kato
n. countablen. a type of martial arts stick used for training and fighting. It is usually made of wood and is popular in some traditional fighting styles.
n. a wooden staff or stick used as a weapon in various traditional martial arts systems. Often refers specifically to the long staff used in Filipino martial arts or Japanese kobudo.
The student practiced his strikes with a wooden kato.
During the demonstration, the instructor showed how to block an incoming strike using a reinforced kato.
While modern practitioners often use synthetic materials for durability, traditionalists prefer a kato carved from heavy hardwood to maintain the authentic weight and balance required for classical forms.
Often used in the context of Southeast Asian or Japanese martial arts training.