Kusarigama Training

 

In continuing our exploration of some of the historical training tools that we use in our taijutsu training we now turn to the kusarigama.

The kusargama is a Japanese tool consisting of a bladed shaft, connected to a chain with a small weight on the end. Historically this was not a battlefield weapon, but was used rather later in samurai history as a response to the katana, as in everything with the kusarigama is focused on defeating the advantages of the sword.

The first notable feature of this tool is the chain and the weight which is used to swing and spin striking away the sword or the hands holding the sword. With the design of the weight and the small links in the chain, it can spin and strike very fast. Often in training the first time this is seen, or when a non-training one is seen in use its startling how fast it can move. Training in this element involves precision strikes in hitting the target, which becomes very exact.

With the blade end of the training tool, it is used to close the distance, parry, cut and strike once the sword has been moved aside, using a variety of body postures and cuts to accomplish this.

In our training the kusarigama is powered by our taijutsu (body skill), in that one has to be moving in a unified way to effectively use the tool, otherwise one will find it more easy to strike themselves or entangle themselves in the tool.

It also teaches and illustrated not only distance, but how one closes the distance and bypasses other training tools such as the sword.

A very interesting (and fun) historical training tool in our movement to explore.

See you in the dojo!