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WABUKAN Arsenal · Impact weapons · Japan

Kanabō

A studded two-handed war club of feudal Japan, used by samurai and, in legend, by the oni, the ogres of Japanese folklore.

Kanabō
Kanabō WABUKAN illustration

Also known as

kanasaibō (金砕棒); related: tetsubō (鉄棒), ararebō, nyoibō, konsaibō

Origin and history

The name means "metal stick" or "metal club". The kanabō belongs to a family of Japanese war clubs that also includes the nyoibō, konsaibō, tetsubō and ararebō; one-handed versions are more usually called tetsubō and ararebō. Solid iron relatives without studs are the kanemuchi and the aribo.

Martial arts that use it

Seen in traditional practice, historical reenactment and demonstrations; no art page on WABUKAN yet.

Construction

Heavy wood or solid iron, with iron spikes or studs at one end; wooden kanabō could have one or both ends capped in iron. The largest were as tall as a man, but the average length was about 140 cm. Some thicken towards the end and taper to a slender handle with a pommel, others are straight like a jō; the cross-section is round or polygonal.

Basic techniques

Training

Impact weapons are learned with grips, stances and basic strikes on a bag or pad, then blocks and paired drills at slow speed. Wooden or padded versions are used for partner work; heavy or metal pieces only for solo forms.

Safety

Wear a helmet and padded gloves for any contact drill, use padded or light wooden versions with a partner and check the weapon for cracks, loose studs or sharp edges before every session.

Legality (general information)

Sticks, staffs and other impact or flexible weapons are ordinary objects in some countries and restricted weapons in others (several European countries, for example, regulate nunchaku, batons or weighted chains). Carrying one in public without a good reason can be an offence even where owning it is legal. Transport it in a bag and use it in the training hall. This is general information, not legal advice: check local law.

Did you know?

The Japanese saying "like giving a kanabō to an oni" means giving an extra advantage to someone who is already stronger.

More weapons

Tekkō Jutte Tessen Gada Knobkerrie / induku

Sources

Original WABUKAN text, written from these cross-checked sources (facts, not sentences).

  1. Wikipedia — Kanabō