Tansurujin no Kata

短スルジンの型

Tansurujin no Kata (or 短スルジンの型 in Japanese) is a Ryukyu Kobujutsu Surujin Kata. Tan (or 短 in Japanese) means ‘short’, and surujin (or スルジン in Japanese) is a chain that has a weight attached to one end and a short sharp weapon at the other. The weight is used for twining, and the sharp weapon for thrusting and stabbing. The length of this short (or regular) Surujin corresponds to the wingspan of the outspread arms (which is about one and a half meters or 5 feet), while the long Surujin can measure up to twice this regular length. In the video embedded below (recorded on 15 April 2024), budoka Johan Oldenkamp, a former national champion from the Netherlands, performs this kata with the short Surujin. This kata is sometimes also called Mijikai Kusari (or 短い鎖 in Japanese), meaning ‘short chain’. This kata may look simple and unspectacular, but please bear in mind that the Surujin is Ryukyu Kobujutsu’s most difficult weapon to control.