Kama

[Shorinryu Sensei]

er..... don't put rattan staves in that group...

in the chinese styles, rattan staves are almost considered a different weapons to hardwood staves.

True...how about broom sticks?

[Sauzin]

Well I got nothing against ratan staffs for training and bo tai sparring. There's a definite difference when it comes to locks and the way they feel in kata but it's just like sparring gear in that it helps you learn distancing and get the feel for impact without getting hurt or damaging your bo.

When it comes to kamas we only use live blades in our school. Now it is important to mention that in our school you don't even pick up a pair until about 2nd dan where as we use the bo from white belt on up. And when a 2nd dan starts with the kama they start slow and usually stay slow for at least a year or two until they get the safeties down pat. So far my instructor hasn't had a student with a major injury. I have to admit I once did scratch myself slightly when I first got started with these but haven't had the problem since and have since worked up in speed. It's a whole new level of awareness and while I certainly understand the value of not being cut, thus far for our class we haven't had that problem. Of course not starting kama ‘till 2nd dan might have something to do with that.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I start my people at shodan level myself.

The only serious accident I've had with them is stabbing myself in the ball of my foot trying to do the kama in Pinan Yondan...damn, that HURT! Yeah I know...not my brightest moment. It bled like crazy, and this was just minutes before my class was to show up. Ever try to bandage a gouge on the ball of your foot that wants to bleed like crazy...and then try to teach a karate class?

[Sauzin]

It doesn't hurt to get a weapon that is technically smaller than the suggested size (in my opinion, although I think I'm in the minority). The way you block with these small weapons, you don't want your body behind it anyway, as they won't stand up against a hard swing (you're parrying, not blocking), so if they don't technically reach your elbow, it's okay.

I agree with this but for a different reason. Blocking motions done with the kama against the arm are actually pretty solid in my experience, but the blade will catch whatever is running toward the elbow anyway so it really doesn't matter if it is a little short. It's not like tonfa or tan bo where if it slides along the shaft it will clip your elbow as it comes down (specifically referring to high and low blocks here). With the kama a stick or arm will get caught by the blade at the end if this happens. This is why I see these motions as primarily cutting and/or trapping motions rather then blocks.

[Sauzin]

I start my people at shodan level myself.

The only serious accident I've had with them is stabbing myself in the ball of my foot trying to do the kama in Pinan Yondan...damn, that HURT! Yeah I know...not my brightest moment. It bled like crazy, and this was just minutes before my class was to show up. Ever try to bandage a gouge on the ball of your foot that wants to bleed like crazy...and then try to teach a karate class?

OUCH!

" And now class I will demonstrate how to preform Pinan shodan entirely in a left cat stance so as to simulate what to do should you loose the use of your left foot. :cry:"

[Shorinryu Sensei]

OUCH!

Actually, it didn't hurt that bad...but sure bled!

" And now class I will demonstrate how to preform Pinan shodan entirely in a left cat stance so as to simulate what to do should you loose the use of your left foot. :cry:"

Yeah, that took a while for my students to get over the jokes and snickering. I just told them to think of it as a "What NOT to do" lesson.

[ovine king]

er.... i got a nasty splinter from that rattan staff once....

didn't really notice until people were noticing little spots of blood on their forearms.

it was eventually traced to me, being one of the people without specks of blood on my arms but instead them being on my palms.....

[Andrew_Patton]

Shodan? Nidan? we start kama training at Sandan...

Definately stick with dull kamas, I'm not going to endorse using razor sharp kama for kata. Dumbest weapon purchase I ever made was a pair of hardware store kama for kobudo... Something along the lines of what previous stories have stated, just with less blood.

I highly recomend the Murasaki Kobudo kama, good quality, better IMO than shureido's kama, and no edge to be warry of. They also work quite well for kumi waza. As I tell every student I have before they start with any blade, live or not, stratches heal, cuts leave scars, but body parts never grow back... I have seen an adult lose a finger at a tournament from sharp kama, good stances, good form, just IMHO a slight mistake cost him a finger.

In either case, any weapon can kill, people around you or yourself. Be careful

[lucifersdad]

i suppose it tepends on what you want the kama for? if its open tournaments you maybe should have a look at xma or g-force kama especially if its for freestyle weapons forms but if its traditional forms listen to the other guys!