The tunkua (also known as Tonfa) supposedly originated as the handle of a millstone used for grinding grain. It is traditionally made from red oak, and can be gripped by the short perpendicular handle or by the longer main shaft. As with all Okinawan weapons, many of the forms are reflective of “empty hand” techniques. The tunkua is more readily recognized by its modern development in the form of the police nightstick but its usage differs.
Matayoshi Kobudo Kodokan practitioners will be introduced to Tunkua as their third weapon. Even though at the Kodokan the name Tunkua is used, this weapon is also known by other names such as Tonfa, or Tuifa. This weapon originated from an ordinary household utensil, a handle for a mortar or a hand mill. As the Bo and the Sai, this weapon training also involves the practice of kihon, kata, kumi and bunkai. The way to determine the length of the Tunkua is very similar to the Sai which means that it is determined by the length of the forearm of the practitioner. As the practitioner holds the Tunkua by the handle it should be placed against the forearm; the total length of the Tunkua should be just a little bit longer than the elbow.
The Matayoshi syllabus contains two kata:
- Tunkua dai ichi
- Tunkua dai ni