#suntetsu

I’m proud of them! They’ve come a long way.

ambassador of clan akaneiro, suntetsu.

his strength is said to be several times that of a normal dragon, being known to wield as though a feather an extraordinarily heavy lance named “Ying Min”. Mistaking him for merely a pretty face is a blunder made only once. 

Suntetsu 寸鉄

Suntetsu are small metal rods around six sun (15-18cm) long, with a ring attached via a pivoting pin. They were held concealed in the hand and used in defensive situations to strike at an attacker. The rod is able to be rotated in the hand when the middle finger is inserted through the ring, allowing for defensive moves adapted to an attack.

There were quite a number of differing types of suntetsu which were called by a variety of names by the various schools of samurai combat. Some were thin at one end, some were pointed at one end, and some also had spikes on the ring to inflict damage with a punching action. The swivelling ring could be attached to the centre of the rod or closer to one end which was usually then tapered or pointed. The iron rod itself could be either round, square, or even hexagonal in cross section.

Suntetsu became popular around the turbulent Bakumatsu era (1853-1867), the end of the Tokugawa period (1600-1868). A defensive weapon, they quickly caught on among the samurai in the towns and within the city of Edo. A number of martial teachers began devising techniques for the use of the suntetsu around this time and it became a popular concealed weapon within several schools as an adjunct to yawara (jūjutsu) techniques.

Suntetsu can be used to stab, poke, pinch, strike, and scrape an attacker as well as used to reinforce a hold or grabbing action. To a limited degree it can also be used to deflect small bladed weapons.

A suntetsu is easily hidden and is thus classified within martial schools as a kakushibiki “concealed weapon.” In the curriculum of Takenouchi Hangan Ryū the suntetsu is referred to as a kakushibõ (hidden stick) which reflects its concealed nature. Suntetsu can be used either alone or in pairs.

There are four methods of holding a suntetsu common to all schools that include its techniques in their curriculums today. The basic method of holding is the tenchi mochi grip which allows a very simple but powerful striking of weak points, with either a swift downward or upward small but powerful movement.

Within the Takenouchi Hangan Ryū of samurai combat there are several methods taught using the tenchi mochi grip whereby the defender strikes upwards, from below and inside the attackers line of attack. One is a strike to the inner thigh and another is a strike to the under arm. Both come from under the peripheral view of the attacker.

Two methods of thrusting grips (tsukiwaza) rely on the nishitsuki mochi and boshitsuki mochi grips. Both of these grips are reinforced by either the thumb (boshitsuki mochi), or the middle and forefinger (nishitsuki mochi). This makes these grips ideal for direct strikes to the eyes, face, throat, torso, upper arms etc. A direct thrust with the suntetsu held in either of these grips is extremely devastating.

The fourth gripping method, hira ichimonji mochi, is designed for grabbing and holding to apply pressure to joints and bones as well as for a quick jab to soft areas.

An extremely versatile and easily concealed weapon, the suntetsu became a formidable weapon in schools of yawara.