Page 51 - Martial Science Magazine 2019 FEB DIG
P. 51

Kusarigama









                     the “ultimate weapon”





                    Martial Science Magazine: Hello Gabriel Garcia Shihan,
                    as always it is a pleasure to talk to you.


                    Gabriel Garcia Shihan: It is also a pleasure for me, I am
                    pleased to share this moment with you.


                    M.S.M:  Could you tell us about the topic that we will dis-
                    cuss today: the KUSARIGAMA?


                    G.G.S: It is little known that apart from being a tool used by
                    farmers to harvest crops, it was used by the BUSHI (Samu-
                    rai) to clean  the vegetation  when they  carried out their
                    campaigns, which is why it was first used on the battlefield.
                    This went through various modifications, which made it the
                    “ultimate weapon”. To the sickle (KAMA) it was added a
                    chain (KUSARI) with a weight at its end (OMORI), making
                    it a very effective weapon both in short distance and in long
                    distance, to which you could face with weapons like swords
                    and spears.

                    M.S.M:  Why do you define it as the “ultimate weapon”?


                    G.G.S: First it is necessary to make clear that I do not con-
                    sider that one weapon is better than another, but if we per-
                    form an analysis of the qualities of each weapon without
                    taking into account the ability of the per-son who handles
                    it, in this case the KUSARIGAMA combines flexibility with
                    its cutting-pungent condition and adaptability to short and
                    long distance, that makes it a very powerful weapon in com-
                    bat.

                    M.S.M: Who used it, Samurai or Ninjas?


                    G.G.S: I would like to say that there is a thin line between
                    these two warriors and that, historically, many SHINOBI




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