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Getting the Right Size |
Other Weapons Info |
What to Look for in Off-the-Rack Tonfa |
Ordering Tonfa |
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Custom Tonfa |
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* What weapons we practice * Choosing a bo * Choosing tonfa * Choosing sai * Making a bo case * Crane Mountain--custom weapons * Howard's Feed and Wax-- the best thing out there for waxing bos and other barewood weapons. * Superfoot's * Asian World of Martial Arts |
The length of a tonfa is based on the length of your forearm. When you grip the tonfa and hold it along your forearm the "blade" should extend about an inch below the elbow. If you're able to try a tonfa at a martial arts supply store, that's how you tell if it fits. Finding decent tonfa in town, however, is one step up from impossible. That leaves mail order. If you are ordering from a catalog, you need a bit more information. Take the following measurements: |
Tonfa come in lots of different shapes. Though some shapes take impact better than others, for kata (what we'll be doing), shape is pretty much a matter of taste. For our purposes, you should look for three things: Make sure the two inside edges, the edges marked in the picture above, are rounded. Sharp edges there will be more likely to bruise your arms. On the end of the handle will be a ball or knob something similar. A larger knob is better. Make sure the inside (thumb-side) of that knob is beveled of rounded. If the edge is at right angles to the handle, the handle will be harder to stop after a spin. Many people prefer unfinished tonfa, especially an unfinished handle. Unfinished wood sticks less to the hand during manipulation. Sometimes if you get good, finished wood, you can sand the finish off, but doing so has been known to yield mixed results. (In other words, if you sand, you take your chances.) If you have unfinished tonfa, a bit of orange oil and beeswax is enough to preserve the wood. |
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A = The length of your forearm from finger tip to elbow. (This is the only measurement you need for most off-the-rack tonfa.) B= The distance from the bottom of the V made by your thumb and forefinger to your elbow. C = The width of your palm at the widest place above the bottom of the V. |
For off-the-rack tonfa, the size you want is roughly A plus or minus one inch. My custom tonfa are A+1". |
So, in other words, in an off-the-rack tonfa, X is the size of the tonfa. X = A + 1". For custom tonfa, C = Z, and Y = B+1". |
I used to have several kinds of tonfa on this page, but frankly most of them are so bad, I wouldn't use them to prop open a door. Here's the one exception to the rule. It's not a great pair of tonfa, but it is a good pair, and for off-the-rack tonfa, that's saying a lot. Century Martial Arts Okinawan Tonfa Ash, contoured handles sizes: 14", 17", 19.5" Discount Martial Arts $17.95 |
If you can't get a hold of the Century tonfa, or if you need a larger size, here's you second-best bet. The knob is probably going to be too small, but white oak is a good wood, and you might be able to alter the handles to fit. White Oak Tonfa Japanese white oak 20", 24" Karate Depot $32.95 |
The first time you use a pair of tonfa custom-made for you, you will throw rocks at everything else. Custom tonfa make more difference than any other traditional weapon. If you plan to get pretty heavily into weapons in general or tonfa in particular, you will eventually want a custom pair. Crane Mountain is probably your best bet for a really nice pair. The weapons-maker will ask a lot of questions-- about your size, strength, style, etc.-- in addition to your arm and hand measurements. She excels at matching each karate-ka to the right wood and weapon style. Tell her that you are looking for a pair of lightweight tonfa for kata only, that you do both the traditional Shuri-ryu katas and faster, more circular ones. |
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