Are tonfas and nunchakus traditional CHINESE weapons?
Keep in mind that very few things are developed in isolation. The native marital arts of Okinawa have their roots from contact with both Chinese and Japanese arts. Weapons don’t just appear they evolve through the exchange of ideas between individuals and cultures. As Japanese (and Okinawan) arts are more widely practiced, the “modern western” names for these items have been taken from these arts and have become the accepted standard. Both these weapons are found traditionally through out Asia, and today through out the world and are still evolving (modern composite materials in police batons, ball bearing swivels etc. The Chinese “tonfa” is called guai which roughly translates as crutch (or walking stick). It is believed to have been used in China some time before 700BC. A heavy variation exists which is traditionally made of iron and has a second slightly shorter shaft above the forearm ending just before the bend in the elbow, and has two small spear/arrow points that protrude forwa
