Toya is a silat weapon made of rattan with a length of 2-3 meters. Actually, this weapon was adapted from China where the first pioneer is said to be a Zen Buddhist priest, Tatmo Cowsu or Bodhidharma, in 517 BC. Later the use of sticks as weapons was taught to disciples and priests at the Zen Buddhist monastery (later known as the Shaolin monastery) where Bodhidharma devoted his life.
It is not clear when martial arts began using Toya as one of its weapons. Initially toya were still made of bamboo or wood, but after acculturation with natural resources in the archipelago, rattan is more often used as the basic material for toya.
Toyas make an ideal long-range weapon that can also be used to block attacks from longer range weapons like swords or spears. You can also whirl it around so to keep your opponent from advancing.