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Undmark, Ulf
20th February 2001, 09:07
Has anyone here seen an authentic, pre-Meiji choe no gama? I am curious of how it looks and how it is/was used as compared to the "ordinary" kusarigama (thinking mainly about the Isshin ryu here, the only reference I've got).

I'm actually not sure if the choe no gama is still used within this tradition (?), but it would be interesting to know more about this weapon and it's usage.

Regards
Ulf Undmark

Undmark, Ulf
21st February 2001, 08:26
Well...

maybe there's just too many "emotional" postings on other threads at the moment...

or maybe I just posted a really boring question...

So... does anyone know anything about the Choegama?

...Please?

/Ulf

ghp
22nd February 2001, 07:38
Hello Ulf.

I think you might mean "nicho-gama" -- which means "two" or "ein paar" kama.

"Cho" is the counter for kama. "Ni" is the number 2.

I've seen the normal kama used (the one with a blade at right angle to the handle), as well as the natagama, curved kama.

http://www.student.kuleuven.ac.be/~m9209392/a/natagama.gif

The type of natagama I saw Mr. Obata use.

http://www.shinkendo.com/kamabk.jpg

Just search for "nicho", then expand the search for "kama."

Hope this helps.

Guy

Undmark, Ulf
22nd February 2001, 08:01
Hello Guy, thanx for your reply!

To be honest, I'm not sure at all...
I've never seen a picture of a "choekama", but I've heard that it (is/was) part of the Isshin ryu kusarigamajutsu.

The choe no gama (I just checked the spelling) is mentioned in P. Kriegers book on Jodo. There's supposed to be 6 or 8 kata for this weapon, but, I don't know what it looks like or how it is used...nor do I know how and why it was developed.

Regards
Ulf