Choosing a new weapon for tournaments

[aes]

aes...for indoor winter practise I have been using a 4 foot 1 3/4 inch wooden dowel I bought at home depot....I can go thru my kata with proper hand placement and I don't smash up the house (usually!!!) Hope this help

 

Thanks for the tip. What I am usually trying to perfect is spinning the weapon fast and strikes which might be hard with a shorter dowel.

[koryu]

Personally, the bo is my favorite weapon. Although, for tournament purposes, I have used the kama which worked out really well for me. Though it takes a lot of practice, it seems to work out well in the tournament circuit. As far as practicing bo kata, I also use a short dowell rod, you could also use a "jo".

[mattys]

For a "power kata" as you put it, either sai or tonfa, those are the two strongest traditional weapons IMHO.

[aes]

After further discussion with Kyoshi we have changed our minds and are going to be doing Tonfa. I think the Kata is called Hiena Hiega No Tonfa. Dang these things look easy to spin but takes some practice to make it look easy.

 

We decided against the nunchuku because traditional katas seemed a bit short and simple for the level we are at now. Tonfa tends to do well in our tourneys.

[isshinryu5toforever]

The Tonfa is a great choice. Are you doing Hama Higa No Tuifa? I wish you luck at your tournaments.

[aes]

The Tonfa is a great choice. Are you doing Hama Higa No Tuifa? I wish you luck at your tournaments.

 

Thank you. I see this kata listed with it as Tuifa or Tonfa, I am not sure if there is any difference.

[isshinryu5toforever]

They are the same, one is just the Okinawan pronunciation.

[aes]

Has anyone seen a free video clip online of this Kata? I found a few using google but they don't look like the one I am learning.