Tonfa no Ichi Kata – First Tonfa/Tuifa Form

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The above video shows an outdoor practice session of a Matsubayashi kobudo kata named Tonfa no Ichi (or Tuifa no Ichi). Tonfa no Ichi kata simply means first tonfa form, though it is actually the second tonfa form that I learned. I videoed this practice session in my backyard on 10/24/21.

Tonfa no Ichi is a Matsubayashi-ryu kobudo Tonfa kata which focuses on repeating sets of flipping strikes and blocks with the Tonfa. This repetition helps drill the proper handling and manipulation of the Tonfa which takes more practice than the Bo.

Periodically video taping practice sessions like this is a great way to review and analyze your performance. On video you can see what you are doing well and where you can continue to improve. Practicing Karate/Kobudo is always a constant process of learning, evaluating and improving.

Below is a freeze-frame step-by-step breakdown and PDF reference sheet as well as a promotional performance and other versions of Tonfa no Ichi (Tuifa no Ichi).

Enjoy!

Tonfa no Ichi Freeze-Frame Step-by-Step Breakdown

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 above practice video, and the below presentation 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 frame stills from the above live action practice video, so they are not as perfect as if they were specifically posed photos for each move.]

Opening Sequence

1A) Yoi: Musubi-dachi (North). Both tonfa in L hand chamber.

2) Yoi: L step L to hachiji-dachi (N). Tonfa closed by front/side like Pinan kata. Announce: **Tonfa no Ichi**

3) L step back into R-neko-ashi-dachi. R jodan-uke. L chamber.

Side to Side Sequences (West to East)

4) L step/turn L (W) into L-zenkutsu-dachi. L gedan-barai. R chamber.

5A) R step forward (W) into R-neko-ashi-dachi. R closed oi-zuki.

6) R step back (E) turning R 180° into R-zenkutsu-dachi (E). R gedan-barai, L chamber.

7A) L step forward (E) into L-neko-ashi-dachi. L closed oi-zuki.

Forward Shiko-dachi Sequence (North)

8) L step L turning L into L-neko-ashi-dachi (N). L jodan-uke. R chamber.

9) R step forward into shiko-dachi facing (W) looking (N). R closed side tzuki (N). L chamber. **KIAI**

10) L step back turning L 180° into shiko-dachi facing (E) looking (N). L gedan-barai (N). R chamber.

Flip Side-Side / Down-Up Sequence (East)

11A) R step forward (E) into R neko-ashi-dachi (E). R flip open outside to inside.

11E) L closed gyaku-zuki.
[Note: Target solar plexus with tonfa level. This strike was too high in the freeze-frame]

Flip Side-Side / Down-Up Sequence (West)

12) R step back (W) turning 180° R into R zenkutsu-dachi (W). R gedan-barai. L chamber.

131A) L step forward (W) into L neko-ashi-dachi (E). L flip open outside to inside.

13E) R closed gyaku-zuki.
[Note: Target solar plexus with tonfa level. This strike was a little too high in the freeze-frame]

Punch-Down-Up Sequence (South)

14) L step L (S) into L zenkutsu-dachi (S). L gedan-barai. R chamber.

15A) R step forward (S) to R neko-ashi-dachi (S). R oi-zuki.

16A) L step forward (S) to L neko-ashi-dachi (S). L oi-zuki.

17A) R step forward (S) to R neko-ashi-dachi (S). R oi-zuki.

Cross X Strike Sequence (NW)

18) R step across L (E) turn 225° into L neko-ashi-dachi (NW). L gedan-barai, R high back uke.

19A) R step forward (NW) into R neko-ashi-dachi. R flip across X down/left.

Cross X Strike Sequence (NE)

20) R step R into R neko-ashi-dachi (NE). R gedan-barai. L high back uke.

21A) L step forward (NE) into L neko-ashi-dachi. L flip across X down/right.

Forward Sequence (N)

22) L step L into L neko-ashi-dachi (N). L jodan-uke. R chamber.

23) R step forward into R zenkutsu-dachi (N). R oi-zuki (N). L chamber. **KIAI**

24) L/R shuffle back into R neko-ashi-dachi (N). Double jodan-uke.

25) R step back into heisoku-dachi (N). Double chamber.

26) Step forward L/R into R zenkutsu-dachi (N). Double jodan-zuki. **KIAI**

Double Cross Sequence (N)

27A) R step back into L zenkutsu-dachi (N) dropping both out to the back/sides.

27B) Swing both open across the front middle crossing L arm over R.

27C) Swing back out/down to the sides open.

28) Raise both forward open and hit bottoms together high.

Back and Forward X Sequence (N)

29) R step forward (N) L step back (S) into shiko-dachi facing (W) looking (N). R gedan-barai (N).

30) R step back (S) turning 180° R into shiko-dachi facing (E) looking (N). L gedan-barai (N).

31A) R step forward shizentai-dachi (N). R flip X down/left.

32A) L step forward shizentai-dachi (N). L flip X down/right.

33A) R step forward shizentai-dachi (N). R flip X down/left.

Back and Closing Sequence (N)

34) R step back/right (SE) into L neko-ashi-dachi (NW). L gedan-barai. R chamber.

35) L step back/left (SW) into R neko-ashi-dachi (NE). R gedan-barai. L chamber.

36) L step forward (N) into hachiji-dachi (N). Both down to front/sides as in Pinan.
[NOTE: I missed this position in the practice video, but included it in the presentation video.]

37A) L step to R into musubi-dachi (N). Bring R across to L and both in L chamber.

Tonfa no Ichi 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 Tonfa no Ichi Kata PDF Reference Sheet

Tonfa-no-Ichi-11-14-21

Tonfa no Ichi Kata Kobudo First Tonfa Form Promotional Performance Video

The above video shows my performance of a Matsubayashi kobudo kata named Tonfa no Ichi (or Tuifa no Ichi) that I performed at my recent Nidan kobudo promotional. Tonfa no Ichi kata simply means first tonfa form, though it is actually the second tonfa form that I learned. This video was shot at the dojo where we train and teach, The Academy of Traditional Karate, in Wilmington, MA on 7/31/21.

Sempai MJ Scaramozzino, Kyoshi Todd Keane, Renshi Michael Scaramozzino — Sempai Michael J. Scaramozzino, Kyoshi Todd Keane, Renshi Michael Scaramozzino

We practice a different tonfa kata named Onami (Great Wave) in our kobudo program. Onami is composed of mostly blunt strikes with the tonfa in a closed or open position using the ends of the weapon. (I’ve also videoed a practice session of Onami and will include it in a future post.)

Our dojo primarily focuses on empty hand karate and includes the kobudo weapons program to supplement that empty hand karate. As such, the kobudo program generally only goes up to the Shodan level. I’ve been training and teaching kobudo as a Shodan since 2012 and taught myself this new kata as an extra research project to expand my experience with the Tonfa. Tonfa no Ichi focuses more on flipping strikes with the tonfa at various angles. I thought it would be a good kata to compliment the more static techniques we practice in Onami. I look forward to continuing to refine this new kata along with the rest of our kobudo material.

Additional Versions of Tonfa no Ichi (Tuifa no Ichi)

I learned the kata from an excellent instructional video that Sensei Lara Chamberlain had posted in her great YouTube channel. In the video she first went through all the moves slowly and then again at full speed. Unfortunately she appears to have removed that original Matsubayashi Tuifa no Ichi video from her channel, so I’ve reposted the small full speed portion of that video below just for comparison reference.

Sensei Lara posted a new, substantially similar, video named Shinjo no Tuifa, embedded below. Shinjo no Tuifa looks to be mostly the same, though there appears to be some minor changes to how the kata is performed under her new Tiida-ryū (Tenyō-ryū) style. Some of the previous cat stances now appear to be done with the front heel down and the weight more forward. Near the end there are also two forward steps with cross strikes, where there were three in the previous version that I learned from above. The rest of it is pretty much the same.

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-Renshi Mike Scaramozzino