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Karate doesn't teach weapons. Hence the name "empty hand." However, some karate schools include a kobudo (weapons) program.

The weapons taught in karate schools vary with the style. Ones I've seen being taught include:

  • Bo (six-foot staff)
  • Jo (shorter staff)
  • Tonfa - Handle for mill stone, looks like a club with a handle
  • Sai - The 'forks'
  • Kama - small sickles
  • Nunchaku
  • Spear
  • Shield and sword (Small shield made from turtle shell, short sword/long knife)
  • Eku- Oar

Well, as Karate literally means 'The way of the empty hand', weapons aren't traditionally used. However, in my style of Karate (Shukokai) we often study defenses against Bo Staffs and nunchaku, but not actually how to use them. It mostly depends on what Karate style you learn.
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13y ago

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More answers

Taekwondo is a martial art that incorporates many aspects of self defense, including defense against weapons. Basic use of all weapons is necessary to learn how to defend against them, and some Taekwondo practitioners add weapons as a more in-depth study. Which weapons depends on the instructor, and their knowledge and ability to teach weapons.

Some weapons taught in connection with Taekwondo training include:

staff, tonfa, nunchakku, 3-sectional staff, sai, kama, knives, bayonets, swords, and various firearms.

Some experts consider Taekwondo to be an "unarmed" system of self defense, while others believe that anything and everything is potentially a part of Taekwondo. If it works - - use it!

Background info:

Taekwondo was organized and named in 1955, with a tumultuous transitional period through the 1960's. The curriculum was based primarily on ancient Korean fighting skills, combative training, and native culture and traditions. Taekwondo itself is designed to be a method of "unarmed combat" (no weapons), however the reality is that weapons are always included as needed. In ancient times, Korean soldiers trained with staffs, spears, swords, and were skilled in Archery. Any weapon that was popular at the time would have become a subject for training since it was necessary to defend against an attacker with such a weapon (e.g.: sticks, staffs, nunchakku, sai, knives, and swords). These are not automatically a part of every Taekwondo school's curriculum, but they were utilized among some Taekwondo instructors (past and present), and are not excluded from options. If it can be used in a fight, it is part of Taekwondo.

In modern times, many Taekwondo instructors adopt the same philosophy.

Early practitioners in Korea had to train with rifles, bayonets, knives, swords, and whatever else was used in combat, or might be encountered in street defense. Today, many Taekwondo instructors are not properly trained in weapons, and either leave them out all together, or attempt to introduce them to their students without formal training. Guns can be an important part of modern Taekwondo for learning to use a gun in combination with Taekwondo skills, or disarming an armed attacker. Once again, proper training in this area should be sought by the instructor who offers weapons training.

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13y ago
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As far as I'm concerned (which is pretty far) there are no weapons used in karate whatsoever. But if you do want weapons go to another style of martial art, there are non-contact and full contact versions of a variety of Martial Arts. That was a great question and a pleaure to answer! Thanks! Love, 10 year old black belt.(Yes I'm serious I worked hard for 7 years for it too (I'm not kidding!)=).

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16y ago
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Technically, no weapons are used in karate. However, many schools have combined karate and kabudo and teach both, but just use the name karate. The bo (staff), sai, tonfa and nanchuku are the most common ones.

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14y ago
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Traditional Aikido uses the bokken "wooden sword" and a Jo "short version of a bo or staff". Originally, many of the Aikido techniques simulate the sword. The basic Aikido stance is the same stance that the samurai used while holding a sword, the hand positioning is also the same in a basic stance. Generally, weapons are not mandatory in Aikido and not all Sensei know bokken/Jo techniques. It is just a good piece of history for the art.

Also when 7th dan or degree black belts are ready they may train with a Shinken or else known as a real Katana

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11y ago
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In the broadest sense of martial arts, all weapons are a part of the combat arts. In the traditional unarmed martial arts, no weapons are used. It will vary according to your school and what you are actually studying.

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11y ago
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Most of the weapons of kobudo, often taught along side karate, are based on everyday objects. They were the tools used by the people in the fields. They included the staff, horse bridles, oars and cutting tools.

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Wiki User

8y ago
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In Karate swords can be used. In one higher grade Kata they pretend to use a sword and it is safe to perform with a sword.

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14y ago
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No, because karate means "empty handed"!

Many schools also teach kobudo, which is the use of the traditional Okinawa weapons, such as Sai, tonfa, bo and nunchucku.

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Wiki User

12y ago
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Q: What are the weapons in Karate?
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