Tosei Ryu
Japanese Stick-fighting using the tanjo, an effective martial arts also for self defense.
The kusarigama is an old japanese weapon, which consists of a sickle and a chain with a steelweight at the end of the handle.
Its prominence is mostly connected with the ninja, although the style using the kusarigama, Isshin Ryu Kusarigama Jutsu was developed by a samurai named Nen Ami Jion in the 14th century.
The kusarigama used in Isshin Ryu is rather untypical and differs from others because of its much longer chain and a double-sided blade with a handguard. For training purposes an unpolished blade and a padded weight is used.
Typical kusarigama techniques include cutting, stabbing and chopping with the sickle. The steelball is used to disarm, hit or even to tie up the opponent.
In Isshin Ryu 12 Omote and 12 Ura kata are taught:
Kusarigama Training is from the age of 18 up and taught every last Monday of the month in our Tosei Ryu classes.