As with most things in the martial arts the exact origins are up for debate, some people can trace the weapon back to Okinawa, some people trace it back prior to that tracing origins to China or Indonesia, though details are more sketchy for these.
The popular theory is Okinawan, a weapon from the time when peasants were not allowed to carry weapons and so had to become more resourceful in developing means of protecting themselves. The Tonfa is allegedley the handle of a millstone.
The tonfa is effectively two pieces of wood, with the main one being around 18 to 20 inches in length, this piece can be round or oblong and runs along the forearm. The second piece of wood sticks out at a right angle at the side approx 6 inches down forming a handle. You will also see it take the form of a preformed plastic material, being called the PR-24, this is the "baton" used by law enforcement bodies in some places, I have heard it said that the person who developed this had apparently never seen a tonfa before, make your own mind up as to that. I've tried the PR-24 using the same techniqes as I do with wooden tonfa and I just don't like it, I find it much more difficult to keep it in position under the forearm than a tonfa, also, I find the plastic sticks in your grip more which if you're trying to strike really hinders you.
This is a really versatile weapon and can be used as a straight forward bludgeoning tool, holding the end of the tonfa and striking using the handle much as you would a hammer. This is the tonfa in probably its simplest form. If you are interested in the martial arts technical side of things then it has so many areas that could be explored. By holding the handle loosely and allowing the tonfa to pivot in your grip then you can use the longer end of the tonfa as a striking weapon,done correctly, using good hip rotation, co-ordinating with good hand/arm speed and the strike can be devastating, pick your targets well, such as knee, arms, carotid, and you have a very good striking weapon in your hands. Keeping it in this position, with the handle in your hand, you have 5-6 inches of tonfa protruding from your hand, this gives you extra reach, but used as a striking weapon, thrust forwards into the solar plexus this would give an attacker pause for thought, or drop to your knee and strike to the groin before using the previous strike to the groin. Combinations can just keep coming.
The weapon is also excellent for defense, hold onto the handle, keeping the handle loose in your hand, run the long end along your forearm and keep it their purely by pushing forwards with your thumb and pulling back with your little finger, this pressure alone keeps the tonfa running along your forearm. In this position it can be used to deflect things like baseball bats, knives, kicks, punches all sorts.
For an alternative, try holding the tonfa at the end with the handle away from you, in this manner you have an effective hook, it can be used for scooping weapons or limbs away from you as you move in to another position. One of my favourite moves with this weapon involves holding it in this position, using it as a strike to the ribs before coming up underneath the arm, over the top and hooking underneath the jaw, it causes pain in the arm and a minor strangle as well, bonus points all round. It works really well as a tool to help with a leg throw as well, and using the tonfa to grind into shin really causes that extra degree of pain.
So to sum up, the tonfa is an excellent weapon, pretty much my favourite, and can be used in so many ways both offensive and defensive but as with everything it takes practise.
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