Tonfa Kata Onami Step by Step Breakdown
Karate | Kobudo

How to Learn Tonfa Kata Onami with Step by Step Breakdown

March 15, 2022 by
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In this post we’ll go through the step-by-step breakdown of the previous Tonfa kata video, Onami. This breakdown uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the specific moves in the Tonfa/Tuifa kata (form) along with descriptions and tips. It also includes a step-by-step PDF reference sheet that you may download and print. Along with the previous practice video, this step-by-step breakdown should greatly help you learn and practice this Tonfa/Tuifa kata as a supplement to your local instruction.

[Note: The photos below are freeze frames from the live action practice video, so they are not as perfect as if they were specifically posed photos for each move.] 

Onami Freeze-Frame Step-by-Step Breakdown

Onami is a kobudo Tonfa kata which focuses on repeating sets of basic blocks and strikes with the Tonfa along with a few kicks. This repetition helps drill the proper handling and manipulation of the Tonfa which takes more practice than the Bo.

Opening Sequence

1A) Kiotsuke (attention) Musubi-dachi (North). Both tonfa in L hand.
1B) Rei (bow).
2) Yoi: Raise tonfa chest level. Grab both handles with R-hand, then take one in each hand. Bring hands down to the sides and step out L-hachiji-dachi (like Pinan kata). Announce: Onami.

Side to Side Sequences (West to East)

3A) R step forward, turning L (West) into L-kumite-dachi. L-chudan-uke.
3B) R-gyaku-zuki.
3C) L-oi-zuki.
4A) L step across (North) turning R 180° into R-kumite-dachi. (East) R-chudan-uke.
4B) L-gyaku-zuki.
4C) R-oi-zuki.

Forward Jodan-uke Sequence (North)

5A) Turn L into L-kumite-dachi (N). L-jodan-uke.
5B) R-gyaku-zuki.
6A) R step forward (N). R-jodan-uke.
6B) L-gyaku-zuki.
7A) L step forward (N). L-jodan-uke.
7B) R step forward. R-oi-zuki. KIAI.

Backward Yoko-geri Sequences (South)

8A) R step across (W), turning L 180° (S). L-chudan-uke.
8B) R-gyaku-zuki.
9A) Chamber R knee, Open R tonfa inside over L shoulder.
9B) R-backfist flip to collar bone + R-downward yoko-geri.
9C) Land R-foot forward. Close R inside. L-gyaku-zuki. (S)
10A) Chamber L knee, Open L tonfa inside over R shoulder.
10B) L-backfist flip to collar bone + L-downward yoko-geri.
10C) Land L-foot forward. Close L inside. R-gyaku-zuki. (S)
11A) Chamber R-knee, Open R tonfa inside over L shoulder.
11B) R-backfist flip to collar bone + R-downward yoko-geri.
11C) Land R-foot forward. Close R inside. L-gyaku-zuki. (S)

Side/Side & Back/Front Mae-geri Sequences (East/West, South/North)

12A) Turn L (East) L-chudan-uke.
12B) R-gyaku-zuki
12C) L-oi-zuki.
12D) R-mae-geri, land back.
12E) R-jodan-gyaku-zuki
13A) L step (South) turn R 180° (West). R-chudan-uke.
13B) L-gyaku-zuki.
13C) R-oi-zuki.
13D) L-mae-geri, land back.
13E) L-jodan-gyaku-zuki.
14A) L step (S) L-jodan-uke.
14B) R-gyaku-zuki.
14C) R-mae-geri.
14D) Land back into angled shiko-dachi. Both tonfa smashing down. (S)
15A) L step (W) turning R 180° (N) R-jodan-uki.
15B) L-gyaku-zuki.
15C) L-mae-geri.
15D) Land back into angled shiko-dachi. Both tonfa smashing down. (N)

Diagonal Open Strike Sequences (NW – NE)

16A) L step (NW) flipping inside L-open-judan-zuki (NW).
16B) R-gyaku-zuki while closing L to the outside.
16C) R-mae-geri landing forward with a forward shuffle.
16D) L-gyak-zuki.
16E) R-oi-zuki.
16F) L-gyaku-zuki (NW).
17A) R step (NE) flipping inside R-open-judan-zuki (NE).
17B) L-gyaku-zuki while closing R to the outside.
17C) L-mae-geri landing forward with a forward shuffle.
17D) R-gyaku-zuki.
17E) L-oi-zuki.
17F) R-gyaku-izuki (NW).

Double Diagonal Striking Sequences (N)

18A) L step (N). L-chudan-uke.
18B) R-gyaku-zuki.
18C) L-oi-zuki (N).
19A) Flip inside R diagonal downward open backhand to collar bone and follow through down to side.
19B) Flip outside L from hip up over and down at shoulder level. All while taking a big step R forward.
19C) Flip L-upward and close it to the outside.
19D) Flip R upward and close to the inside (N).

Side to Side Sequences (East – West)

20A) L step (E) turn 270° into zenkutsu-dachi (E) L-gedan-barai.
20B) R step (E) R-oi-zuki (E).
21A) R step (W) turning 180° into zenkutsu-dachi (W) R-gedan-barai.
21B) L step (W) L-oi-zuki (W).

Second Set of Backward Yoko-geri Sequences (South)

22A) Step L (S) turn L (S) L-gedan-barai.
22B) R-gyaku-zuki (S).
23A) Chamber R knee, Open R tonfa inside over L shoulder.
23B) R-backfist flip to collar bone + R-downward yoko-geri.
23C) Land R-foot forward. Close R inside. L-gyaku-zuki. (S)
24A) Chamber L knee, Open L tonfa inside over R shoulder.
24B) L-backfist flip to collar bone + L-downward yoko-geri.
24C) Land L-foot forward. Close L inside. R-gyaku-zuki. (S)
25A) Chamber R-knee, Open R tonfa inside over L shoulder.
25B) R-backfist flip to collar bone + R-downward yoko-geri.
25C) Land R-foot forward. Close R inside. L-gyaku-zuki. (S)

Side to Side Mae-geri Sequences (W-E)

26) L step (W) Turn L 270° into L-zenkutsu-dachi (W). L-gedan-barai.
27A) R step R-oi-zuki.
27B) L-mae-geri landing back.
27C) L-gyaku-zuki.
28) R step (E) Turn R 180° into R-zenkutsu-dachi (E) R-gedan-barai.
29A) L step L-oi-zuki (E).
29B) R-mae-geri landing back.
29C) R-gyaku-zuki.

Closing Sequence (N)

30A) Yoi: L step back to hachiji-dachi (N) tonfa at sides.
30B) Kiotsuke: Bring tonfa up, grab both handles in R hand. Take both long ends in L hand down to L side, handles back. L step to R to musubi-dachi.
30C) Rei (bow).

Onami PDF Reference Sheet

The following PDF reference sheet is a distillation of all the moves in the kata to use as reference while learning and practicing the Tonfa/Tuifa kata. It is useful to help you remember what all the moves are until they are committed to muscle memory or for review to remember them after returning to the kata if it hasn’t been practiced in a while. I had created this reference sheet when I was first learning the kata myself. I hope it helps you as much as it helped me.

Download Onami Tonfa Kata PDF Reference Sheet

Onami-03-15-22

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-Renshi Mike Scaramozzino

Shoshin Nagamine's book The Essence of Okinawan Karate-do Matsubayashi Ryu

Michael Scaramozzino is a Yondan (4th degree Black Belt) in Matsubayashi Ryu / Shorin Ryu karate and a Nidan (2nd degree Black belt) in Kobudo (Okinawan weapons). He also practices Qigong and Tai Chi. He holds the teaching rank of Renshi (Internationally licensed teacher) and has been training since 2005.

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