Crutch or Handle?

Hello, everyone and welcome back.

In last week's post I said that we will be looking at yet another weapon that defies logic.

Yesterday we looked at the Sai and speculated about why on earth one would want to add prongs to a metal truncheon.

Today's weapon is the tonfa or- as it is known in Chinese, the guai.

In modern days this weapon goes by the designation PR24 (what that is supposed to mean I do not know at all.)

Before I even knew that this weapon had its place in classical Chinese weaponry I have already learnt that it was the handle of a grindstone.

Now- Asian grindstones are fairly simple. Two circular stones on top of one another, fashioned so that the one is slightly hollow and the other fits into the hollow. The top stone has a hole in it. A stick (which for some reason is not always attached to the device) gets inserted into the hole to be used as a handle.

My friend Leo showing me the hole in the tofu maker where the handle would be inserted.

I am sure that we can all appreciate the value of this portrusion from the side of the stick now, can't we?

As for why it became a weapon- I am actually not surprised if we consider that the Chinese are a people that were able to devise an entire fighting form for a wooden bench to be used as a weapon!

Oddly enough, though- in spite of that tofu making grindstone that I have seen in South China- this weapon is known in China as the guai or "crutch".

Now- to go and take a perfectly working crutch and break off a rather large piece of it to make a weapon is not what I would call the best of ideas, but then again- we don't normally fight with wooden benches either...

From where I look at this weapon- the one major benefit of the side handle is that it allows for the weapon to be used as a basic shield that can stop or deflect blows from other weapons.

Once you become comfortable with using the tonfa you realise that this is one weapon that can serve you at close range as well as long range. At close range keeping the weapon tucked against the forearm enhances your elbow and forearm strikes.

At medium range you have swiping blows and thrusts.

At long range your horizintal backfist gains extra reach when you whip the weapon out in a quick strike.

Now- ever since the weapon became modernised and renamed to "PR24" a number of instructors came out of the woodwork teaching all kinds of restraining techniques.

I am not exactly against it, but I just feel that a stick is made for whacking people. If you really need to grapple, your bare hands are best.

Now that is the last of the weird weapons.

The next three weapons actually make a lot of sense.

See you next week!