Why do you think Riot Police hold their tonfa baton clubs like that?
Some more info thanks to wiki:
A baton (also known as a truncheon or nightstick) is a roughly cylindrical club made of wood, rubber, plastic, or metal. It is carried as a compliance tool and defensive weapon by law-enforcement officers, correctional staff, security guards and military personnel.
A baton may be used in many ways as a weapon. It can be used defensively to block; offensively to strike, jab, or bludgeon; and it can aid in the application of armlocks. The usual striking or bludgeoning action is not produced by a simple and direct hit, as with an ordinary blunt object, but rather by bringing the arm down sharply while allowing the truncheon to pivot nearly freely forward and downward, so moving its tip much faster than its handle. Batons are also used for non-weapon purposes such as breaking windows to free individuals trapped in a vehicle, or turning out a suspect's pockets during a search (as a precaution against sharp objects).
Some criminals use batons as weapons because of their simple construction and easy concealment. The use or carrying of batons or improvised clubs by people other than law enforcement officers is restricted by law in many countries.
Why have riot police been holding their tonfas, their clubs, like this?
I'll be honest, I don't 100% know for sure. However, I do have six years of law enforcement experience, including riot training and carrying a baton almost every day.
So here's an educated guess: it comes down to versatility and retention.
The tonfa itself has a lot of versatility. You can use it with the long arm against your forearm for good defense, but you're still able to jab and swing this out and strike. You're able to hold it like a club with a crossguard, or reverse that and this nub concentrates a lot of force—like a Warhammer. It can also catch and parry weapons.
So a reason for holding it like this is likely to make the most of that versatility if you need to use it in one hand. Let go with your off hand and use it defensively, or just grab it like a club in your right.
The other reason I think is retention. Tonfas in general have better retention, kind of. At least they're not as bad to lose. If you drop a club it could just roll away, since you know... It's a circle thing. Not the best because then you're out a weapon and one of the peaceful protestors you're attacking might be able to grab it. A tonfa, on the other hand, you drop it and it just flops to that arm.
Holding something in two hands is more secure. However holding it like this still puts all your fingers facing the same way, which could be weak points. Not that weak, but... Having your hands in two different positions eliminates that.
So, those are the two reasons I can think of. If you have any other ideas, please let me know in the comments.
#police #martialarts
