| General Information |
Tantojutsu is a Japanese martial art that uses a small knife called tanto. Like other lesser known styles, Tantojutsu is part of kenjutsu which is the umbrella term for all Japanese swordsmanship styles. Tanto is a traditional Japanese weapon invented in the Heian period from the 8th to 12th century. Samurai warriors carried tanto as a backup weapon of katana, their primary weapon. As it is a type of a short bladed knife, it was effective in close quarter combat for quick defence. |
| History/Development |
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Tantojutsu was popular in feudal times of Japan when carrying long swords was prohibited. They used a different form of tanto called kaiken that was shorter than tanto. Tantojutsu has declined over time and now there are not many practitioners. |
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| References |
- Butouken. (s.d.). “Exploring the Japanese Martial Art Tantojutsu”. Butouken. |
Not many sources available |
