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cleung
Orange Belt
Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 194
Location: Montreal, Canada
Styles: Kung Fu, Wushu, Free Style Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing
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Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:00 am Post subject: Training with Martial Arts Weapons |
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This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community.
There are opportunities in martial arts training to learn to use various martial arts weapons. Many martial arts schools, especially those that teach Japanese Karate and Chinese Kung Fu styles have weaponry as part of their overall curriculum. Popular weapons from karate systems include the bo staff, kama, sai, sword, nunchaku and tonfa. Chinese Kung Fu styles have broadsword, 3 section staff, kwan do, whip chain and butterfly knives as well as their own versions of staff. Of course, there are many other types of weapons in martial arts but the above are the more common ones taught. Some of the more exotic weapons include the fan, rope dart and the hook swords. Martial arts weapons can be divided into short and long range. An example of a short range weapon would be a pair of sai. The bo staff would be a long range weapon because of the longer reach. Weapons can also be divided into bladed and non-bladed. Kamas and swords, of course, would be bladed weapons where staffs and nunchakus would be non-bladed. In most training situations with bladed weapons, the blades are not live. That is, the blades of swords and kamas are blunt rather than sharp. This adds to the safety aspect of martial arts weapons training. Weapons can also come in different weights from heavy traditional models down to ultra light weight versions for forms competition.
Martial arts weapons are considered as extensions of a martial artist’s own body. For example, strikes with a weapon are really extended hand strikes. Blocks with weapons are modeled after traditional martial art blocking techniques. Therefore, it is important for martial arts students to be relatively proficient with martial arts techniques using their own bodies first before learning to use any martial arts weapon. This will help the students understand the applications behind each weapons technique much better. In most Japanese Karate schools, weapons training won’t be offered until students reach an intermediate level such as green or blue belt. There are martial arts that are strictly weapons oriented. An example is Japanese Kendo which is modeled after samarai sword fighting. Philipino Arnis is stick fighting which was developed in the South Pacific islands.
There are many benefits in training with martial arts weapons. Because most weapons have some weight to them, their use will help develop muscle tone and strength. Performing forms or katas with weapons will also develop coordination. In today’s world, martial arts weapons may not be as practical as the days of the past when it was acceptable to carry weapons wherever one traveled. However, with some understanding of weapons techniques, a martial artist today can turn almost any household item such as an umbrella, cane or even a set of keys into weapons of self defense if required. Another important point that shouldn’t be ignored is that most practitioners will claim that training with martial arts weapons is a lot of fun.
However, not all martial arts clubs and studios will teach weapons. Many Tae Kwon Do schools, for example, do not include weapons in their overall training. This is not to say that Korean martial arts do not have weapons. The Korean martial art Kuk Sool Won features the staff, sword and cane. So, if a martial arts student wishes to learn the use of weapons, a school that includes them in their training should be sought after. Another alternative for students who are otherwise happy with their martial arts club that doesn’t have weapons training is to get supplementary private instruction from instructors who can provide it.
Weapons training can open up a whole new dimension to overall martial arts training. Even advanced Tai Chi practitioners use swords in some of their forms. It doesn’t matter if sometimes the swords are made entirely of wood either since the actual weapons techniques will still be used in the forms. For many martial arts competitors, weapons forms are their favorite divisions to compete in. From a spectator point of view, weapons forms can be very exciting to watch especially when weapons such as whip chains or kamas with strings are used since their presentations are so dynamic and even somewhat dangerous to the user. Such weapons have caused injuries to users when certain techniques were sloppy or mistimed. But, like other aspects of martial arts, proficiency with a martial art weapon after much hard training can bring a high sense of satisfaction to a martial artist. _________________ Clint
Free Spirit Martial Arts Activewear
http://www.FreeSpiritActivewear.com |
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Patrick
KF Administrator
Joined: 01 May 2001
Posts: 28758
Location: Los Angeles, California
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ninjanurse
KF VIP
Joined: 13 Feb 2003
Posts: 6154
Location: Upstate NY
Styles: TKD;Shotokan;JuJitsu;Tai Ji
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Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:21 am Post subject: |
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Good article. Thanks!
_________________ "A Black Belt is only the beginning."
Heidi-A student of the arts
Tae Kwon Do,Shotokan,Ju Jitsu,Modern Arnis
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SBN Doug
KF VIP
Joined: 04 Nov 2001
Posts: 3767
Location: Houston, TX
Styles: Kuk Sool Won
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Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice.
I've been training with wooden and aluminum swords for about 8 yrs now. Finally, I have purchsed a hand made "live" sword to begin my cutting training. I'm phsyched!
And even though you did use the word "Features".....
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The Korean martial art Kuk Sool Won features the staff, sword and cane. |
and
Double short sword
Double long sword
Jool Bong (nunchakus)
Spear
Fan
Sectional Staff
Throwing Knives
Archery
Rope...........................
Sorry, I just had to throw in some more. _________________ Kuk Sool Won - 4th dan
Evil triumphs when good men do nothing. |
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bushido_man96
KF Sensei
Joined: 31 Mar 2006
Posts: 30188
Location: Hays, KS
Styles: Taekwondo, Combat Hapkido, Aikido, GRACIE, Police Krav Maga, SPEAR
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