Learn how ot use the Okinawan or Japanese tonfa for self defense with martial arts expert Matt Pasquinilli | Matt Pasquinilli

The tonfa is a traditional martial arts weapon, believed to have originated from Okinawa, Japan. It consists of a wooden handle attached at a right angle to a longer shaft, resembling a side-handled baton. Historically, tonfa may have been derived from an agricultural tool, such as a millstone handle or a lever used to grind grains, before evolving into a weapon. In combat, the tonfa is used for both offensive and defensive techniques. The handle allows for swift rotation of the weapon to block