Weapons

As with most weapons of Okinawa, tonfas were in fact farming implements first. The tonfa was originally a millstone tool which was used to grind grain. The Tonfa is a weapon used primarily against an opponent with a bo.

The bo is a highly practical weapon, because it is essentially any long handle such as a rake or shovel. The bo used in the dojo is tapered at both ends, which maximizes balance of the bo in the hands.

Legend has it that the sai was used to lift hay bales on Okinawa. The pointed tips were practical in inserting into and lifting large bales of hay and grain. However, there seems to be no evidence that this is true. The original intent of using the sai was always to be used as a weapon in various martial arts forms.