Pole arms

Pole arms The feudal police often relied on various pole arm arresting implements that could be used from a relatively safe distance to restrain and disarm suspects. Copyright © 2009. Please do not use the photographs or the text on this site without permission. (Image use must include the statement: "Copyright © 2009. Photograph by Don Cunningham.")

P-1
		This is a late Edo-period sasumata. This U-shaped pole arm was used to trap the neck or limbs to immobilize an opponent. One of the of the standard Edo-period police station tools called torimono sandogu (three tools of arresting), the U-shaped end was used to trap an opponent. Then the person could be pushed to a wall or other barrier and immobilized. The other two long pole arresting implements were the sodegarami, which had short spikes used to ensnare the clothing, and the tsukubo, which had a T-shaped end used to push and control an opponent.

P-2
		This is a late Edo-period sodegarami (sleeve entangler). This pole arm arresting implement was the most frequently used of the standard Edo-period police station tools called torimono sandogu (three tools of arresting). The short spikes were thrust into an offender's kimono or other clothing with a twisting action to entangle the material. Then the person could be pushed to the ground and immobilized. The other two long pole arresting implements were the sasumata, which had a U-shaped end used to pin the neck or limbs, and the tsukubo, which had a T-shaped end used to push and control an opponent.

P-3
		This is a late Edo-period or early Meiji-era teyari (hand spear). Shorter than a typical yari, the teyari was often the favored weapon of the machi-kata yoriki for apprehending lawbreakers, especially in confined spaces.

Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutsu

Pole arms