The Sasumata was also known as the "man-catcher". It was a four foot long wooden shaft with two foot inward-facing crescent blades at the end. The gap between the blades allowed a skilled user of the weapon of trap an opponent limbs or body, and was often used to pin an opponent to the ground. The sasumata was difficult to use, but it's ability to trap people made it very popular among magistrates and those expecting to face cavalry units. Only the insides of the blades were sharp.