Hamahiga-No-Tonfa / Tuifa Kata

It is hard to determine where this weapon originated. Some believe that it originally came from China, while others believe it could have come from Indonesia. The word for tonfa or tuifa in Chinese is crutch. The Okinawan version, of the weapon’s origin, is that was a millstone handle. Many other martial artists claim it is simply a flail like the nunchaku. The tonfa or similar type of weapon can be found in many different cultures. It became a viable weapon after the Satsuma clan conquered Okinawa and banned all weapons.  The Okinawan people needed protection from the brutal samurai of the Satsuma as-well-as bandits. If an Okinawan citizen was discovered carrying the weapon, it could easily be explained that it was a common tool. Wherever it originated, it became a popular weapon on Okinawa and became part of its’ martial arts heritage.

Hamahiga kata was developed to teach the student how to properly wield the weapon. Note the heaven and earth block to the defend against the up-down strike from a bo (staff). The bo was the most common weapon use in self defense in the Ryukyu islands. It also teaches the basic eight angles of attack that apply to every weapon. The swordsmen of Japan call this the Happo giri (eight cuts) or Happo-No-Giri. With the tonfa or tuifa, the eight strikes are practiced with both right and left hands, so the practitioner becomes adept on either side. This form also highlights the weapon as an extension of the karateka’s arms. Thus, simple karate blocks and punches are incorporated using the weapon as the blocking surface.

The origin of this kata is sketchy. The name implies it is the kata of the Hamahiga Island. Most likely it was not created on Hamahiga. Okinawa legends have it that the island was inhabited by gods and was the origin of creation. The story I was told of the kata’s, although it is most likely untrue, was more interesting. According to my source there were two villages on the small Okinawan Island.  Remember the island is less than seven miles in diameter, so two villages inhabiting this small land mass is unlikely, but we shouldn’t let that get in the way of a good story. Anyway… the two villages traditionally had a great rivalry with each claiming they were the best at farming and fishing. To my understanding this was much like the small-town football rivalries in Texas. As the story goes, this rivalry culminated in a tug-of-war competition between the two villages. The wining village gained bragging rights for a year. Honestly, this is most likely just a story made up for gullible tourists, but interestingly enough there is a big festival, on Okinawa, called the Naha tug-of-war.  It features a tug-of-war competition held annually between team representing the east and west. This tug-of-war supposedly started with a rivalry between two rulers in antiquity, and today has become a major tourist attraction.  In days of old the tug-of war was used to celebrate a good harvest or a prayer for rain. Uminchu (fishermen) also used the tug-of-war to celebrate a bountiful catch. Regardless of the origin of the tug-of-war or my story’s veracity this kata was named for the island where it was supposedly developed. It is in the traditional “I” pattern and moves back and forth like the proverbial tug-of-war. The kata and even the island’s history are both a little sketchy but are most definitely colorful and keep Okinawa an island of mystery.

The Tonfa, like the Sai, are extensions of your body. Techniques that work in the empty hand arena will be applicable with these weapons too. The Tonfa unlike the bo is a close quarters weapon, so when fighting against a long-distance weapon, like a Bo or long word, you must get in close. As an extension of your arms, it makes blocks stronger and by swinging the weapon it makes your reach longer. After long practice, the weapon can be spun creating great force. This makes the tonfa a formidable and easily learned weapon.

Your targets of choice are hands, joints, collarbones, ribs, knees, and skull. Damaging the opponent’s hands, collarbones, or elbow joints reduces their ability to wield their weapon.  Damage to their ribs inhibits their ability to breath. An injury to the opponent’s knees or hips can slow the ability to move. The end game technique is the spinning blow to the side of the attacker’s head. Tonfa is unique in that you can slowly escalate your attack from low levels of defense to an all-out life taking assault. This is one of the more humane weapons in the Isshin-ryu arsenal simply because you can control the level of intensity you need to mitigate an assault.

1. Bow:

• Musubi dachi
• Feet come together as you bend at the waist.
• Tonfa rotates to the front of the trousers.

2. Ready Position: (Feet are parallel) ←

• Tonfa are pulled back to your sides and thrust downwards as you step sideways into (Ready Stance).

Note: This move is to the hips to make the attacker step back and lean forwards slightly.

• Slowly spread executing a wedge block outside your hip line.

Note: The wedge block removes an attacker’s grasp if they have grasped your garments in an attempt to control or restrict your movement. The tonfa that is square is the true weapons tonfa. The edges can be used to cut into the attacker’s arms forcing their release. This is a warning to the would-be adversary. If he/she does not understand, your next move will be more violent. This is the nature of combat. Demonstrating the weapon’s capability may be sufficient to end the confrontation.

3. Vertical Tonfa Forearm Strike: ←

• Step backwards with your left leg.
• Raise the tonfa vertical pressing them against your forearms as you are stepping backwards. The tonfa should be six to eight inches apart and vertical in position.
• Upper wedge Block using the tonfa handles. The handles of tonfa point outside your body and impact the attacker’s arms.
• Raise your right leg to avoid a sweep and pull the tonfa slightly outside your shoulder line in one fluid motion.
• Stomp down with the right foot and, crash the vertical tonfa together.

4. Low Wedge Block : ←

• Drop them downwards and spread outwards.

5. Turn to your head to the left and execute a Heaven and Earth block. ←

• High block over right side and Low block over left side. (Heaven and Earth Block)

Note: This is a block against a Bo or staff. This type of weapon strikes low with one end and immediately reverses direction and strikes high with the other or vise-versa.

6. Turn your head to the right and execute a Heaven and Earth block.←

• High block over left side and Low block over right side. . (Heaven and Earth Block)

7. Shuffle with Three Punches: ←

• Step forwards into a right foot forward Seisan Dachi.
• Right Punch
• Left Punch
• Right Punch

Note: The kata shuffle steps in this move because the adversary will naturally move backwards when struck.

8. Eight Angle Attack (right hand): ←

• Spin the right tonfa in a figure eight.
• Swing the right tonfa up and down.
• Swing the right tonfa side to side.
• Pull the tonfa back to ribs and punch forwards.

Note: All weapons have eight angles of attack. This move trains the student to know all the directions in which the weapon can be used. It also teaches that the weapon can be spun in one direction and quickly be reversed to block or strike in the opposite.

9. Eight Angle Attack (left hand): ←

•  Step forwards into a left foot forward Seisan Dachi.
• Punch with the left tonfa as you’re stepping through.
• Spin the left tonfa in a figure eight.
• Swing the left tonfa up and down.
• Swing the left tonfa side to side.
• Pull the tonfa back to ribs and punch forwards.

10. X- Block (Right hand over left): ←

• Step forwards into right foot forwards Seisan Dachi.
• Thrust both tonfa forwards and down.

11. Twin Outside Inside Strike: ←

• Same stance.
• Swing the tonfa’s long end outside of your body.
• Swing the tonfa’s long end to the inside of your body crossing each other.

12.Twin Up Down Strike: ←

• Same stance.
• Swing the tonfa’s long end upwards.
• Swing the tonfa’s long end downwards.
• Swing tonfa back to the rest against the forearms with the short end forwards.

13. High Block Left and Reverse Punch Right 45° angle. ←

• Step left and turn on an angle 45°. The left leg is forwards.
• High block with the left hand.
• Reverse punch with the right.

14. High Block Right and Reverse Punch Left 45 ° angle. ←

• Pivot right and turn on an angle 45°. The right leg is forwards.
• High block with the right hand.
• Reverse punch with the left.

15. High Block Left and Three Punches. ←

• Pivot left CCW back to the center. The left leg is forwards.
• High block with the left hand.
• Punch with the right tonfa.
• Punch with the left tonfa.
• Punch with the right tonfa.

16. Cross Body Strike (left hand): ←

Note: This is the first half of a figure eight strike that will be completed when you finish your turn.                                                         

• Still in the left foot forwards Seisan Dachi.
• Spin the right tonfa across your body and downwards.

17. Eight Angle Strike (right hand): →

Note: This is the second half of the figure eight strike that will be completed when you finish your turn.       

• Turn CCW 180◦ into right foot forwards Seisan Dachi.
• Spin the right tonfa overhead and down in a figure eight.
• Swing the right tonfa up and down. (Downwards First)
• Swing the right tonfa side to side.
• Pull the tonfa back to ribs and punch forwards.

18. Eight Angle Strike (left hand): →

• Step forwards into a left foot forward Seisan Dachi.
• Punch with the left tonfa as you’re stepping through.
• Spin the left tonfa in a figure eight.
• Swing the left tonfa up and down.
• Swing the left tonfa side to side.
• Pull the tonfa back to ribs and punch forwards.

19. Left Low Block and Reverse Punch (right hand): 45◦ angle →

• Step forwards into a right foot forwards Seisan Dachi and turn on a 45◦ angle to the left.
• Low block right hand.
• Reverse punch left.

20. Right Low Block and Reverse Punch (left hand): 45◦ angle →

• Turn to the right moving the lead leg. Remain in Seisan dachi, and turn on a 45◦ angle to the right.
• Low block right hand.
• Reverse punch left.

21. High Block Left: →

• Pivot CCW and step forwards with the left leg. Turn back to the center. The left leg is forwards.
• High block with the left hand.
• Punch with the right tonfa.
• Punch with the left tonfa.
• Punch with the right tonfa.

22.Turn 180° Low Outside Wedge Block: ←

• Pivot on the left foot brining the right foot around 180° into left foot forwards Seisan dachi.
• Wedge block outside your body.

Note: This move removes an attacker’s grasp. The tonfa that is square is the true weapons tonfa. The edges can be used to cut into the attacker’s arms

23. Turn to our head to the right and execute a Heaven and Earth block.←

• Pull the left foot back into a Kusanku stance.
• High block over left side.
• Low block over right side.

24. Sweep and Eight Angle Attack (right hand): ←

• Figure eight strike while in Kusanku stance.
• Turn facing forwards in Horse Stance.
• Sweep with the right foot up.
• Execute the downward stroke in the Up-down strike.
• Set the foot down.
• Execute a Side-to-side strike.
• Pull the tonfa back to the ribs and right punch.

25. Turn to our head to the left and execute a Heaven and Earth block. ←

• Pivot into a Kusanku stance.
• High block over right side and Low block over left side. (Heaven and Earth)

Note: Defense against an up-down Bo strike.

26. Sweep and Eight Angle Attack (left hand): ←

• Figure eight strike while in Kusanku stance.
• Turn facing forwards in Horse Stance.
• Sweep with the left foot up.
• Execute the downward stroke in the Up-down strike.
• Set the foot down.
• Execute a side-to-side strike.
• Pull the tonfa back to the ribs and left punch.

27. Shuffle Step Three Punches: ←

• Step forwards into a right Seisan Dachi.
• Shuffle Step
• Punch right
• Punch left
• Punch right

28. Eight Angle Attack (right hand): ←

• Spin the right tonfa in a figure eight.
• Swing the right tonfa up and down.
• Swing the right tonfa side to side.
• Pull the tonfa back to ribs and punch forwards.

29. Eight Angle Attack (left hand): ←

• Step forwards into a left foot forward Seisan Dachi.
• Punch with the left tonfa as you’re stepping through.
• Spin the left tonfa in a figure eight.
• Swing the left tonfa up and down.
• Swing the left tonfa side to side.
• Pull the tonfa back to ribs and punch forwards.

30. Twin Horizontal Forearm Strike: ←

• Step forwards into right Seisan dachi.
• Twin horizontal forearm strike.

31. Twin Outside Inside Strike: ←

• (Same stance) Right foot forward Seisan dachi.
• Swing the tonfa’s long end outside of your body.
• Swing the tonfa’s long end to the inside of your body striking the tonfa together.

32. Twin Up Down Strike: ←

• (Same stance) Right foot forward Seisan dachi.
• Swing the tonfa’s long end upwards.
• Swing the tonfa’s long end downwards.
• Swing tonfa back to the rest against the forearms with the short end forwards.

33. Heaven and Earth from Kukutsu Dachi: →

• Step forwards with the left foot while turning 180◦ into a back stance kokutsu dachi.

Note: Right foot is forwards.

• High block left and Low block right. (Heaven & Earth Block)

34. Heaven and Earth from Kukutsu Dachi: →

• Step forwards with the left foot.

Note: Left foot is forwards.

• High block right and Low block left. (Heaven & Earth Block)

35. Shuffle Step Three Punches: →

• Step forwards into a right Seisan Dachi.
• Shuffle Step
• Punch right
• Punch left
• Punch right

36. Eight Angle Strike (right hand): →

• (Same stance) Right foot forwards Seisan Dachi.
• Spin the right tonfa in a figure eight.
• Swing the right tonfa up and down.
• Swing the right tonfa side to side.
• Pull the tonfa back to ribs and punch forwards.

37. Heaven and Earth Block from Kukutsu Dachi: ←

• Step forwards with the left foot while turning 180◦ into a back stance.

Note: Right foot is forwards.

• High block left and Low block right. (Heaven and Earth Block)

38. Horse Stance and wedge block. ←

• Step forwards with the left leg.
• Execute a Low Wedge Block.

39. Turn your head to the right and execute a Heaven and Earth block.←

• High block over left side and Low block over right side. (Heaven and Earth Block)

40. Eight Angle Attack (right hand): ←

• Spin the right tonfa in a figure eight while in Kusanku stance.
• Turn into a Horse Stance.
• Swing the right tonfa up and down. (Downward first)
• Swing the right tonfa side to side.
• Pull the tonfa back to ribs and punch forwards.

41. Vertical Tonfa Forearm Strike: ←

• Raise the tonfa vertical pressing them against your forearms as you are stepping backwards with the left foot.
• Upper Wedge Block. The handles of tonfa point outside your body.
• Raise your right leg to avoid a sweep and pull the tonfa slightly outside your shoulder line in one fluid motion.

Note: Some say that raising the right leg allows all your body weight to impact the target as your weight is brought down.

• Stomp down with the right foot and, crash the vertical tonfa together.

42. Wedge Block : ←

• Pull the tonfa back to your ribs and thrust them downwards.

43. Closing Bow←