Bo
	A bo is a 6-foot pole, once used by farmers to carry across their shoulders with a basket of seeds and planting supplies hanging from each end.  If attacked, the farmer slid off the basket and was ready to fight.  The bo could be turned lengthwise for blocking and the tapered ends could be used for stabbing.  The bo was made of the hardest wood available so it could withstand blows from a sword.

Kamas
	The kama is a 3-foot pole with a curved blade attached to the end.  Farmers used this razor-sharp sickle to cut rice and grass.  They also found it useful when defending themselves against a sword.  The pole gave them a longer reach so they didn't need to get too close to their attacker.

Nunchaku

Nunchaku originally came from Southeast Asia .  They were brought to Okinawa and hidden among the farming tools during the weapons ban.  They could be used for thrashing rice, but were more effective as a weapon.  Nunchaku is two hardwood sticks, 12 to 18 inches long, connected by a small rope.  They are rapidly whipped to block attacks or to club the opponent.  The attacker could be grabbed around the throat with the connecting rope.  Nunchaku also could be used to grab the attacker's weapon and pull it away.

Sai

The sai is a short steel tool with three prongs.  It looked something like the head of a pitchfork.  It may have been used originally to make rows for planting seeds, but it was more likely a weapon brought over from China and disguised as a farm tool.  It worked well for trapping a sword between its prongs.  The pointed ends were used for stabbing or slashing.  Two sai were often used together as a pair.  Or one sai was used for fighting and the second was tucked into the belt.  If the first sai got stuck in an enemy or knocked to the ground, a second sai was handy.

Tonfa

The farmers also used the tonfa, which was the handle from a soybean or rice grinder.  It is a 17-inch long stick with a 5-inch handle sticking straight out from the side.  When held by the handle against the forearm it was used to block attacks.  It also could be held by the handle with the long end extended out as a club.  Or, two tonfa could be held together with their short handles protruding on each side.

Other common weapons are the:

Escrima

Knife

Bokken

Shinai