Learning a weapon tends to be something most of us who practice the martial arts are interested in pursuing. Most of us think, “Wow, I’d love how to use [x] weapon someday.” Does this hearken back to the days when we were kids, playing good guys/bad guys with sticks and plastic water guns? Perhaps… by the way, my favorite kid weapon was a willow tree branch as a stand-in for a bullwhip… kaKRACK! (“Mom!! She’s whipping us again!” “Well, whip her back. Now go outside and play dear”… ahh, growing up in the 70′s…)
In the modern United States and for most of us not in the military, most weapons are archaic – we learn them, not with the intent of using them in a martial application, but because we find their old applications fascinating and fun to learn. I guess it’s nice to know we could, if we had to, use these weapons in their original context (or in a pinch in a modern context, I suppose), however, most of us won’t be using them as intended unless we find ourselves either thrown back in time or having to fight zombies.
Using the martial arts to prepare for the zombie apocalypse is a completely different post – remember…
We’ve been thinking about what weaponry, other than our beloved modern arnis, we’d be interested in pursuing further in our martial arts journey. She has a martial arts nerd-on to learn tonfa (I just think they’re totally cool and I love where they come from, historically). He is interested in staffs (long and short stick weapons) and would love to learn the martial applications of the tomahawk.
At our old school back in MS, we have had exposure to kama, bo, nunchucks, and the possibility of learning sai and tonfa at a later time. He learned kama and bo; she had only learned bo. Weapons forms at that school were rather flashy and “demo” (which is fine, and certainly entertaining to perform and watch). However, our current preference is for less flashy, more basic patterns.
Here are a few videos over on YouTube we’re finding interesting right now.
Here’s two videos related to kama; a pattern, and bunkai of the kama versus a staff. Nice solid, basic form, interesting bunkai explanations.
Here’s a tonfa pattern:
Nice and simple application.
(The videos here are all from the same channel that have a TON of other interesting traditional eastern weapons forms – if you have time, do check it out!)
What weapon(s) do you find interesting or fun, and why?
–Her
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I have funny feelings about weapons. Initially, I thought weapons seemed a little arcane and would have preferred to spend the time on self-defense. But, once I started working with the chucks, I found them addictive and really fun. I’ve gone through the same cycle over the last five years as we started working with kamas, bo, and the sword.
They all are sortof exotic and other-worldly and before we work with them, I’m a little annoyed. Then, when we get started, it’s surprisingly fun and addictive.
I’d love it more if we used weapons that are more likely to actually show up such as knives and sticks (either escrima or kali sticks).
I think you nailed it: there’s a little kid in each of us wanting to be a jedi knight partially because of those sword sabres.
Real-world weapons training is a must, I think. Escrima/kali/arnis is so fun as well as pretty practical, I highly recommend you seek out a school or teacher or meetup or something! You won’t regret it!
“Exotic” and “otherworldly” – exactly! There is no practical reason for me to learn, say, kenpo or sabre fencing or even classical archery – but it looks like fun, doesn’t it? Just wait until I get my hands on those tonfa (drool)…
Having a skill that allows us to take down the Empire is merely a side benefit!
–Her