Chosen No Kama Sho opening

 

Yesterday warming up for class with kama, I started running Chosen No Kama Sho, which I haven't done for a while.

 

With last weeks kama discussion thought you might find the opening interesting to consider.

 

 Kama positions (Victor Smith terminology)

 

  1. Closed. The fist is gripped around the end of the kama allowing only 1" of butt to stick forth. The kama is held underneath the arm, the blade is stick out 90 degrees.

  2. Open.  The fist is gripped around the end of the kama, but the kama is held away from you. Again about 1" of the butt is below your fist.

 

 Kama strikes

  1. Butt strikes (as punches)

  2. Blocks where you angle the arm with the kama in closed position to block with the shaft of the kama.

  3. Strikes, with the non-blade side of the shaft (as opposed to the blade slicing)

  4. Piercing, strikes with the tip of the blade

  5. Slices, where you slide the blade of the kama across the target

 

 Chosen No Kama Sho

   1. Begin in natural position (feet shoulder width apart), both hands in front of your groin (kama in closed position).

 

  2. Look to the left, and shift into a left cat stance to the side (90 degrees), as you perform a left side block with the shaft of the kama (angling the arm to strike with the shaft).

 

  2.i. The right hand actually crosses your center (a wind-up) before you deliver the left side block and chamber the right hand. This can be a hidden right butt strike before the side block.

 

  3. Still in left cat, release your knees slightly and strike out with a left butt strike into your opponent.

 

  4. Keeping your left elbow relatively immobile, roll your left arm back and out (a counter-clockwise motion), as you turn the kama over in your hand to deliver a descending piercing kama strike. You also drop your left heel as you strike down. [This is a left 'T' stance]

 

  5. Maneuver the kama clockwise back to closed position, and then chamber your left hand and deliver a right butt strike (still out to the side of the starting position), and shift into left front stance.

 

  6. This is immediately followed by a left butt strike (5&6 are a double strike combination).

 

  7. Follow with a right front kick, and return the foot to the original position.

 

  8. Complete with another right butt strike.  BUT, once you deliver the butt strike fold your right wrist to the left flipping out a blade strike.

 

  8.i. Allow the kama to fold down (by releasing your fingers and pivoting on the thumb/index finger) to open position. Your right wrist has remained bent to the left throughout.

 

  8.ii. You now slice up on a 45 degree angle, then turn the hand over and slice down on the same 45 degree angle, and then turn the hand over again and slice down (in) on a new 45 degree angle.

 

  a. /  blade strike going up outward

  b. /  blade strike returning down inward

  c. \  blade strike now slicing inward on the other angle.

 

  8.iii. Finish by releasing the fingers and dropping the blade back to closed position.

 

Now, the next section is where you turn 180 degrees clockwise and do everything the same as before but on the opposite side of the body.