Weapon Alternatives: Monk

The following table lists some traditional monk weapons and the weapon statistics to use with them.

## Monk Weapons Descriptions

**Bian**
A bian, or hard whip, is a ribbed metal rod often used as a training sword. *Use the statistics for a mace.*

**Bō**
A bō is a staff made from bamboo or hardwood. It might have a round, square or hexagonal cross-section and some are reinforced with metal bands. *Use the statistics for a quarterstaff.*

**Butterfly sword**
A butterfly sword is a short, broad, single-edged blade with a small crossguard. Only half of one edge is sharpened – the mid-point to the tip – with the blunt edges used for non-lethal strikes. They are usually wielded as a pair. *Use the statistics for a short sword.*

**Chakram**
A chakram is a flat metal ring, 15 inches in diameter, with protruding blades and a padded grip. They are usually wielded as a pair. *Use the statistics for a handaxe.*

**Dao**
A dao is a short single-edged sabre-like sword. *Use the statistics for a short sword.*

**Dragon pole**
A dragon pole is long staff. Practitioners say they can project their ki down its length. *Use the statistics for a quarterstaff.*

**Naginata**
A Naginata is a curved blade on the end of a staff. Often associated with fighting monks, the Naginata is also a weapon for infantrymen. Advanced techniques include whirling the weapon, striking with the base as well as the blade, and wide sweeping strikes. "Use the statistics for spear, but cannot be used as a thrown weapon."

**Eku**
An eku is a polearm derived from an oar. The wide, wooden blade makes this a top-heavy weapon: techniques focus on large circular strikes. *Use the statistics for a quarterstaff.*

**Emeici**
Also known as Emei daggers or piercers. An emeici is a thin metal rod with a sharp stabbing tip, mounted on a detachable ring for wearing on the middle finger. The weapon can thus be spun or thrown. They are usually wielded as a pair. *Use the statistics for a dagger.*

**Kama**
The kama was developed from the agricultural sickle. It has a short wooden haft with a curved blade projecting sidewards from the tip. *Use the statistics for a sickle.*

**Kusarigama**
The kusarigama consists of a kama (the equivalent of a sickle) on a a metal chain with a heavy iron weight at the end. *Use the statistics for a mace.*

**Kuwa**
The kuwa was developed from the agricultural hoe. It has a short wooden haft with an acute, inward horizontal blade. *Use the statistics for a sickle.*

**Ninjatō**
A ninjatō is a short, straight sword. *Use the statistics for a short sword.*

**Nunchaku**
A nunchaku a pair of short wooden sticks connected by a rope or chain. *Use the statistics for a club.*

**Ono**
An ono is a hatchet with a large convex cutting edge. It associated with warrior monks who adopted agricultural tools as weapons. *Use the statistics for a handaxe.*

**Jutte**
A jutte is a short, pointed metal baton with a curved prong projecting from the handle. Although it can be thrust like a dagger, it has a blunt tip; it can also be thrown. *Use the statistics for a light hammer.*

**Sai**
Sai are 3 pronged truncheons/clubs with the outer forks often used in defense, they are found in some monk cloisters. The monks using them practice many different forms and grips while holding one in each hand. If wielded by a master, their fighting style looks more like a dance than a battle. *Use the statistics for a club.*

**Shobo**
A shobo is a sharpened wooden rod mounted on a detachable ring, used for striking pressure points. *Use the statistics for a dagger.*

**Tambo**
A tambo is a short wooden staff of length less than 3 feet. *Use the statistics for a club.*

**Three-section staff**
A three-section staff is three bamboo or hardwood sticks connected by short chains. It has a slightly longer reach than a quarterstaff, and can be folded to make it easier to conceal. *Use the statistics for a quarterstaff.*

**Tonfa**
A tonfa is a wooden club with a perpendicular grip that allows the shaft to rest along the wielder's forearm. It may have developed from the use of millstone handles or crutches as weapons. *Use the statistics for a club.*

**Wakizashi**
A two foot long Japanese sword that looks like a short katana. *Use the statistics for a shortsword.*