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Shakuhachi flutes are made from the same material as our High Impact Training Sticks (HITS). The concept of a fighting flute goes back to the old Buddhist monks, who were prohibited by their beliefs from carrying edged weapons. As a result, they carried innocuous looking ordinary objects that could be used for self-defense. Their flutes were useful for developing breath control and were valued for the meditative quality of sound produced.
These flutes are easy to play (for basic instructions on how to play one of these flutes, go here.) Each is individually made and is tested and tuned to produce a smooth tone throughout its range. As musical instruments, flutes can go virtually anywhere without drawing attention, yet in the hands of a trained martial artist they can become extremely effective weapons.
The utaguchi,
a shakuhachi's mouthpiece
sends the soul aloft
Flutes are not recommended for heavy contact training, as the finger holes create structural weaknesses that may break under extreme duress. However, these flutes have been known to take severe abuse against sticks and other hard objects, and breakage is unlikely to occur if used against an assailant during a self-defense situation.
Here's testimonial from a London Arnis instructor about an actual street encounter.
I recommend getting a matching sized HITS to go with your flute, so that you can train hard with that while preserving the flute to enjoy and carry with you.
