Tanto and its Use in Aikido

Tanto 短刀, which literally means “short sword”, is a traditional Japanese knife typically single-edged and between 15 and 30 cm in length. The earliest tanto dates back to the Heian period (794-1185), where it was primarily used for outdoor activities like hunting and fishing. Over time, the tanto became more widely used as a weapon by the samurai class. Samurai typically carried two swords – a full-size katana 刀 (daito 大刀) and an 30-60 cm intermediate-size wakizashi 脇差 (shoto 小刀). However, in some cases, they may have also carried a tanto in place of a wakizashi. Tanto was particularly useful in close-quarters combat in confined spaces and was often used for quick, decisive strikes against an opponent. The art of mastering the tanto is called Tantojutsu. Historically, a smaller type of tanto called kaiken 懐剣 was commonly used for self-defense, especially for women.

A katana 刀 and a wakizashi 脇差

A typical samurai tanto is made from high-carbon steel with a wooden handle known as the tsuka 柄, wrapped in silk or leather. Some common blade types for the tanto include the Hira 平, the Shinogi 鎬, and the Shobu 菖蒲, but there are also other less common types such as the Kissaki-Moroha 切先両刃 with a double-edged point.

A tanto 短刀

Today, wooden tanto are used in martial art practice. In aikido, the tanto is used primarily as a training tool to simulate a real knife attack. Tanto dori in aikido include disarming an attacker, immobilizing them, and redirecting their movements. Defense against a tanto could be daunting and challenging as it is a potentially lethal weapon. However, it provides practitioners with a valuable opportunity to develop their awareness of an attacker’s movements, improve their reflexes, and increase their confidence and psychological readiness to defend themselves. Physically, tanto dori requires practitioners to be quick, agile, and react with coordinated body movements. Mentally, practitioners need to stay focused, calm, and overcome the fear of facing a weapon. Many Aikido techniques can be used effectively to defend against a tanto attack, including but not limited to kote gaeshi 小手返し and gokyu 五教.

In summary, the use of tanto is an important part of Aikido training. While it is challenging, it is also rewarding. It offers a range of physical and mental benefits for Aikido practitioners.

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