The Sodegarami, or "sleeve-entangler", was used to entagle the sleeves of its target. It had a four foot wooden shaft with a t-shaped metal head. The crossbar of the "t" was barbed so it could more easily hook onto an opponents clothes. The sodegarami was frequently used by city militia and guards who used it to disarm and incapacitate samurai. It was believed that these weapons evolved when a non-lethal weapon was needed.