What is chained knives?

Chained knives, also known as kusarigama or kyoketsu-shoge, are traditional Japanese weapons that consist of a chain or rope attached to a sharp blade or weighted end. The length of the chain usually ranged from two to three meters and could be used to disarm an opponent or control the distance between the user and their target.

The kusarigama was often used by ninja warriors in feudal Japan, who were trained in a variety of martial arts and weapons. They would use the sickle-like blade to hook onto the opponent's weapons or limbs while simultaneously pulling them in with the attached chain. Alternatively, they could swing the weapon overhead to strike an opponent from a distance.

While it may seem like a deadly weapon, mastering the chained knives took years of practice and skill. It required a great deal of coordination and control to wield the weapon properly without injuring oneself. Today, chained knives are mostly used in martial arts demonstrations or as a novelty item rather than as a practical weapon.