Tonfa-Jutsu Kumite

トンファー術   組手

Tonfa-Jutsu (or 棒術 in Japanese) includes the fighting techniques ( 術 Jutsu ) with the T-baton ( トンファー Tonfa ) according to Ryukyu Kobujutsu. Next, Kumite (or 組手 in Japanese) – literally ’grappling hands’ – means practicing with an opponent.


Ippon-Kumite   |   一本 組手

Ippon-Kumite (or 一本 組手 in Japanese) means ‘one step sparring’. Typically, this involves a standard way of responding to a single attack technique. In the video embedded below (recorded on 9 October 2023), budoka Johan Oldenkamp, a former national champion from the Netherlands, performs the following ten basic one-step-sparring sequences for defending with the Tonfa:

  1. Uchi-Uke [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
  2. Soto-Uke [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
  3. Ippon-Dachi Gedan-Uke [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Chudan]
  4. Gyaku-Gedan-Uke [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Chudan]
  5. Honte-Mochi Uchi-Uke [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Chudan]
  6. Jodan-Uke [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
  7. Honte-Mochi Gedan-Uke [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Chudan]
  8. Yoko-Uchi [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
  9. Gyaku-Mawashi-Uchi [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
  10. Gyaku-Tokushu-Mochi [Seme: Gedan-Tsuki]


Renzoku-Kumite   |   連続 組手

Renzoku (or 連続 in Japanese) means ‘continuous’, and Kumite (or 組手 in Japanese) can loosely be translated as ‘fighting’. Combined, Renzoku-Kumite is a continuous drill of blocks and attacks with a sparring partner. The purpose of this form of exercise is to develop confidence, timing, and distancing with an opponent. This is for reaching greater progress in training and technical control. In the video embedded below (recorded on 6 November 2023), budoka Johan Oldenkamp performs the basic continuous drill sequence for the Tonfa:

Step Seme Uke
1 Jodan-Uchi Uchi-Uke + Jodan-Ura-Uchi
2 Nakae-Uke + Maede-Tsuki Chudan Ippon-Dachi Gedan-Uke + Ura-Uchi
3 Jodan-Uchi Soto-Uke + Gyaku-Yoko-Uchi Gedan
4 Gedan-Uke Yoko-Uchi Jodan
5 Uchi-Uke Gyaku-Yoko-Uchi Jodan
6 Soto-Uke + Maede-Tsuki Chudan Gedan-Uke
7 Jodan-Uchi Jodan-Uke
8 Yoko-Uchi Uchi-Uke + Gyaku-Tsuki
9 Osae-Uke Yoko-Uchi
10 Maede-Tsuki Chudan Gyaku-Mawashi-Uchi



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