Manrikigusari?

[CourseEight]

Josh -- Do you learn how to use all the weapons you collect? I myself have fenced before, but never taken up anything serious, mostly because I have rods in my back from scholliosis. I'd imagine its a very rewarding and educational study, to use the weapons as they were meant to be used.

Ric -- Happy to meet someone else from Coral Springs! I got this at the Atlantic Antique Mall in Delrey Beach. The only other good antique place I've found was in Deerfield Beach. I went to GA Tech for two years and found the antiquing in that area far superior. But, occassionally (as in this case) it surprises you!

Best,

--Radleigh

[fearn]

Hi Radleigh,

Nice to see another flexible weapons type around here.

There are a couple of books that might be useful if you want to use it. My favorite is Sanchez' Flexible Weapons, which is available from Amazon.

While I can buy that's it's Chinese, that isn't a chain whip. It's effectively a manriki-gusari. The issue is weighting. A chain whip has a separate handle and 3-11 metal rods joined by short lengths of chain. A "kusari" (=gusari) is a chain with weight on either end. Such weapons were not limited to Japan or even the orient. In Europe, they're called "slung shot" and in the Andes, there are two-stone bolas.

If you want to learn how to use it, I'd very strongly suggest either buying a modern kusari or making one yourself-- a length of chain and a couple of padlocks make a cheap analog. The weakness in yours (as pointed out by Vandoo) is that the links are s-shaped and bent, not welded. The S-shape means that the ends of the links can cut into your hand as they're sliding through your grip (unless they've been filed down), and they can also be straightened out by force. The fact that it's been repaired suggests that it might be a bit weak for weapon use.

Have fun!

F

[josh stout]

Originally Posted by CourseEight

Josh -- Do you learn how to use all the weapons you collect? I myself have fenced before, but never taken up anything serious, mostly because I have rods in my back from scholliosis. I'd imagine its a very rewarding and educational study, to use the weapons as they were meant to be used.

I started as a martial artist with a side interest in ethnographic weapons, but it was when I started bringing my kung-fu practice together with Chinese weapons that I got really hooked on the collecting. Each new weapon makes me think of the movements in new ways, and the movements let me understand why the weapons are made as they are. I think the only way to have more insight into the relation of function and form would be to make the weapons myself.
Josh