Weapons: Non Firearm

Hello Everyone,

Why does one practice with weapons that firearms made obsolete? There are a number of reasons that weapons practice should remain important. Such reasons as Physical training, ranging, and use of makeshift weapons represent viable in this day and age.

Physical Training and Weapons
At least eighteen weapons and non weapons proficiencies were required to be a Chinese soldier, unarmed techniques only made up one of those proficiencies. (Henning 173) One does not walk down any street with a bow and arrow, but the physicality that weapons’ training develops is just as important today. Most martial artists train at the gym as well as train the specific art’s techniques. A two or three pound sword develops muscle, sinew, and control in all movement aspects. The following quote from warlord Feng Yuxiang explains weapons practice physical benefits. “If you want to exercise your body, is a blade not enough? Is a sword routine not enough? Of China’s eighteen types of martial arts, not one is incapable of drenching our entire bodies in sweat, stimulating all the body’s blood, tendons, and bones.” (Morris 195) This physical training assists the martial artist in development both related and unrelated to the martial arts practice in question.

Other weapons focus the mind on other aspects of training. Archery focuses the mind on distance, attention, intent, and focus. Smaller weapons such as the sai focus the mind and body on close range movement. Longer weapons such as the bo staff focus on extension of the body and mind as well as ranged attacks.

Ranging

Weapons assist ranging an attack and allowing a defender different responses to given attacks; even though today a martial arts practitioner does not walk the streets with bo staves, swords or sais. Each weapon only extends out so far from the body and in the hands of a skilled practitioner can inflict damage as well as convince the opponent to move along, but weapons provide training in distance measurement as well. Just as a ruler benefits the carpenter in distance measurement, weapons training does so with the martial artist. “When a carpenter becomes skilled and understands measures he can become a foreman.” (Musashi, 42)

Practice with weapons gives the practitioner real time experience. A sword, such as a Chinese broadsword measures about thirty six inches from tip to pommel. Knowing the distance between attacker and defender allows the defender to see and feel the distance. A practitioner grips it and realizes how far thirty six inches measures from their body, without any other measuring device. Measurement provides a useful ranging reference that the practitioner now understands.

Weapons and Their Uses
Ancient and pre modern weapons also open the mind. One cannot walk down a street armed with these weapons. Such activity lost societal approval long ago. But one can carry a variety of modern tools that with training and an open mind, take the place of these ancient weapons. Bo staff or spear techniques learned now apply to any long handled tool; such as a garden ho, rake, mop with or without mop end, or even a walking stick. Use these tools to keep an attacker at distance. Other weapons translate differently and to different objects

Sword techniques easily translate into cane techniques. Sword training also covers mid range attacks. This weapon covers attacks shorter than a bo staff and longer than a sai or knife. A sword usually ranges between eighteen and forty two inches long. The length varies, depending on the weapon’s style and purpose. Some exceptions do occur, but this establishes a baseline for a blade. Some swords have single cutting edge and others have dual cutting edges. Swords vary in weight, from very light competition blades to far heavier purpose built blades. Each sword allows the practitioner to work different areas of their bodies. The turning, swinging, thrusting, and pointing motions required assist in an excellent upper body workout; the footwork and leg movements, and stances provide both muscular and balance workouts. But what can one do with a sword today?

People no longer walk down a street or on a train with a sword, for the most part. Modern society frowns on weapons being brandished in public. The cane replaces the sword as a useful weapon in today’s hand to hand combat. A cane in some cultures singles out weak individuals with poor mobility. In other countries the cane presents a formidable weapon in capable hands. The person using the weapon must train with that weapon; so if and when the time comes one uses it effectively.

There are other weapons in the martial artist’s arsenal that cover even shorter ranges that a sword or cane. Traditionally the jutte, sai, and knife provide close range support to a defender. These weapons do not weigh much, for the most part and provide only a small amount of weight for muscular benefit. These weapons train in quickness and precision. Coordination built by the practitioner using these weapons improves a variety of activities.

Training in each weapon also allows the practitioner to feel comfortable in close range fighting. But none of these weapons are allowed everywhere and some cannot even come out of the studio environment. How one handles a small close range weapon allows the techniques to transfer from the studio to the real world. One real world analog to a kama or jutte would be the tire iron. Some cars still come with a single handled tire iron. These items are about a foot long and made of steel. Flashlights fit into the small weapons category. One can use them to increase weight in the hands as well as striking specific bodily points.

Conclusion
Each weapon provides weight and movement skill training. The weight of the weapon allows the martial artist’s body opportunity for improvement. Lifting a two or three pound hand weight during aerobic activity increases the aerobic activity’s benefit. The weapon can be substituted for a hand weight, but the practitioner must learn how to use the weapon as well.

The knowledge gained from training in ancient weapons also readily allows the practitioner to use non weapon objects as weapons. Mops, Canes, and flashlights only represent a small number of possibilities when it comes to weapons. Train with them and train with a person. No amount of knowledge helps a practitioner, if the practitioner does not practice it regularly.


Additional material
If a person armed with a firearm attempts to attack; do what you must to survive the encounter. Do not bring a knife to a gunfight. Escape if you can. We will address firearms specifically in another posting. Additional material to this post will be posted in the comments section. Please keep in mind that this post does not cover all weapons of the ancient world. Books written on the subject could fill a small room.

Bibliography

Henning, Stanley E. “The Chinese Military Arts in Historical Perspective.” Military Affairs 45, No. 4 (December 1981): 173 - 179.

Musashi, Miyamoto. A Book of Five Rings. Translated by Victor Harris. Woodstock, New York: Overlook Press. Paperback Edition 1982.

Morris, Andrew D. Marrow of The Nation: A History of Sport and Physical Education in Republican China. Berkeley California: University of California Press, 2004.