To me, swapping Raph’s sai for tonfa not only makes sense from a logical perspective (tonfa are the better weapon), but a characterization one as well.
Sai are typically used as a specific counter to longer weapons, like blades or staffs. Outside of that, they don’t get as much use. It’s fits fairly well in a series that has a lot of conflict between Raph and Leo (and Donnie, sometimes), as he has a weapon designed to fight them. He can literally catch and counter their weapons, and take advantage of them.
Tonfa, on the other hand, are of a more general defensive weapon. You’d usually use them to block incoming attacks, then swing them around for a strike. They work for both an aggressive character (as they can do a lot of damage if you know what you’re doing), and for a protective one. Remember, a shield is just as powerful a weapon as a sword, you just use them in different ways.
So, if you’re like me and want a less confrontational Raphael, then tonfa are the better choice. Plus, they’re cooler weapons.











