What weapons are used in Aikido? A look at the three main weapons used in the martial art

For many, Aikido is known as a gentle martial art that doesn’t involve punches or kicks. However, whilst Aikido is based around peace, it still uses three main weapons which are commonly found in most Aikido dojos. Of course, some schools will offer their own unique spin on things, however in this article, we shall look at the three main weapons that are used in Aikido. More specifically, these are the Tanto, Bokken, and the Jo.

Typically, these weapons are all wooden and differ in size and weight. They are all wooden for safety reasons. Obviously, sparring with real blades could have dangerous consequences, whereas wooden objects aren’t as sharp or pointed. The idea is to offer a realistic scenario in the dojo whilst still keeping it safe at all times. In short, each weapon is specifically designed for particular uses.

For instance, the Jo represents a long staff, whilst the Tanto is more akin to a dagger. With this in mind, each of the three main weapons are designed to replicate weapons in a hand-to-hand combat scenario. Not only this but remember Aikido was founded Morihei Ueshiba during the 1800s. This is why the weapons are quite relevant to this period of history. Of course, poles and daggers are still used in fights today so they are still very relevant in today’s society too. Below we shall look at each weapon in greater detail.

The Tanto (Tanto Dori)

The Tanto is easily the smallest of all three weapons. As previously mentioned, this represents a small dagger-like blade that can easily be held in your hand. The point of this is that it can be easily carried and is very lightweight. Arguably, daggers are the most common knives to be used in street fights so this is why it’s used so often in Aikido. Formally, this is often referred to as the Tanto Dori.

It’s worth pointing out that in Aikido, the objective is to defeat the opponent as peacefully as possible. In other words, most of the training used isn’t from the perspective of the attacker. Instead, the objective is usually how to disable the attacker by disarming their weapon. In the case of the Tanto, this would mean using Aikido skills such as dodges and hand-fighting to disable the aggressor.

For instance, if they lunge forward, you could use their momentum to evade the attack and go straight into a wristlock on the hand that holds the Tanto. In doing this, you could then try and twist the wrist to break the bones to release the Tanto or dagger. Remember, timing is imperative against smaller weapons and you will need to pick your spots wisely.

Training with the Tanto will improve your skills in defending against smaller objects that are similar to daggers. Whilst not the same, similar weapons include bottles, hand-axes and screwdrivers. As mentioned, these are common in street fights due to their size and convenience to carry. As a result, training with the Tanto is arguably the most important of all weapons that are used in Aikido.

The Bokken

Dating back to older times, the Bokken was created to mimic a sword. More specifically, it resembles a katana that was commonly used in Japan at the time, as opposed to European swords that are different in shape and weight. Obviously, katana’s are no longer used in modern-day however, similar objects include poles, baseball bats, and even chains. As a result, training with the Bokken is still as relevant today as it ever has been. Culturally speaking, the Bokken is also found in other martial arts such as Kendo.

As a result of its length, the Bokken is significantly heavier than the Tanto which means it requires two hands to hold instead of one. As another result of its frame, it means it is less commonly used in modern-day fighting. Nonetheless, some people are still unlucky enough to come across such weapons in the streets. If you’re on the lookout for a Bokken, this particular model is great as it combines wood and plastic to give you a feeling of realism and safety.

Typically, the design and size of the weapons will also dictate how they are trained against. For example, unlike the Tanto, defending against the Bokken is completely different. On the one hand, the Bokken will be slower and easier to dodge. On the other hand, getting hit with the Bokken could prove more fatal and deadly. Generally speaking, speed, distance management and quick feet help in defending against bigger weapons.

The Jo

The Jo is by far the longest and biggest weapon on the list. Unlike the Bokken, it is slim and long whilst lacking much thickness. However, it is significantly longer than the others. It should also be noted that the Jo was meant to originally resemble a long staff. Whilst this was once common in Japanese fighting, the art of the staff is mostly dead in todays society. It still features heavily in some martial arts such as Shaolin however in popular culture it has mostly died out.

Similarly, there are few weapons that are commonly used in fighting these days that resemble the Jo. Unlike the previous two weapons used, there are no real comparisons either. Nonetheless, you may encounter long weapons at times so that is why the Jo is still trained with today. Not only this but the Jo is probably also taught in homage to the historical origins of Aikido.

It should also be noted that once more, defending the Jo is specific to its size and shape. In other words, most strikes with this would be lunges as opposed to downward strikes. From a defensive perspective, arguably the Jo is the easiest weapon to defend against. Although it’s lighter than the Bokken, it is also very big and can be cumbersome to handle because of this.

Training with guns in Aikido

Whilst objects such as the Jo may no longer be as relevant as they once were, other weapons have seemingly stepped in as a result. Specifically speaking, some Aikido dojos now offer courses on gun disarming techniques. Usually, this involves pistols whereas bigger guns such as rifles and shotguns are less common. As discussed earlier, many Aikido dojos still ignore arms training, however due to the growth in guns over the years – many are starting to add this training to their curriculum.

Usually, this involves disarming guns in a similar way to disarming the Tanto as they are similar sizes. Often, plastic or rubber guns are used as a replica whilst still physically mimicking the real thing. This means timing is often prioritized with a combination of wristlocks to disable the gun. This training isn’t exclusive to Aikido either and is often found in Hapkido and other combative martial arts. Ironically, one criticism of Aikido is that it is too old and traditional in its thinking. However, the addition of gun disarming training suggests otherwise.

Does Aikido use other weapons?

To answer the question, yes it does. As stated at the beginning of the article, the Tanto, Bokken, and Jo are merely the three main weapons used in Aikido. The use of other weapons depends completely on each particular dojo and the ideas of the sensei involved. For example, there are various weapons used in Kobudo that are sometimes found in other martial arts. For instance, the Bo has origins in Kobudo and is also found in some Aikido schools.

Similarly, some dojos use the Naganita that resembles a hockey stick, whilst others may even use Nunchucks too. Basically, there are no set rules for other weapons in Aikido and it’s all down to personal preference. Regardless of the differences, one thing that most schools will have in common is that most weapons are trained to defend against, rather than attacking.

Sparring with weapons

As you may have figured by now, a lot of this article is based on the perspective of defending against weapons by using Aikido. This has been the stance as Aikido’s core philosophy is based on avoiding confrontation and relying on self-defense rather than aggression. Nonetheless, it should be noted that many dojos will use sparring with both Aikido practitioners bearing weapons. For example, it’s not uncommon to see two people using Bokken sticks against each other.

Often this is based on who can strike first without getting hit, with more emphasis being awarded to head and chest strikes for obvious reasons. Of course, this sparring is typically light and gentle. The reason for this is even though a Bokken isn’t exactly a metal sword, it is still heavy enough to seriously harm someone if it lands with enough intent. This means there has to be a mix between reality and practicality to make sure it’s safe to train yet offer realistic results. For most Aikido practitioners, this is not really an issue though especially when training with trusted partners who aren’t overly aggressive.

Weapons used in Aikido competitions

Although competitions aren’t as common in Aikido when compared to other martial arts – they still happen. As Aikido is fairly subjective in its approach, some people use weapons as a way to test Aikido skills in competition. For example, some competitions will focus on each competitor having a round each. One will start with a dummy-blade whilst the other has to evade this weapon and/or successfully disarm their opponent. Often, points are scored for hitting the opponent in certain areas such as the arms and stomach.

However, the longer the one practitioner can avoid their opponent from getting struck, the more likely they will win. Ultimately, if they can completely disarm the opponent then that is the ultimate victory. This is a good and safe way to train Aikido against weapons. Most importantly, it is done in a competitive environment that adds more pressure to the scenario.

As Aikido is often criticized for lacking a competitive element, this ruleset successfully proves that Aikido can also show its competitive side too. Of course, it should also be noted that most Aikido competitions do not involve weapons and are mostly based on throws and relying completely on your hands.