Though martial art styles commonly focus on unarmed defense techniques, many styles incorporate various types of weapons into their training regimens. In some cases, the weapons are simply a tool used in a display of skill, but in others the weapon is the primary focus of the style. In addition, the martial arts have spawned a wide variety of improvised weaponry, often adapted from field tools peasants would use against better-equipped opponents.
Swords
One common martial art weapon is the sword. The Chinese martial arts style called wushu, for instance, includes elaborate katas or practice routines involving the thin, straight sword known as the jian. The Japanese katana, a curved heavy blade, has featured prominently in movies and literature with a martial arts theme. Kendo is a Japanese martial art that utilizes a wooden or rattan bokken, or practice sword, to simulate combat with a katana.
Staves
The staff is another common martial art weapon. The long bo staff, usually 6 feet in length, was originally developed as a tool against an opponent armed with a sword, allowing the practitioner to strike while remaining a safe distance away. The half-length jo staff is used for close fighting and is capable of greater speed than its larger cousin.
Nunchaku
When the Japanese occupied the island of Okinawa in the 17th century, the peasants fought back by adapting field tools into weapons. A common device used to thresh wheat was a flail consisting of two pieces of wood connected by a short length of rope or chain. In the hands of a trained practitioner, these nunchaku can deliver enough force to shatter bone and can strike with amazing speed. A variant on the nunchaku is the jointed staff, which consists of several joined segments that can wrap around an armored opponent and strike weak points.
Tonfa
Another improvised weapon is the tonfa, which was adapted from a tool designed to grind rice. These weapons consist of a short baton with a side-mounted handle, and practitioners usually employ them in pairs. Tonfa masters use them defensively to block strikes or offensively in short jabs, or to deliver sweeping strikes, swinging them by the handle. The modern police baton is a descendant of this venerable design.
Kama
The kama is a short-handled scythe originally meant for harvesting rice. The hooked, single-edged blade can deliver vicious chopping blows and can hook an opponent's weapon for a disarming move. A cousin of the kama, the kusarigama, includes a long chain or weighted cord attached to the handle, allowing the practitioner to entangle opponents or strike at range.
Sai
The sai is a relative of the pitchfork, consisting of a long central shaft and two shorter side prongs. Used in pairs, sai are excellent at trapping and even breaking an opponent's weapon. Sai used in martial arts training are dull, but the real weapons often bore sharpened points to deliver extra damage and punch through armor.
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