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.
Historical Origins
揆奮館's section on 鎌術（鎌之手） dates its emergence to around 700 years ago, in King Eiso's era, describing kama as an evolution from the agricultural kuwa (hoe) in the farmer's repertoire and later refined through contact with Chinese martial arts.
The article notes that Ryukyu kama practice includes:
- Double kama (one in each hand)
- Rope‑attached kama (鎌に紐を付ける)
- Long‑handled kama mounted on a five‑shaku staff for extended reach
According to Ryukyu Kobudo sources, kama are agricultural sickles used directly as weapons without modification. Since they are bladed weapons, they are practical but dangerous in practice, and high‑level practitioners typically teach them. The Kanegawa no Nichō‑gama kata is a representative double‑kama form passed down in specific lineages.
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)
- 琉球古武道武器術 — 揆奮館流武術: King Eiso era origin (~700 years ago), evolution from kuwa (hoe), Chinese martial arts influence, practice variants (double, rope-attached, long-handled)
- Ryukyu Kobudo Weapons: Agricultural sickles as weapons without modification, bladed weapon dangers, high-level practitioner instruction, Kanegawa no Nichō-gama kata
- JRKF — What is Ryukyu Kobudo: Kanegawa no Nichō-gama as representative double-kama kata