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Yoroi Kumi Uchi
Art of Grappling in Armor

Chapter Selection: Title Page Facing An Armored Opponent In-Fighting Weapons Basic Concepts - Inside Hand Position Basic Concepts - Outside Hand Position Inside Technique #1 Inside Technique #2 Outside Technique #1 Outside Technique #2 Special Weaponry Techniques Jutte - Iron Truncheon Kusari Fundo - Weighted Chain Tekagi - Hand Claws Advanced Techniques [PREVIOUS] 1 2 3 4 5  [NEXT]

Besides using a weapon as a means of dispatching the Samurai after a successful grappling technique, the special in-fighting weapons used by the Ninja can actually be used to enhance leverage from the fundamental Yotsu Gumi positions.

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JUTTE - IRON TRUNCHEON

The Jutte can be held in a reverse fashion with the ear protruding out between the index and middle fingers (Fig. 44). From this position the ear can be slid into the to of the breast plate (Fig. 45) or around the shoulder guards (Fig. 46) to enhance either an inside or outside grappling position.

Fig. 44 - Jutte grip.	Fig. 45 - Jutte in Breast plate.	Fig. 46 - Jutte around shoulder guard.

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KUSARI FUNDO - WEIGHTED CHAIN

The Kusari Fundo can also be held in the hands while in Yotsu Gumi grappling positions. The chain is looped over the thumb right above the weight so the fingers are free to grab (Fig. 47). When in the inside position, the weapon is held by both hands (Fig. 48). When in the outside position, the weapon is looped in one hand (Fig. 49).

Fig. 47 - Kusari Fundo grip	Fig. 48 - Inside position.	Fig. 49 - Outside position.

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TEKAGI - HAND CLAWS

The Tekagi can be worn on both hands and do not hinder the Ninja’s ability to grip with the fingers at all (Fig. 50). They easily latch on to the breastplate (Fig. 51), or the shoulder guards (Fig. 52).

Fig. 50 - Tekagi.	Fig. 51 - Tekagi on breast plate.	Fig. 52 - Tekagi on shoulder guard.

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ADVANCED TECHNIQUES

The techniques in this article were shown only to emphasize the basic concepts of grappling in armor. When students of the art get more advanced, they learn more leverage techniques that make use of arm traps, practice methods of entering past an unsheathed sword, and how to counter leverage techniques that are applied on them.

Anyone interested in further information on this art, or getting a custom suit of armor made so they can practice the techniques more effectively, can contact Mark Grove at Jonin@warriorquest.com.