Weapons
Historically, weapons were practiced for martial purposes. Their persistence remains to uphold the traditional Chinese martial education while assisting in the development of advanced coordination skills. With the development of modern warfare these weapons were not discarded but practiced as preservation of the historical uniqueness. Keeping it’s cultural relevance.
There are four primary weapons. The broadsword (dao, 刀), the straightsword (jian 劍), staff (gun 棍) and spear (qiang 槍). These weapons increase different body movements and the weapons increase in difficulty. Weapons have different weights for building strength and stamina as well when the weapon is used in proficiency.
Along with the four primary weapons, there are eighteen general weapons which are used for long, medium and short range application, as well as countless derivatives of these primary weapons. Some examples of traditional Chinese weaponry, used by Novice and Advanced Kung Fu Practitioners, include staff, spear, sword, knife, fan, whip-chain, halberd, double axes, bench, three-sectional staff, projectile weaponry, and many more. And in each system has many more available for their martial skills.
Most Chinese styles also make use of training in the broad arsenal of Chinese weapons for conditioning the body as well as coordination and strategic drills. These weapons are also paired out into two to build dexterity and ambidexterity within the training regiment. This also develops proficiency in unarmed combat.
Weapons training is generally carried out after the student shows proficiency in the basics, forms and applications training. The basic theory for weapons training is to consider the weapon as an extension of the body. It has the same requirements for footwork and body coordination as the basics. The process of weapon training proceeds with forms, forms with partners and then applications.
There is paired weapon sets where two weapons are used against one another. This develops timing, understanding and teamwork as each weapon is used in its purpose.