Weapons of Jiu Jitsu: Chains

In today's society, on the street people use a variety of weapons - basically whatever comes to hand. One of the more common choices (particularly in biker movies) is a length of chain. A fast moving good length of chain is a formidable weapon. Metal links hit the target and warp around (usually the head or arm). This causes multiple points of impact in a sequence, and since the end of chain has the most energy the damage caused by each link impacting becomes greater and greater. Finally the opponent is entangled in the chain in some way.

On the street there are a variety of chain weapons that could be used. As well as the obvious metal links, weighted cords, bike locks and metal cables are also as effective as a common chain.

The use of and defence against chains is learnt by senior grade jitsuka.

Japanese Chain Weapons

In medieval Japan chain weapons were used primarily for disarming an opponent by entangling sword arms. Several such weapons were developed specifically for this purpose.

Manriki Gusari

The manriki gusari is a simple length of chain with blunt weights on each end. Whilst one end entangled, the other end could be used to attack the entangled opponent. This means that the length of chain should be a good length to allow entanglement and assault. The particular length depends upon the height and fighting style of the attacker. The weapons main advantage (as with all chain weapons) was it's concealability. This made it popular with the ninja (assassins) of this period in Japanese history.

Kusari Gama

This weapon was even more dangerous than the manriki gusari. Instead of being weighted at both ends, one weight was replaced with a razor sharp sickle (kama). The weight was used to entangle the opponent and then the sickle could quickly be used to dispatch the diabled opponent.

As with many Japanese weapons the kusari gama was developed from farming tools which people were free to carry with them whereas weapons such as swords were restricted to the elite classes.

Kyoketsu Shogi

The kyoketsu shogi consisted of a long length of rope or thick cord. To one end was attached a large metal ring and the other a double bladed sickle like weapon. This made a highly effective weapon assuming the superfluous length of rope could be handled correctly. The weapon was not really a weapon but rather that was it's secondary use. It was originally made as a simple climbing tool, the sickle acting like a grappling hook. The disadvantages of using this weapon was of course that it did not inflict as much damage as a chain styled weapon of this type, and fighting against opponents armed with swords led to this weapon being sliced up very quickly.

Kawanga

The kawanga is simply a long length of rope with a grappling hook on the end. This is a simple chain like weapon improvised using rope and a weight.

Attacks

It is very easy to hit yourself with a chain. This is the point to remember when you attack with a chain. It is often all so easy to miss an opponent and hit yourself. Attackers who are skilled with a chain can often avoid this by redirecting the chain, but the longer the chain the harder this is.

Once a chain is moving it is also hard to stop it. Whirling a chain around is all well and good if you have practiced. There are however some more simple attacks which are used within the confines of jitsu dojos on a regular basis.

Horizontal backhand - the chain is swung as a backhand parallel to the ground, typically at an opponent's head. This is the attack used against people's legs to entangle and immobilise them, but the attacker will either have to angle the attack down, or drop down (e.g. to one knee).

Vertical strike down - the chain is brought over and down in a circular arc. This strike can be for the head, or more likely for an arm in order to entangle it.

Forehand 45° - the chain is brought down towards the opponent's head at a roughly 45° angle from the vertical. This is not a backhand, but a forehand strike. It is much more preferable to the horizontal forehand attack which is easily ducked and ends up hitting the attacker. If anything fails on the attack, the chain either hits the ground, or can be brought back in a simple figure of eight. Reversing a horizontal forehand blow tends to bring the chain in towards the attacker.

Whipping - the chain can be used as a heavy whip against an opponent. This is a difficult attack to deal with and is reserved for the top most jitsuka.

Defences

A chain is a fast moving length of metal links. Chains are typically heavy, and thus carry a lot of energy when they are swung. The longer the chain the faster the end of the chain travels when it is swung and the harder it hits. The most important thing therefore is (obviously) to not let the end of the chain hit you. If all else fails, being hit by the middle of a chain may hurt, but it will not hurt as badly as being hit by the end.

The best place to be when someone is swinging a chain is as close as possible to the attacker - after all they'll be trying not to hit themselves. Therefore you must move towards the attack.

Chains are relatively slow to recover after a miss, so if you don't have time to move in before the first attack, try and avoid it as best you can and move in as soon as it is no longer a threat. Once you reach the attacker, you must turn in the direction of the chain attack. Rotate the attacker and take control of the arm holding the chain. Continue to turn the attacker and take them and the chain down to the ground. In essence this means spiraling the attacker down.

Once on the floor you must disarm the chain. In a real world situation where there are other attackers, something simple such as disabling the arm might temporarily suffice, but knocking the attacker out may be better (e.g. kneeing their head into a concrete floor by dropping your body weight on one knee will probably work). If it is a lone attacker, it is probably better to disarm the weapon and restrain them with a lock or restraining pin. In the dojo, removing the weapon and demonstrating an appropriate finish off is always necessary.

Removing the chain from the hand can lead to difficulties. Chains are often wrapped around an attacker's hand. Usually the chain may be disarmed by wrapping it around a hand and then a quick withdraw of the chain with a strike to the attackers elbow or face - but be careful where you whip it to.

Sometimes this does not work because they are still too strong / stubborn, or the chain has been wrapped around the hand many times. In such cases take the hand holding the chain. Put the arm in an arm lock to restrain the attacker, and then simply squeeze the links of the chain into the back of the hand. This should hit a few nerves and cause the hand to open up releasing the chain to be slid off over the fingers.

If you are unfortunate, and you see the chain begin to wrap around you, then you still have a chance if you are quick. Drop to the floor. If you can bend your arm into a 'V' shape (as though lifting a dumb-bell) and place it over the back of your head (fist on spine, elbow pointing above the top of your head). The chain is pivoting around your body at some point. By putting that point to the ground, the chain will hit the ground. Placing the arm over your head protects you just in case the end of the chain would hit you in the head. You may not be able to do a front drop, but its probably better than a chain delivered injury.

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