short handle with a curved blade at the end. The inside edge of the blade is sharpened as is the point. Kama are traditionally used in pairs with one in each hand. They are swung at opponents, used for blocking, and spun around in the hand.
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