Tanto = wooden knife. Tanto dori = Technique against a knife.
Also means knife taking.

It’s imperative that knife awareness and knife defence techniques are practiced on a regular basis so as to give the trained martial artist a reasonable chance against attack. Most martial arts schools include knife defence in their practice At our academy we practice about 20 self defence techniques against knife attack. The number is not important, just as long as students and instructors practice in a serious manner and as close to reality as possible without actually using a sharpened blade.
Tanto dori is practice with a wooden knife, although these days rubber knives are used regularly in knife defence practice.
The main aim of tanto dori is to:
1. Evade the incoming attack,
2. Counter the attack with a suitable technique or techniques,
including strikes, locks, chokes, breaks and takedowns,
3. Take the knife or blade from the attacker.
4. Control the attacker until help has arrived.

Practice against knife attack helps the student develop correct distancing and speed as well as sharpened reflexes for evasion and counter attack. Knife defence is a crucial if not essential part of ones martial arts training. And it’s never too late to start.