Kusari Gama

[Tony Peters]

OK,here's a question going out to all of the SMR practicianers. Where do you find/buy or otherwise aquire your wooden kusari gama? The only one's I've ever seen are ninja toys that are neither the correct shape nor is the "chain" long enough. and don't get me started on the "weight" I am fairly certain that I will be fabricating one of my own out of a peice of some Wenge that I have but what do the non woodworker types do?

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Peace
Tony Peters
When Two flashing swords meet there is no place to escape;
Move coolly, like a lotus flower blooming in the midst of
a roaring fire and forcefully pierce the Heavens!

[This message has been edited by Tony Peters (edited 05-28-2000).]

[will szlemko]

Hi Tony,

I also made my own kusari-gama but one of my dojo mates has one from Nosyuiaido (I think they go by swordstore now) that is quite good. The operator is Rick Polland who trains in SMR also.

will

[diwallace]

Check out Kim Taylor at Sei Do Kai. He makes a lot of very good quality wooden weapons and will make items to your specs. He also practices SMR Jodo.

[Dokanyama]

Tony,

Why don't you ask your teacher? If your teacher has a Menkyo, or is otherwise authorized to teach Shinto Muso Ryu they should know how to obtain a weapon for you.And if you had to have that weapon sent you from Japan, your teacher must certainly have the right friends here in Japan who could help you get one.

I would think that if your teacher was ready to teach you the Kusarigama kata then they would let you know how to get one.

Thomas James

[Tony Peters]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dokanyama:
Tony,

Why don't you ask your teacher? If your teacher has a Menkyo, or is otherwise authorized to teach Shinto Muso Ryu they should know how to obtain a weapon for you.And if you had to have that weapon sent you from Japan, your teacher must certainly have the right friends here in Japan who could help you get one.

I would think that if your teacher was ready to teach you the Kusarigama kata then they would let you know how to get one.

Thomas James<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


In answer to your question, yes my Sensei would be more than happy to have a Kusari Gama sent for me if I were to ask for one even though I am long way from the point of learning the Kata's (I have only learned the Kihon Waza and the katas Tsuba Wari & Tachi Otoshi) However I didn't ask my question because I was going to need one in the near future. My sensei and both of his more senior students each have their own Kusari Gama...each is differant...Buying one isn't really what I want to do...I really want to look at as many as I can before I craft my own out of a piece of Wenge that I have. He has even encouraged me to do this. As I said I was just wondering what the non-woodworking types do. Me, I craft a lot of my own budo toys...lately a few of laminated leather tsuba's but also many wooden weapons as well as swordbags and the like. It will likely be a few years before I learn the kusai gama katas however that doesn't mean I can't make one

------------------
Peace
Tony Peters

When Two flashing swords meet there is no place to escape;
Move coolly, like a lotus flower blooming in the midst of
a roaring fire and forcefully pierce the Heavens!

[This message has been edited by Tony Peters (edited 05-28-2000).]

[Dokanyama]

Mr. Peters,

No offense meant. You weren't too clear on your motives in your first post, but I see where you are coming from now.Still, why would you want to make a weapon that you are years away from learning anyhow?

Making your own weapons is fine, but I think one should pay close attention to exact detail in design and type of wood used. Sometimes, the various Ryu-ha are very specific as to what kind of wood and size and what not, the weapon should be. This is an important part of the culture of each Ryu.

Maybe you could find out if there isn't some rules about the specifics of the SMR kusarigama and then duplicate a weapon based on that. Pascal Kreiger's book has more information on that.

Just a thought.

TJ

[Tony Peters]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dokanyama:
Mr. Peters,

No offense meant. You weren't too clear on your motives in your first post, but I see where you are coming from now.Still, why would you want to make a weapon that you are years away from learning anyhow?

Making your own weapons is fine, but I think one should pay close attention to exact detail in design and type of wood used. Sometimes, the various Ryu-ha are very specific as to what kind of wood and size and what not, the weapon should be. This is an important part of the culture of each Ryu.

Maybe you could find out if there isn't some rules about the specifics of the SMR kusarigama and then duplicate a weapon based on that. Pascal Kreiger's book has more information on that.

Just a thought.

TJ<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

OK I'll answer your question and address your comments...First as to why I want to creat a practice weapon that I am likely years away from learning how to use? Purely because I can I have this beautiful piece of wood and nothing to build with it until I start a big project I won't have scraps around to make into all kinds of other neat things. Secondly, What I have noticed looking at the two examples of a Kusari Gama that I have seen in addition to hearing two others described is that though similar everyone's practice weapon is differant...with one even being aluminum. My sensei has a personal preferance for us to have strong, quality weapon's from what I have seen... type of wood seems less important than durablity (he was rather critical of one guy's borrowed Taiwanesse special red oak boken). He has taken a liking to the "Ifit" tanjo that I made from an old jo. My plan is to do as you said however I don't have access to Sensei Kreigers book (just Micheal Finn's atrocious one) so maybe I'll get lucky and see some when/if Nishioka sensei comes through this summer.


------------------
Peace
Tony Peters

When Two flashing swords meet there is no place to escape;
Move coolly, like a lotus flower blooming in the midst of
a roaring fire and forcefully pierce the Heavens!

[Dokanyama]

Mr. Peters,

Kreiger Sensei told me that he is going to bring several copies of his book with him this summer. If you are going to Ohio, you can pick one up. It has some good information about the Kusarigama in it. If you are not going, perhaps someone could pick it up for you.

How much it will cost will depend on the exchange rate that day, USD to CHF (I paid 85.00 CHF- 5,455 yen for mine). That might be around 50.00 or 60.00 bucks.

By the way, what kind of wood do you have? (Not a pun!) I am interested in wood. If it's White Oak you have, it should make a nice looking weapon.

Peace to you as well,

TJ

[Tony Peters]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dokanyama:
Mr. Peters,

Kreiger Sensei told me that he is going to bring several copies of his book with him this summer. If you are going to Ohio, you can pick one up. It has some good information about the Kusarigama in it. If you are not going, perhaps someone could pick it up for you

How much it will cost will depend on the exchange rate that day, USD to CHF (I paid 85.00 CHF- 5,455 yen for mine). That might be around 50.00 or 60.00 bucks.

By the way, what kind of wood do you have? (Not a pun!) I am interested in wood. If it's White Oak you have, it should make a nice looking weapon.

Peace to you as well,

TJ<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm not going to Ohio http://216.10.1.92/ubb/frown.gif but my sensei and his Deshi are I might have to send a little money along with them http://216.10.1.92/ubb/smile.gif I think (though I may be wrong) that Nishioka sensei is going to be stopping here in Honolulu on his way either there or back to Japan. As for Wood I have a chunk of Wenge which is almost black with chocolate grain.



------------------
Peace
Tony Peters

When Two flashing swords meet there is no place to escape;
Move coolly, like a lotus flower blooming in the midst of
a roaring fire and forcefully pierce the Heavens!