If you are involved in a traditional art that teaches weapons (Kobudo Okinawan weapons- not ninja turtle/XMA stuff but actual weapons training) it is traditional to start with stick weapons such as Tonfa or Bo Staff. Other weapons like stick work from FMA are great as well, but if you train a traditional Okinawan or Japanese art, the Tonfa will turn even a person of small size into a bone gnasher, LOL. Take Pinon 2 for example- the first few moves to either side break arms & crack ribs, other forms with-in traditional Kobudo for Tonfa when taught correctly can teach how the tonfa can crush an empty handed opponent or help get beyond an opponents weapon. Take any hard style form and put Tonfa in the practitioners hands & the power of that form increases (Provided the Instructor teaches well.) When I learned from my first Instructor Sensei Randy Wozin, we started with Tonfa & Bo (A pair of weapons & a single long weapons for both hands to control) before progressing to Nunchaku, then Sai and finally Kama (The only Bladed weapon we were allowed to train because the Katana was not in our art -Kendo/Kenjutu- to its true level of skill, knowledge,) Although we trained all these weapons VS. a shinai similuating basic sword attacks, we never claimed swordsmanship. Tonfa are not as easy to keep on you, but if you have traditional skills/training it fits like a glove. On the other hand, FMA stick work is great stuff and you can find more weapons at hand in a self defense situation that these skill can translate to. A person well trained in FMA and carring an asp baton can turn the tide of most common self defense situations. The common thread I have seen in most arts is, body weapon skills first, stick or blunt weapons next & finally specific bladed weapons depending on the art. ( not counting projectile weaopns, throwing knives, bow & arrow, blow gun LOL. firearms etc...) If you want to train weapons, find what good instruction that is available to you, it is better to train well for what you have access to, than to PLAY weapons/swords with an instructor who is not really qualified to teach any weapon. Watch out for the certified Commercial MA school guy who is not certified in a true weapons art but professes to teach Nunchaku, Sai, Kama etc... not in his system or art but has the videos to show where he learned it. LOL. I would go for the FMA, you will get a good base in weaopns & empty hand quickly provided the instructor is quaility. Just my opinion.