The importance of learning these weapons is two fold.  First it teaches you how to utilize a weapon.  Second and most importantly, these tools are merely an extension of the hands, what the hands can do so should the weapon, and visa-versa, for this reason Karate, Uchinate (China hand)  and Ryukyu Kobujutsu ( Okinawan weapons) are two sides of one coin.  

 

Many schools separate the two, giving rank in both, treating both Karate and Kobudo as two distinctly different arts with no relationship to the other.  Our students eventually, usually around Yellow belt, begin working with Tonfa.   We, unlike the others, do not separate the two./