Tanto (knife) is elemental for understanding of aikido techniques. With boken (sword) and jo (staff), it is crucial for learning distance, timing and momentum of every step of the technique. Practicing with weapons doesn’t mean that we should interfere with the real weapon. It’s a tool for better understanding and feeling of your partner and the root of most aikido practices. Almost every aikido technique can be done with a weapon, both in the hands of the attacker, as well as in the hands of th