Training with Martial Arts Weapons - Karate Kung Fu Weaponry
Clint Leung

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, 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 Leung is a lifelong martial artist with over 32 years of
training experience in kung fu, tae kwon do, karate, kickboxing
and martial arts weaponry. He has won Canadian and world
championship titles (NASKA, NBL and WSKF). He is also owner of
Free Spirit Activewear http://www.FreeSpiritActivewear.com  , an
online retailer and designer of premium martial arts activewear.
Free Spirit Activewear has martial arts info articles.


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