Practical Martial Arts Association

At this stage we have had a look at European flails, and Japanese Koryu utilising a flail type Kusarigama or Chigiriki.  In this post I will try to pull together the observable common threads of these types of weapons. It is, however, an important point to keep the importance of things contained within kata in perspective (which I will cover in more depth later): The fundamental skills may be practiced outside of the kata. A deliberate action in a kata may only be there to contrive a position, it is not necessarily advocating a tactic. The goal of practice may not always be what is appears on face value. To refer once more to Amdur’s work: Finally, I have never used a handheld weapon with which it is so easy to get an inflated idea of ones strength.  Many of the most popular and common techniques… will only work against someone unfamiliar with facing the weapon.   Perhaps one of the best reasons to train with it is to learn how to defeat it - and in the process acquire g...

From the Heike Jodan Scroll of Natori Ryu WALKING AT NIGHT WITH A CANE People of all ages use a cane when walking at night and there are things you should keep in mind about them. If you are attacked with anything bladed or with a staff, then do not fight with the cane. Otherwise you will not have time to draw your own sword later on. Therefore, be aware that canes are only an aid for walking in the street. This is not the case with a shikomizue, a cane with a hidden element, as it can become a chigiriki – a cane with a chain. THE CHIGIRIKI OR THE TOBIGANE TOOL This is a ball upon a chain and is sometimes attached to a staff, which is called a chigiriki-zue. This should be thrown over the enemy.   (This is from a section on capturing, in what I would describe as being deputised to do so.  It also deals with rope).

The following is hack-translated from a Japanese source by me, so is not be reliable and is probably not comprehensive. 荒木流  (Araki Ryu)、 気楽流  (Kiraku Ryu)、 笹光流 (Sasakou/Sasa Hikari/Sasa mitsu Ryu)、 無拍子流(Mubyoshi Ryu) 、 當田流 (Touda Ryu)、 堤宝山流  (Tsutsumi Hozan Ryu)、 鏡新明智流 (Kyoshin Meichi Ryu)、 戸田流 (Toda Ryu) 、 初実剣理方一流 (Shojitsu Kenri Kataichi Ryu)、など、いくつもの流儀に含まれていた (its was included is several ways, such as these). It (chigiriki) was included in several schools, including Araki Ryu, Kiraku Ryu, Sasakou? Ryu, Mubyoshi Ryu, Toda Ryu, Tsutsumi Hozan Ryu, Kyoshin Meichi Ryu, Toda Ryu and Shojitsu Kenri Kataichi Ryu. 特に (Especially) 、念流 (Nen Ryu)、中条系の流派 (a part of the Chujo Ryu Group) によく見られたようである (commonly seen in this line)。 It is commonly seen in branches of the Nen Ryu, that are part of the Chujo Ryu group.

As with Araki Ryu, the same Kiraku Ryu group (that uses the Type 2 Kusarigama) also uses the Chigiriki.  I have included this to point out how these Type 2 of Kusarigama are indeed flails - the use of the weapons is mirrored. The Chigiriki used by this school has a much sorter chain than the Araki Ryu weapon and is closer to the European peasant flail.  Because of this, the wielder does not have to constantly handle the chain. Kamae.   Missing, hitting the ground.   Sword entanglement. Kuzushi in entanglement.   Sword disarm. Dodge strike, attack with butt. Sweeping low.       Foot entanglement. Takedown. Sword entanglement. Sword disarm. Neck entanglement. Takedown from neck entanglement. The demonstration from which these stills are taken:

The same Araki Ryu group also uses the Chigiriki.  This weapon is also covered in Ellis Amdur’s Old School.  I have included this to point out how these Type 2 Kusarigama are indeed flails - the use of the weapons is mirrored. Kamae weight held off hand. Blocking, still holding weight. Kamae, weight on ground. Chain attack must start early. Sword covers head on attack. Missing and hitting the ground. Kamae weight on ground.   Strike with butt. Kamae weight on ground. Chain attack must start early. Sword attacks after miss. Binding with the butt.   Flail from bind at the butt. Foot entanglement.     Pulling foot for takedown. Kamae, weight held. Bind with the butt, weight held. Release second hand to strike. Sword entanglement. Sword disarmed, draws dagger attacks quickly. Defend dagger with staff. The demonstration from which the stills are taken:

As noted in my last post the sources regarding these weapons are limited however I have tried to cover what there is.  It should be noted that the term Morning Star is a mace that has spikes, not a type of flail - for some reason I have encountered this misconception a fair bit.  The European material is really hardly relevant - perhaps the Roman net and trident may relate but when I began looking at that particular set it led nowhere useful. Flail of Mair According to Wiktenauer, Paulus Hector Mair (1517 – 1579) was a 16th century German aristocrat, civil servant, and fencer. He was born in 1517 to a wealthy and influential Augsburg patrician family. In his youth, he likely received training in fencing and grappling from the masters of Augsburg fencing guild, and early on developed a deep fascination with fencing treatises. The flail shown in Mair is a two handed weapon.  This sort of weapon can be seen in some medieval paintings and seems to have been used amongst oth...

I am going to try and make December 2017 Kusarigama month - or Kusarigamarama.   To that end I will be posting as much of my Kusarigama back catalogue as time allows, starting with the basics of typology. Examples of European flails are actually somewhat limited.  There are many examples of the spear in European and Japanese artwork as it was a common weapon even though the surviving information on codified techniques of the spear is much less than many other weapons in both cultures. Whilst the varying types of flail and chain weapons are uncommon in surviving information on codified techniques in both cultures, they are also underrepresented in artwork.  The logical conclusion is that they were simply not popular weapons at the time.  Certainly, as weapons of war they have their limitations. In his book Old School   Ellis Amdur describes that ' the thought of a squad of kusarigama fighters is more an image of comedy than valour' .  For the most part I ag...