Kama: 鎌 (Sickle)
The kama (鎌) is a sickle, a tool with a short wooden or metal handle with a curved blade at right angles. Practiced in pairs, it is one of the most common agricultural tools repurposed as a weapon in the Okinawan tradition.
Physical Characteristics
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Handle length | ~30–35 cm |
| Blade length | ~20–25 cm, curved inward |
| Material | Metal blade, hardwood handle |
| Usage | Held in pairs |
Technique
The primary kama actions are:
- Horizontal cuts at low or mid-level
- Hooking: using the inner curve of the blade to trap a limb or weapon
- Thrusting with the blade tip
- Blocking with the handle, redirecting with the blade
The pairing of kama means the practitioner can simultaneously attack and defend: one kama blocks while the other cuts, or both work in complementary arcs.
Kata in the Taira Curriculum
- Kanegawa no Nitan-gama (兼川の二丁長): The first kama kata, using paired sickles. Emphasizes low horizontal cuts and hooking techniques with the inner blade curve to trap opponent's weapon.
- Tozan no Nitan-gama (唐山の二丁長): The second kama kata. Features more aggressive thrusting with the blade tip and simultaneous attack-and-defend patterns using both hands independently.
The notation “nitan-gama” (二丁 = two items, 長 = implements) specifies the paired practice format.
Variants
Some organizations practice a chained-sickle variant (kusarigama, 鎖鎌), where the blade is attached to a weighted chain, extending the kama's range to that of a flexible weapon. This variant is more common in Japanese mainland traditions; Ryukyu kobudo generally uses the standard paired kama.
Sources
- Kama (tool) — Wikipedia: Origin (rice-cutting agricultural tool brought from Southeast Asia to Okinawa), technique (cutting, hooking at notch-join, blocking with handle), two-sickle practice noted
- Okinawan kobudō — Wikipedia: Confirms two kama kata in the Taira curriculum
- Matayoshi Kobudo — Wikipedia: Matayoshi kama kata (Kama Nu Ti)