The Fundo Kusari is typically known in other schools of martial art as the Manrikigusari (power of 10.000). Someya-Sensei, the founder of Meifu Shinkage-ryu, valued training with the Fundo Kusari as much as training with Bo-shuriken. He developed a curriculum of 27 kata as well as one long-form and 3 secret techniques.
The Fundo Kusari as used in Meifu Shinkage Ryu consists of a chain with one weight and one ring, all made of steel. For safety and legality reasons, members of Meifu Shinkage Ryu Canada™ train with two safety versions of the Fundo Kusari: a foam version for partner training, and a rubber version for kata training.
The standard fundo kusari in Meifu Shinkage Ryu is between 72 and 76 centimetres long, and weights in between 180 to 200 grams.
The skills trained with the Fundo Kusari in Meifu Shinkage Ryu are based on some of the techniques found in the Japanese Martial Arts Masaki-ryu. For shodan, 11 kata are required material of study. Additional kata exist for nidan (10 kata) and sandan (7 kata). Advanced practitioners also learn a set of kata combining the Bo-Shuriken and the Fundo Kusari.
The Fundo Kusari is also used for partner exercises, using a soft foam version. This type can be used for striking the appointment without leaving injury.
The meal Fundo Kusari is a prohibited weapon in Canada, as described in the Criminal Code. For safe study of Meifu Shinkage Ryu, members of Meifu Shinkage Ryu Canada Branch use two safety versions of the Fundo Kusari. One is made of a plastic chain and has a foam “weight” attached. This foam Fundo Kusari can also be used for partner exercises.
The second safety version of the Fundo Kusari is made of a plastic chain with a rubber weight. This last version is to the exact weight ratio of the metal Fundo Kusari, Therefore, when members wish to use a metal Fundo Kusari while they are training in Japan or in a country where the metal Fundo Kusari is not prohibited, the transition will be smooth.
