The kama (鎌 or かま) (sometimes referred to as the kai or double kai. Kama that are made with intentionally dull blades are for kata demonstration purposes being referred to as kata kai) is a traditional Filipino and Japanese farming implement similar to a small scythe used for reaping crops and also employed as a weapon. The kama is often included in weapon training segments of karate, silat and more obscurely in some Chinese martial arts.
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The kama (鎌 or かま) (sometimes referred to as the kai or double kai. Kama that are made with intentionally dull blades are for kata demonstration purposes being referred to as kata kai) is a traditional Filipino and Japanese farming implement similar to a small scythe used for reaping crops and also employed as a weapon. The kama is often included in weapon training segments of karate, silat and more obscurely in some Chinese martial arts.
Before being improvised as a weapon, the kama was widely used throughout Asia to cut crops, mostly rice. It is found in many shapes and forms in Southeast Asia and is particularly common in martial arts from Indonesia and the Philippines. It is also used in Chinese martial arts but not often. From one or both of these areas, the kama was brought to Okinawa and incorporated into the martial art of te (hand) and later karate (empty hand).
The kama can be used singly or in pairs. Both the point and sharpened edge of the metal blade are called in to use,...
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