A jutte (also pronounced 'jitte') is a traditional Japanese weapon, commonly used by Edo-era law enforcement officials to capture an armed suspect without killing. It consists of a metal shaft with a single hook near the handle. It could be used to parry blows from a sword, and the hook could be used to catch a blade and disarm the opponent. It could also be wielded offensively like a club or truncheon. It is a descendant of a specialized metal pick designed to crack open iron helmets and parry blows.