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Traditional Japanese wooden weapons
The warrior tradition is an integral part of Japanese history, and there are few martial arts enthusiasts who don’t know what a katana or shuriken is. However, not all weapons used for hundreds of years in the Land of the Rising Sun are made of metal. Traditional Japanese wooden weapons, though less well known, are just as important. Here, we present those most commonly used in today’s martial arts.
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Wooden swords: bokken, bokuto and shoto
Various terms are used in Japan to designate wooden swords. In Europe, the term “Bokken“ is preferred to designate a wooden sword. Its meaning here is more general. However, in Japan, it’s more common to use the term “Bokuto“, formed from the words “Boku” (wood) and “To” (the sword/katana). This expression is more precise when referring to a wooden sword designed to imitate a katana.
Wooden swords are made from hardwood, traditionally oak, and are roughly the same shape and weight as the famous forged-metal katana. They were developed primarily for Kata-geiko (form practice), Kenjutsu (swordplay), Ninjutsu, Budo and Aikido.
The Shoto is a wooden sword replicating the Wakizashi, short swords often used in conjunction with Katana in samurai equipment. They are mainly used in Koryu or Kendo, but also in some Aikido schools.
Bokken are as old as Japanese swords. Samurai used them because they soon realized that training with wooden swords improved their techniques.
Although the wooden sword is generally used for training, it can also be an effective weapon in its own right. Legend has it that Japan’s most famous swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi, used two Bokken to beat even fully armed warriors in a duel.
Bo, Jo and Hanbo sticks
The traditional Japanese weapon is the wooden stick , traditionally made from oak. The longest, measuring around 180cm, is called Bo. If it’s a medium-length stick, it’s called a Jo and measures around 128 cm. As for the short stick, called Hanbo, it can measure around 90cm.
As a result, the martial arts that involve wielding these sticks are called Bojutsu, Jojutsu and Hanbojustsu respectively. Jo is also used in Aikido and Hanbo in self-defense disciplines.
Although it is the oldest and simplest Japanese wooden weapon, the origin of Bojutsu is not very clear, as there are fewer historical sources than for other martial arts. Among existing theories, Bojutsu owes its origins to religious practices that are still practised today at certain rituals and festivals of traditional Japanese dance.
Another theory attributes the origin of Bojutsu to the samurai who, having had their spear point or naginata (Japanese halberd) broken while on the battlefield, had to continue fighting with the handle to avoid being killed.
This is why Bojutsu techniques are often shared with spear, sword and naginata techniques. For this reason, it is often considered the foundation of handgun handling, as well asan excellent method for developing the body. In fact, some martial arts schools consider Bojutsu ideal for learning timing and distancing.
The Tonfa: a weapon used by security forces
The Tonfa is a traditional Japanese wooden weapon from Okinawa, known from Japanese action films and video games.
Traditionally made of red or white oak, this is a short, easy-to-carry wooden stick with a perpendicular handle one-third the length of the stick.
Covering the outside of the forearm, this Japanese wooden weapon is effective in carrying the weight of the body into the blow, while the extremities enable more precise blows. Another way to use it would be to make rotational movements, which allow you to reach your opponent while maintaining a safe distance.
Today, the Tonfa is used not only in martial arts, but also as a defensive and law enforcement weapon by certain security guards.
The Nunchaku: an ancient Japanese peasant weapon immortalized by Bruce Lee
Immortalized on screen in Bruce Lee films, Nunchaku is a Japanese wooden weapon consisting of two sticks linked by a rope or chain. It is used to strike the enemy in attack or defense.
This wooden weapon of Japanese origin was created in Okinawa by farmers inspired by flails for threshing rice. Indeed, when the Japanese warlords invaded Okinawa, they banned the use of conventional weapons. As a result, local farmers began practicing Kobudo and Karate. Kobudo weapons were agricultural tools that farmers converted into objects they could use to defend themselves. Although the Nunchaku doesn’t injure like a sword or spear, it’s quite capable of knocking out an opponent with just a few blows.
Nunchaku is currently widely used in Okinawan Karate and Kobudo martial arts. It is considered an excellent training weapon, developing faster movements and improving posture. Handling this weapon, however, requires a great deal of training and experience, as the sticks rotate around the body with extreme force and speed. Hand and wrist reflexes must be honed by the Nunchaku practitioner, known in Japanese as the nunchakuka.
