Surujin

The Surujin or Suruchin is of of the tradional weapons of Okinawan Kobudo. It comprises a 2-3 meter long rope with a weight tied to each end. Historically used by fishermen to allow them to pull their boats in where they might not be able to paddle, the word //suru// refers to the hemp rope originally used, as this material is rot- and mold-resistant in marine environments, and //jin// (or //chin//) refers to a weight as used to hold down rice paper while writing. Based on its fishing origins, the first suruchin were most likely made from flat rocks with holes drilled in them. In more recent times, specifically the early part of the 20th Century and end of the 19th Century, the Surujin appeared as a weighted lightweight chain varying in length between 6 and 9 feet in length. At one end was a weight and the other a metal spike. The weight was used to throw at an opponent or to ensnare a weapon and the length of chain was then either pulled to unbalance the enemy or used to entwine them using techniques similar to that of hojojutsu. The spike was then employed to disable or administer a coup de grâce.