The Kusarigama: Gimmicky or Effective?

Video Description

Was it actually a "ninja" (shinobi) weapon? Was it used by peasants to defend their fields against unscrupulous ronin (masterless samurai)? What types of kusarigama are there? How practical is it against a swordsman or polearm user? These and other questions are what we're looking at in this video. Although I can't show you a kusarigama on hand I can comment on demonstrations and sparring footage. And of course I can make some statements about the kama based on sickle tests I've done in the past. https://youtu.be/sCVb7iuVx5Y https://youtu.be/dw3mpCOnpoU For more accurate pronunciation and more historical background I got a certain fellow Youtuber on board who specializes in Roman and Japanese arms and armor. People keep asking for a collab, so here you go. :) *** Sources *** Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions by Ellis Amdur https://books.google.ca/books?id=hGjnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA120&redir_esc=y#v=onepage A better Castlevania whip test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuLtpjWMYL0 Playlist of demonstrations and sparring https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGgwwjeYFqfFn3UvvxLLG6D1QS7JzMNQ *** The Metatron's channel *** https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjGKyrdT4Gja0VLO40RlOw *** Support my channel *** Help fund future videos, get bonus content and other rewards: http://www.patreon.com/skallagrim https://www.subscribestar.com/skallagrim https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join Books about history and/or martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend (as an Amazon Affiliate I earn commission through these links): US - https://www.amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson Canada - https://amzn.to/2HeOCMA Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links: Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc: https://www.kultofathena.com/?koa=259 Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords: http://www.woodenswords.com/?Click=1799 *** Social media & merch *** How to contact me (can't always reply, since I get too many messages): https://www.youtube.com/user/SkallagrimNilsson/about See a list of my video uploads: https://twitter.com/_Skallagrim_ https://www.facebook.com/SkallagrimYT Channel-related shirts and other merch: http://skallagrim.spreadshirt.com/ https://teespring.com/stores/skallagrim My side channel (for rambles, vlogs, opinions, gaming, etc): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM7qhOYtW23jASfxTxCYvvg *** Music *** Intro song: "Illuminate" by Vindsvept https://vindsvept.bandcamp.com/track/illuminate Outro: "Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records https://theslantedroom.github.io/steve.yee/