Tonfa

Historical

Tonfa in martial art

The history of Tonfa (also called Tuifa or Tongwa in martial art) is closely related to that of the island of Okinawa, located at the south of Japan. In 1409, king Sho Hashi unified the territories of Okinawa and prohibits the possession and the use of the weapons to the peasants and other civilians, by fear of the popular revolts. 200 years later, that is to say in 1609, the weapons were confiscated again by the Japanese government. This prohibition has constrained the inhabitants to develop a mode of combat in order to be able to push back the invaders " with hands nues" , thus was born Okinawa-Te, the alternative of Karate ( karate ).

But also the ingeniousness of the peasants could divert the agrarian tools their functions to make of them weapons of a frightening effectiveness. Thus Tonfa, was at the base a handle of grinding stone of mill to be ground.

Such as it is nowadays practiced in the dojos kobudo, Tonfa is out of red wood of round or square section. It is provided with a side handle to the third its length and measures 50 cm. To obtain a good technical control and a certain dexterity, its practice requires much flexibility, force and agility in the fingers, the wrists, the elbows and the arms. All the subtlety of this weapon rests on subtle the marriage of the flexibility and the force in order to proportion the intensity during its use as well in received impacts as given. It is used traditionally per pair to give a maximum of effectiveness. It is thus a exercise claiming a perfect technical coordination of the upper limbs as well as a total balances entire body.

Its perfect effectiveness makes of it still today a solid argument of defense which, later, found its place in the Police force and other professions of safety, and this in many countries.

Tonfa of intervention

The various waves of immigration coming from Asia towards the USA brought with them a good number of experts and in particular some come from the island from Okinawa. Until in the Seventies; the American police force used a 65 cm length cylindrical stick, 3 cm in diameter and a known weight of 500g under the name of Tambo in martial arts.

They is after certain clever police officers practitioner the kobudo decided to take as a starting point the Tonfa d' Okinawa to transform their stick of police force by adding a side handle to it to the third its length. Tonfa of police force, but still all its structure had to be re-examined had been born because this new weapon was equipped with enormous technical possibilities, but especially it was not to be used in pair as in the kobudo, but only. Thus the originators of Tonfa police force imposed a new coating with materials light and resistant to all the shocks. After many tests and tests of materials, American ended up retaining a polycarbonate alloy, recovering a 60 cm length stick, the whole injected in only one part weighing approximately 700 G.

The advent of the tonfa in France is due to Robert Paturel, ex-champion of France and Europe of French boxing, and also police officer. At the time of a stay in the United States, he discovers the tonfa used by the police force of Los Angeles. Of return in France, with the assistance of its pupil and friendly Alain Formaggio, they develop a complete method intended for the professionals of safety, adapted to the French legislation, and found the French Formation of Tonfa-Safety ( FFTS ).

Moreover the French Police force has to pass a specific examination in order to be able to carry the tonfa in service, in the place of the simple traditional bludgeon. The tonfa used in Police force then takes the name of Bâton of defense in Side Poignée (BPL) .

Its use is very regulated and governed by a legal framework:

Concerning the Penal code , the articles is:

> Article 122-5 Art 122-6 (self-defense)

> Art 223-6 (not assistance to anybody in danger)

> Article 431-3 (punishable participation in an assembly)

Concerning the Criminal procedure code , the articles are:

> Article 73 (any person can apprehend the author of a crime or an obvious offense)

> Article 53 (obvious crimes and offenses)

> Article 803 (obstacles)

The legislation

Caution! Tonfa is a weapon classified in 6° category ( knives ). Its port is interdict without administrative authorization. Its transport is regulated and cannot be done without legitimate reason.

Zh-yue: 枴

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