Chanbara
Weaponry: The Tanto
The Tanto; the Samurai's last line of defense. The tanto has gone through history as the weapon which all Samurai physically held close to them from birth to death. Moreover, the tanto is an extremely versatile working tool and weapon of protection. The tanto was long enough to feign off attacks and short enough to expertly maneuver and manipulate. There are many ways to hold, handle and fight with the short blade.
In Chanbara the tanto is used to teach the martial artist how to maneuver in close quarters. The tanto used in conjunction with ju-jitsu and other hand/foot technique offers a fast and exciting match. The Tanto division is the only division where the combatant can use the weapon as well as kicks, hand technique and takedowns to score points.
The Point
The head, chest and stomach are the three general target areas. For a point to be scored the combatant has to attack within these three areas. The strike must be a stab, thrust or deep cut. Slashing would be considered weak and scoring a winning point would be difficult. Arms, legs and other lesser parts of the body would not receive a point.
