The turtles weapons

[Raphael4]

Hi I've always been interested by the turtles weapons and why each turtle has their specific weapons assigned to them.

Was there anyone who ever commented why the turtles received these specific weapons for example I always thought swords would be more fitting of Raphael because of his angry nature and with him being so intimidating the sword would be very intimidating, the sai seems a more balanced weapon that would require a lot of concentration and less intimidation something more fitting of Leonardo.

Any ideas?

[Candy Kappa]

I don't think there is given any official reason. In Mirage continuity, it's shown in a flashback comic that Mikey was trained to use the kusarigama, but much more preferred the nunchaku. Personally, I always saw it as the weapons they favored, as they often are proficient in more weapons then just their signature ones.

i think Sai really fits Raphael, as they are both offensive and defensive weapons, and are used as a bludgeon tool, and the butt end of the handle is used for punching, seems very fitting for a brawler type character.

[IndigoErth]

i think Sai really fits Raphael, as they are both offensive and defensive weapons, and are used as a bludgeon tool, and the butt end of the handle is used for punching, seems very fitting for a brawler type character.
Agree, the sai fit better with a brawler vibe. The way they can be held asides from just gripping the handle makes them - as a viewer - feel a bit akin to a fist weapon. And fists... well that is Raph all over. lol

In my view...
Sai is more fury, berserker - Raph.
Sword is more balance, control, grace - Leo.

[Munk]

I always loved it when they switched weapons temporarily in an episode. I couldn't imagine it long term tho. The weapons are iconic to each turtle. They had to switch in the new series and none of them knew how to use the others weapons. that shouldn't of been the case for a ninja.

[pennydreadful]

I had always thought that Raph was given the sai - which is able to be used more defensively than katana - to balance out his natural aggressiveness, rather than giving him something extremely lethal. I could be wrong, someone please correct me if I am, but that was always the way I viewed it - Splinter gave him a weapon which would help him harness his aggressive tendencies somewhat.

[Type 97 Chi-ha]

I always loved it when they switched weapons temporarily in an episode. I couldn't imagine it long term tho. The weapons are iconic to each turtle. They had to switch in the new series and none of them knew how to use the others weapons. that shouldn't of been the case for a ninja.

In the Mirage series, the Turtles are fighting with the Foot Clan, one of whom taunts Donatello that he had lost his bo staff. Donatello replies that his best weapons are his body and his mind.

[Warhorse]

Agree, the sai fit better with a brawler vibe. The way they can be held asides from just gripping the handle makes them - as a viewer - feel a bit akin to a fist weapon. And fists... well that is Raph all over. lol

In my view...
Sai is more fury, berserker - Raph.
Sword is more balance, control, grace - Leo.

About the sword. All of the swordsman I know, when getting ready for a tournament, they will do this balancing act of the sword laying horizontally on one finger, they keep flipping it till it's perfectly balanced and not moving. I always thought it was cool when they did that, and kind of intimidating towards their opponent. I would love it if we saw Leonardo do this one day in either the cartoons or the movies. Most swordsmanship lore tend to show the wielder having a bit of an affection for a favorite piece. I'd like something like that to be shown too one day.

[Raphael4]

I'd love a show to show why the turtles use these specific weapons. Indeed I'd like to see the turtles weild more than one type of weapon. I liked in tmnt 2007 that raph used a completely different weapon as the night watcher.

[Warhorse]

I'd love a show to show why the turtles use these specific weapons. Indeed I'd like to see the turtles weild more than one type of weapon. I liked in tmnt 2007 that raph used a completely different weapon as the night watcher.

Well, I've seen Raph in Secret of the Ooze and the Nick toon wield the Bo pretty good. He's probably better than Donny with it, but he just prefers a weapon where he can get up close and personal.

But I agree, I'd like to see some change ups in weapons, even if it's just temporarily.

[musashi-kamiizumi]

I had always thought that Raph was given the sai - which is able to be used more defensively than katana - to balance out his natural aggressiveness, rather than giving him something extremely lethal. I could be wrong, someone please correct me if I am, but that was always the way I viewed it - Splinter gave him a weapon which would help him harness his aggressive tendencies somewhat.

That's beautiful, and I agree. I see the weapons as extensions of the turtles personalities. For Raphael, since he seems to be the turtle to talk about, it is a weapon that can not only attack, but also trap, control, and disarm an opponent's weapon. I really love the scenes where Raph uses his sai in that way.


http://i62.tinypic.com/2ytpkci.gif

[Jester]

In my brain i always rationalize it as:
Raph, the most offensive Turtle, is given a weapon that is primarily defensive.
Donnie, the most prone to over think, is given a simple staff.
Mikey, the most scatter-brained and least focused, is given the complicated nunchuck.
And Leo....well....swords are cool. :P

[Ninjinister]

In my brain i always rationalize it as:
Raph, the most offensive Turtle, is given a weapon that is primarily defensive.
Donnie, the most prone to over think, is given a simple staff.
Mikey, the most scatter-brained and least focused, is given the complicated nunchuck.
And Leo....well....swords are cool. :P

Swords mean he's the leader :lol:

[Jester]

Swords mean he's the leader :lol:
Well, Splinter did say as much in the new movie.

[Rooish]

Well, I've seen Raph in Secret of the Ooze and the Nick toon wield the Bo pretty good. He's probably better than Donny with it, but he just prefers a weapon where he can get up close and personal.

But I agree, I'd like to see some change ups in weapons, even if it's just temporarily.

Sorry but no. Raph cannot beat Donny at skill with Don's own weapon. That's fan bias with next to no basis in anything canonical.

[Powder]

In my brain i always rationalize it as:
Raph, the most offensive Turtle, is given a weapon that is primarily defensive.
Donnie, the most prone to over think, is given a simple staff.
Mikey, the most scatter-brained and least focused, is given the complicated nunchuck.
And Leo....well....swords are cool. :P

I really like that!

[pennydreadful]

I'd always thought that Mikey was given the 'chucks because he's the best athlete out of all of them... plus it fits his free-wheelin' style. :D

[Shark_Blade]

Nunchucks are the most complicated weapon of them all, if you have no experience or skill with it, you can't just pick them up and use them to fight. Seriously.

So Mikey is the gifted one among his brothers imo.

[musashi-kamiizumi]

I'm pretty sure it is said across a couple verses that Mikey has more natural talent than his brothers combined. He's just lazy, undisciplined, and unfocused.

[ssjup81]

Nunchucks are the most complicated weapon of them all, if you have no experience or skill with it, you can't just pick them up and use them to fight. Seriously.

So Mikey is the gifted one among his brothers imo.I thought that Mikey was the most-gifted, natural fighter amongst his brothers.