From the Tonfa to the Police Baton: The History of the Side-Handle Baton

Introduction

Few people realize that one of the most recognizable tools carried by American police officers has its roots in a traditional weapon from Okinawa. The Side-Handle Baton, also known as the PR-24, did not appear by accident. Its origins can be traced directly to the Tonfa, one of the most famous weapons of Okinawan Kobudo.

The story of this transformation is a fascinating example of how a traditional martial arts weapon influenced modern law enforcement equipment.

The Mystery of the Tonfa's Origins

The history of the Tonfa stretches back centuries.

According to the most popular theory, it originated from the handle of a millstone used for grinding grain. Other researchers argue that its true origin remains uncertain and that the connection to agricultural tools may have been developed later.

Whatever its exact beginnings, by the nineteenth century the Tonfa had become one of the principal weapons of Okinawan Kobudo.

The Tonfa in Okinawa

Traditionally, the Tonfa was used in pairs.

Practitioners could spin it with great speed, block attacks, and deliver powerful strikes using different parts of the weapon.

Contrary to the image often presented in martial arts movies, the Tonfa was not based solely on spinning movements. Its effectiveness came primarily from its ability to protect the hand, generate power at close range, and provide excellent control during combat.


The Birth of the Modern Side-Handle Baton

The connection between the Tonfa and the police baton emerged in the United States during the twentieth century.

A key figure in this story was Robert Koga, an officer and trainer with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Koga, who had studied martial arts, recognized the limitations of the traditional straight police baton when it came to controlling suspects.

Inspired by the design and capabilities of the Tonfa, he developed a new baton adapted specifically for law enforcement purposes.

The result was the Side-Handle Baton.


The PR-24 and a Revolution in Police Training

The best-known version of this new design became the PR-24.

Its name was derived from its approximate length of twenty-four inches.

Unlike conventional batons, the side handle allowed for improved weapon retention, faster transitions between positions, and a wider range of defensive techniques.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the PR-24 spread rapidly throughout many police departments in the United States.

For years, it became one of the most recognizable symbols of American policing.


Why Police Agencies Adopted It

The new design offered several advantages over traditional batons.

The side handle made the baton easier to control under stressful conditions.

It provided greater protection for the user's hand.

It allowed officers to perform various control and restraint techniques without relying exclusively on strikes.

Because of these features, many agencies viewed it as a more versatile tool than the traditional straight baton.

From America to the Rest of the World

The success of the PR-24 eventually led to its adoption by law enforcement and security organizations outside the United States.

It was used by police services, correctional institutions, and security personnel in several countries.

Although it never became a universal standard, it achieved widespread recognition and remained in service for decades.

The Rise of Expandable Batons

Beginning in the 1990s, many police agencies started replacing side-handle batons with expandable batons.

The newer designs were lighter, easier to carry, and less cumbersome on duty belts.

As a result, the Side-Handle Baton gradually lost the dominant position it had once held.

However, it never disappeared completely.

Some agencies and training organizations continue to use it today.

Is It Really a Tonfa?

The answer is both yes and no.

The basic concept of the side handle clearly comes from the traditional Tonfa.

However, the PR-24 was not designed as an Okinawan martial arts weapon.

Instead, it was created as a modern law enforcement tool that borrowed certain design principles from the Tonfa and adapted them for police work.

In other words, the Side-Handle Baton is best understood as a descendant of the Tonfa rather than a direct copy.

The Legacy of a Traditional Design

The story of the Side-Handle Baton represents one of the most interesting connections between traditional martial arts and the modern world.

From the villages of Okinawa to the streets of Los Angeles, the fundamental concept behind the Tonfa survived and evolved.

Few traditional weapons can claim to have directly influenced the equipment used by modern law enforcement agencies.

The Tonfa is one of them.

Sources
Robert Koga and the Development of the PR-24 Baton
Monadnock Lifetime Products Historical Archives
International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA)
Encyclopedia of Asian Martial Arts – Draeger & Smith
Okinawan Kobudo Association
Ryukyu Kobujutsu Preservation Society
Black Belt Magazine Archives
Police Baton Training Manuals (1970s–1990s)