Manriki-gusari is a traditional Japanese and Chinese weapon with a chain, at the end of which are two weights designed to hit or capture the enemy. Another tactic is to grab the weights with one hand and throw them in the other person's face, which leads to unconsciousness or death. Another possibility is to throw the weapon itself against the opponent, which can cause shock or surprise. In most cases, this weapon is used as a surprise. Usually the manriki-gusari is about 90 cm (three feet) long. This weapon is one of the traditional weapons in the martial art of ninja.

Additional uses of the weapon are, for example, its use as a piercing weapon (spike and chain) in conjunction with the chain weapon. In this use, the chain is longer - about 1.8-3.04 m, with weight at both ends, each of which can be used separately. It is also possible to use both at the same time when the holder places a central handle on the chain.