Introduction: Easy Yawara Sticks

By

This Instructable will show how to make a cheap, easy pair of Yawara sticks that are sharp enough to use for karate tournaments.

Yawara sticks are a traditional Japanese martial arts weapons that were used in times past by police in a similar way to night sticks or kubotons. They are a great weapon for beginning karate students that do not know a weapon kata to use in tournaments, since they can just be held in their fists as they run an open-handed kata that they already know. 

For information on how to use these in combat, I would recommend "How to use the Yawara Stick" by F.A. Matsuyama (1948), which can be found in PDF version online. (http://www.scribd.com/doc/3062624/F-A-Matsuyama-How-To-Use-The-Yawara-Stick1948-68-inches-length)

PARTS LIST:
(item numbers are from www.lowes.com)
7/8" wooden dowel (Item# 19385, $3.78)
2x Copper 3/4" pipe caps (Item# 21664, $1.21ea)
Black high-gloss spray paint (Item# 113549, $3.98)
Gorilla Glue (Item#152243, $4.99)

If you already have the paint and glue, then the cost works out to be as little as $3.68/pair if you get enough caps for 3 pair (which is what you can get out of a single dowel rod). Otherwise everything all told is $15.17.

DIRECTIONS:
Very simple:
    1. paint dowel black
    2. Cut dowel into 6.5" segments
    3. Gorilla glue the copper caps on the end

If you want, you can get a gold paint pen to write your name on there which is what I did when I presented a pair to one of my students.

SAFETY:
When using the spray paint and glue, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area. Also, be sure to read and follow all safety precautions when using the saw.
Be sure to follow the directions of a competent instructor when using the Yawara - though simple, they have the ability to cause great injury if used improperly. I make no claims about the legalities of making Yawara sticks - while legal that I know of in the USA, there are some countries (aka, England) where it is illegal to own these.

Note:
Photo from "How to use the Yawara Stick" is in the public domain, having been published in 1948 per http://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm