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 Renzoku-Kumite Sogo-Kumite
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:
- Uchi-Uke [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
- Soto-Uke [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
- Ippon-Dachi Gedan-Uke [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Chudan]
- Gyaku-Gedan-Uke [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Chudan]
- Honte-Mochi Uchi-Uke [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Chudan]
- Jodan-Uke [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
- Honte-Mochi Gedan-Uke [Seme: Maede-Tsuki Chudan]
- Yoko-Uchi [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
- Gyaku-Mawashi-Uchi [Seme: Jodan-Uchi]
- 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 |
Sogo-Kumite | 綜合 組手
‘Sogo’ (or 綜合 in Japanese; sōgō) means ‘composite’, ‘synthesis’, ‘integration’, or ‘putting together’. It has become customed to translate these forms of Kumite as ‘comprehensive’. In the video embedded below (recorded on 20 January 2025), budoka Johan Oldenkamp performs the five comprehensive staff fighting sequences for the Tonfa:
Kumite № 1
| Hidari-Jodan-Kamae |
Migi-Gedan-Kamae |
| Jodan-Uchi |
Soto-Uke & Gyaku-Gedan Uchi |
| Gedan-Uke |
Yoko-Uchi Jodan |
| Uchi-Uke & Maede-Tsuki Chudan |
Gyaku-Gedan-Uke & Ura-Uchi Jodan |
| Gedan-Kamae |
Jodan-Kamae |
Kumite № 2
| Hidari-Jodan-Kamae |
Migi-Gedan-Kamae |
| Jodan-Uchi |
Gyaku-Jodan-Uke & Gyaku-Gedan Uchi |
| Gedan-Uke |
Yoko-Uchi Jodan |
| Uchi-Uke & Maede-Tsuki Chudan |
Gyaku-Gedan-Uke & Ura-Yoko-Uchi Jodan |
| Gedan-Kamae |
Jodan-Kamae |
Kumite № 3
| Hidari-Jodan-Kamae |
Migi-Gedan-Kamae |
| Yoko-Uchi Jodan |
Tai-Sabaki (Hizamazuku) & Ura-Yoko Uchi Jodan |
| Soto-Uke |
Gyaku-Yoko-Uchi Jodan |
| Uchi-Uke |
Ura-Yoko Uchi Jodan |
| Soto-Uke & Maede-Tsuki Chudan |
Gyaku-Gedan-Uke & Ura-Yoko-Uchi Jodan & Jodan-Kamae |
Kumite № 4
| Hidari-Jodan-Kamae |
Hidari-Gedan-Kamae |
| Jodan-Uchi |
Uchi-Uke (Migi) |
| Gyaku-Yoko-Uchi Jodan |
Uchi-Uke (Hidari) Sagaru |
| Jodan-Uchi |
Uchi-Uke (Migi) & Ura-Yoko-Uchi Jodan & Jodan-Kamae |
Kumite № 5
| Hidari-Chudan-Kamae |
Hidari-Gedan-Kamae Gyaku-Tokushu-Mochi |
| Ura-Yoko-Uchi Jodan |
Uchi-Uke Gyaku-Tokushu-Mochi (Migi) Sagaru |
| Jodan-Uchi |
Uchi-Uke Gyaku-Tokushu-Mochi (Hidari) Sagaru |
| Maede-Tsuki Chudan |
Gyaku-Gedan-Uke (Hidari) & Osaehazushi & Jodan-Uchi Gyaku-Tokushu-Mochi (Migi) |
© Ryukyu-Kobujutsu.org : This page was last updated on 2025/01/15.