THE TONFA
Rice grinder handles (TONFA) are old domestic implements which, with a little training, can become formidable weapons. They consist of a pair of flattened, heavy wood batons with a peg projecting at right angles near to one end. Typically they were held by the pegs, with the longer part of the baton laying against the forearm and the butt end projecting forward.
The butt gave extension and force to a punch while the baton protected the forearm from impact injury. Held this way, the tonfa could be swung out in a circle, swivelling on the peg so the baton flipped forward to strike the side of the opponent's head.
That the tonfa is a very versatile weapon is attested to by the fact that they are now used by many police forces in place of plain batons.
Police tonfas are typically longer that the traditional type and they are used singly, except in Russia. Ideally, tonfa batons should be made to measure so the peg is of the right length to be grasped firmly.
The longer baton should extend as far along the forearm as the elbow;
any shorter and it will not be able to fully protect the arm from powerful swinging attacks.