Tanbo: When Drumsticks Turned Into a Weapon

The tanbō (“短棒,” also tanjō) is a short, cold weapon made of wood with a round cross-section. It was first used in feudal Japan (1185–1603). Japanese jiu-jitsu, ninjutsu, kobudo, and aikido, as well as numerous Korean disciplines borrowed from the Japanese, such as hapkido (where it is known as dan bong), continue to employ the tanbo weapon today. A number of police departments utilize a variant of the tanbo called a telescopic baton or extendable baton. This weapon consists of numerous metal or carbon cylinders and is deployed by a swift extension of the elbow.

Tanbo’s Origin

The tanbo’s origin is unclear, although the jo or bo staff is a likely candidate. It might have evolved at some point as a shorter, lighter, and more practical alternative to both iconic staffs.

However, it has also been theorized that Okinawan drumsticks could have been the inspiration for the tanbo when the regime banned all weapons from civilians in fear of an uprising and the civilians turned their everyday objects into new weapons, just like tonfa.

Design

Many karate dojos employ wooden tanbo to provide unarmed training for their members. A tanbo may be purchased from a specialty shop or fashioned at home out of wood or any other appropriate material (carbon fiber, plastic, etc.). This weapon is often about the third of a bo staff, or “two shaku”.

More Read

Hanbo: One of the Shortest Martial Art Staffs

Bojutsu: The Japanese Martial Art of the Bo Staff

Chigiriki Weapon: A Weighing Tool Turned into a Weapon

Construction

The tanbo is a short self-defense weapon constructed of extremely hard but not heavy wood, used for blocking, trapping the opponent’s joints, and striking with either percussive or piercing blows. This weapon is often made of bamboo or various wood materials.

The tanbo is called dan bong in hapkido, a Korean martial art that blends elements of Japanese and Chinese martial arts. Learning this weapon also helps you become more proficient with a knife in battle since the trajectories are similar.

Size

The tanbo is not the only short cane used in Japanese martial arts. There is also a similar short stick called hanbo (“half-staff”) which ranges in length from 35 to 40 inches (90–100 cm, or the length of the thigh and leg). Similarly, the long staffs, which are around 70 inches (180 cm) in length, are called bo staffs, and a shorter variant is called jo.

Various ryū (ancient Japanese martial arts schools) always employ tanbos of varying lengths (about 12–18 in/30–45 cm), and there is no standard length. The length of the practitioner’s forearm and closed hand will determine the proper size of the tanbo for each individual. This clearance allows for carefree handling without the chance of hitting the weapon on the ground.

“Medium staff” or “olisi” (about 30 in/75 cm in length) is used for striking, blocking, intercepting, checking, trapping, and strangling in Philippine escrima (also known as kali or arnis). However, the length of tanbo is significantly shorter than that of the traditional rattan stick used in escrima.

Use of the Tanbo

Tanbo training comprises pair exercises, training versus imaginary opponents, and kata practice (movements and form).

The weapon can be used with one hand (the most frequent method) or two (one in each hand). Using a single tanbo or two together is the basis for a wide variety of tanbo techniques in martial arts.

This wooden weapon involves more than just empty-hand techniques. You can use a single tanbo together with other edged weapons like a spear, machete, knife, or even a whip. It can also be used to distract an opponent so that a swordsman can unleash a series of attacks.

This short Japanese staff is used with the elbow and shoulder for direction and the wrist for manipulation. The katana, the dagger, and the war fan all have comparable motions within the context of Japanese budo, or martial culture.

In the right hand, a tanbo turns into a lethal weapon. The primary function of this short stick is to make effective, rapid strikes. The weapon can be utilized in a variety of ways, including percussive hitting, bone penetration, trapping body parts, and strangulation.

On Offense

Using this principle, a tanbo can be used to strike and disable almost any portion of the body, unlike other longer staffs.

A good user of this weapon envisions his foe as a two-dimensional entity, aiming for many weak spots—mostly bones and joints but also softer tissues—and striking from a variety of angles.

Your job is to quickly draw lines around the edges of this “flat picture”, including the top and back of the head, the ears, the hands, the palms, the neck, the waist, the thighs, the knees, the kneecaps, and the calves. Naturally, you may strike your target in the stomach, nose, eyes, and crotch if he is on his side.

The intriguing nerve spots, commonly known as kyusho, can be targeted with a tanbo using precise, angled strikes accompanied by pressure or friction. This technique allows a small, wooden weapon like the tanbo to inflict serious pain, cause injury, or cause death.

On Defense

The tanbo may be used for a wide variety of defensive maneuvers, including blocking (with one or two hands), pushing, controlling, deflecting, and striking the attacker. Pushing the opponent to the ground with the handle is one of the most common techniques.

It can also be used for joint dislocations, strangling, and stopping assaults of many forms, such as those made with edged or blunt weapons. Side-stepping is a common way to dodge an incoming attack while wielding this weapon.

The physical-tactical cornerstones of effective tanbo usage are velocity, range, precision, timing, and command. Since the period of Japan’s medieval warriors, or samurai, this weapon has been employed in hand-to-hand fighting, both as an offensive and defensive tool.

This Article at a Glance