The Yoroi-Doshi

Researched by Ken Goldstein, Ph.D., P.E.

The yoroi-doshi first appeared in the late Kamakura period , but most were made during the Muromachi
period (Sengoku jidai or Warring States period) in response for the need for a good weapon to use while
grappling with armored opponents. The yoroi-doshi had a very thick kasane at the bottom, with mihaba
tapering towards the tip (resembling a spike), iori-mune gently sloping towards the tip starting about 3/4
of the way up the blade, and hira-zukuri cross-section. Occasionally, it was known to be forged
moroha-zukuri (double-edged), sometimes known as kogarasu maru style. The accompanying habaki
was often almost triangular in cross-section.
Prior to the 17th century, the yoroi-doshi was the knife most used by the Samurai class: a single- or
double-edged armor-piercing dagger with a reinforced point. It was sometimes used by ashigaru (foot
soldiers), but was used mostly by Samurai to stab into weak parts of opposing Samurai yoroi, in
combination with empty-hand grappling techniques in a style called yoroi-kumi-uchi (literally "grappling in
armor"). The yoroi-doshi was generally single-edged and shaped like a short version of the tachi, with
all the usual mounts, including a tsuba and saya. It generally resembles a tanto, but with a stronger,
thicker blade.
Heavily-armored Samurai were somewhat restricted in mobility and speed of foot movement, but they
were virtually impervious to weaponless strikes as armor covered virtually their whole body.
Empty-hand jujutsu techniques were initially restricted to grappling, pushing, tripping, and throwing,
although some systems did practice empty-hand strikes to specific areas that were not well-protected by
armor, such as under the arms. Samurai were also sometimes trained in intercepting weapon strikes by
small weapons. The yoroi-doshi was thus developed to pierce armor or be aimed between small gaps
2
in armor .
After 1603, the beginning of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Samurai no longer wore full armor on a daily
basis. The most common knives were the tanto (with full guard), hamidashi (half guard), and aikuchi
(no guard), any of which might be used to supplement the katana and wakizashi. By the late Tokugawa
period when yoroi was seldom worn, many schools of tanto-jitsu began to emphasize the blade-forward,
cut-and-disable style of knife fighting over the older method of finishing with an ice-pick stab through
armor.
3

One school that still teaches yoroi-kumi-uchi is the Yagyu Shingan-Ryu in Japan . The technique
involves unbalancing the opponent, then plunging the yoroi-doshi into a weak spot in the armor, much
more easily said than done. As with any sophisticated tanto-jitsu, the trick is to control the body of the
opponent during the strike. This is particularly difficult to do because loose-fitting yoroi doesn't provide
a secure hand-hold, not to mention its normal penetration resistance. This ryuha generally uses a
simple ice-pick grip on the yoroi-doshi, which is secure enough because of the substantial tsuba.
Various methods were taught so that there was always a thumb, finger, or palm pressed against the
tsukagashira so as to put the bone structure and body weight behind the thrust, vitally important when
4
striking an opponent in armor, or even heavy clothing .
A short video showing the use of the yoroi-doshi against an opponent with armor in the Yagyu
Shingan-Ryu style can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yl5M0Ox4gU.

References:
1. Token Bijutsu No.596, Nihon Koto Shi, Dr. Honma Junji, page 34
2. FightingArts.com, Part 2- Adjunct To Classical Weapon Systems
3. Black Belt Magazine, Dec. 1987, page 53
4. Bushi Kempo Academy, Style History, page 1