Weapons & Martial Arts Training
Martial arts weapons have long been used by ancient martial artists to defend their families and homelands. Where weapons were once used on the battlefield, many of those weapons are now used in non-life threatening situations at martial arts competitions. Other weapons are still used for self-defense. Regardless of the reason for using weapons in the martial arts, modern weapons training is rooted in ancient history and skills in weaponry still garner the respect of martial artists all over the world.
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History
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Weapons played an important role in ancient martial arts because they allowed the combatant to adequately defend himself. Whether the martial artist was a soldier or a farmer, understanding how to effectively use weapons, or anything that could be used as a weapon, was essential for self-preservation. Unlike modern warfare, which relies heavily on guns, bombs and technology, ancient combat relied on the skilled martial artist and his weapon. Modern weapons practice in traditional martial arts reflects this ancient need, and many of the weapons used are very similar to the weapons used in ancient fighting.
Choosing a Weapon
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A martial artist would choose his weapon based on need. Certain weapons are good for specific circumstances and the wrong weapons choice could cost the life of the martial artist. If a fighter was going to battle, sturdy weapons capable of breaking or cutting through armor were a necessity. For example: a sturdy weapon, such as a Chinese combat jian, would be inappropriate for a duel. A Chinese martial artist involved in one-on-one combat would need a light and fast jian to evade his enemy. Some martial arts styles teach the use of everyday objects as weapons, which allows a fighter to create a weapon when none are around.
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Specific Weapons Styles
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The katana was employed by the warrior class in feudal Japan. Different martial arts styles specialize in different weapons. The Japanese martial arts often use a sword called a “katana.” The katana is a single-edged blade, extremely sharp and is held with two hands. The katana was typically used by the warrior class in feudal Japan, including the legendary Samurai. The Chinese martial arts employ a variety of weapons including the staff, jian, dao, pudao and spear. Chinese martial artist Bruce Lee made the nunchaku, or “nunchucks,” famous in the West. The nunchaku is a Japanese weapon used by a variety of Asian martial arts, such as Korean taekwondo, Japanese karate and Okinawan kobudo.
Training
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In order to adequately use their weapons, ancient martial artists practiced daily in order to obtain the skill required to defeat their opponent. Because the skill was necessary for survival, it became a way of life for many martial artists. Modern martial artists must also train diligently to perfect their art. However, many of the traditional combat weapons have had little use in modern warfare since the introduction of the gun. But there are several weapons that modern martial artists may use for self-defense. For example, knives and nunchaku are easily carried and a staff can be created from common objects, such as a broom stick. Many modern martial artists focus their studies on these practical and versatile weapons to increase their chances of survival in a fight.
Methods and Techniques
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Weapons methods vary widely among martial arts styles and the weapons being used. Broadsword techniques usually include broad sweeping motions that would be effective on a battlefield. Katana methods, such as those used in Kendo, focus on footwork and counterattacks. Staff methods, made famous by the Shaolin monks, usually include techniques such as swinging, jabbing, disarming and hitting.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit shaolin kungfu image by Liu xiang from Fotolia.com katana image by NetGraphi from Fotolia.com
