Tekkō

The tekkō (鉄甲, lit. "iron", "armor"), are weaponized stirrups and horseshoes which originated in Okinawa, Japan, and they fall into the category of "fist-load weapons". By definition, a fist-load weapon increases the mass of the hand so that, given the physical proportionality between the fist's momentum and its mass, it increases the force the bearer can deliver. Some fist-load weapons may also serve, in the same manner, as the guard on a sword, to protect the structure of the bearer's hand.

A variant of the weapon known as tekkō-kagi (手甲鉤, lit. "back of the hand hooks") is characterized by four iron nails like bear claws attached to a metal ring. Worn over the hands, the claws could be used for scraping and striking. It is used for both offensive and defensive purposes as the wielder can slash and defend with natural hand motions. Additionally, with proper technique, it could be used for ensnaring and disarming weapons.

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