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Writer's pictureUnified Gong Fu

Chapter 10 – A Little about Weapons

The purpose of weapon training is more than just learn the use of the weapons that are being studied. None of us will go in the street with a sword or a long staff (at least not before the closer world war and as long as there is no total anarchy), that is why the purpose (that is also why the variety of weapons) is for us to know how to take any object, feel its balance, its physics and that our body will know how to use this object as a weapon intuitively. The bottom line is that every object can use as a weapon, even a cup of tea (Chronicles of Riddick, the jail scene).


All together there fourteen directions for wielding a weapon:

1)     Top to bottom

2)     Bottom to top

3)     Right to left

4)     Left to right

5)     45 degrees from top to bottom from right to left

6)     45 degrees from bottom to top from right to left

7)     45 degrees from top to bottom from left to right

8)     45 degrees from bottom to top from left to right

9)     Flip 45 degrees to the right

10)  Flip 45 degrees to the left

11)  Bouncing from behind right

12)  Bouncing from behind left

13)  Forward thrust

14) Pulling


Each weapon has its unique character, different modes of wielding, different modes of hitting and modes of attack, damage level, range and damage formation. Not all the directions are suitable for all the weapons.

The use of weapon demands maturity from the practitioner. Mental maturity, analytical maturity, motion maturity and acquaintance with the body, which is why there is no need to rush and teach beginners weaponry, especially not weapon's forms.


In my personal point of view, weapons should be start learned with Philippine fighting sticks. I think so because this is a dynamic style and teach movement with weapons, teach to feel the weapon. Sticks have all the thirteen directions of wielding, basic drills that can be practiced alone, possibility for fast and intensive pair drills and there are no forms. The lack of forms is simplifying the usage learning. One can get a pretty good level even without practicing any Philippine style that is specialized with knives and sticks.


10.1 Forms

Just like in any other form, the study of the moves is not learning of the form and all that is written in chapter 7 is applied for weapons as well.


10.2 Applications and Practicing in Pairs

A large part of the weapons study is applications and practicing in pairs (two practitioners drills). All that was said in chapter 9 is applied for weapons as well.

A special emphasis for weapons: mostly the practice is done with practice weapons. We must not forget what it is symbolizing, for example, the wooden sword blade is symbolizing a metal blade, sharp and lethal, and should not be treated as a stick.  


10.3 Free Fighting Practice

An important gear for the free fighting practice is protective goggles. More than just a pair of eyes was saved thanks to the goggles, and it does not matter how ridiculous we are looking with them.

At the beginning there is a tendency to be hit at the knuckles, this tendency is not really gone, and it is not hurt less, but we do learn how to ignore it in time.


The free fighting practice teaches us the real flow with the weapons and as more challenging the opponent is and the faster he is, the better. The brain makes faster connections and thus our speed is improved as well. With weapons, there is no replacement for the free fighting practice.


10.4 Basis Drills and Preparing the Body for Movement

There is no way to detail all the drills on paper, and there is no need to, after all it is all about the universal technics (9.3) with adoption for weapons. This is not to say that whoever controls the universal technics automatically controls all weapons, not at all, but the technics are the basis for all the movement with weapons. One must practice a lot and understand which technics are relevant and which are not (for example, the hand chasing hand and crossing are very relevant for knives and sticks, especially with both hands armed). There are also technics that, when armed, they get additional movement options or restrictions.

There is no replacement for practicing with each weapon by itself, with its own technics, only that way the improvisation skill with any random object will be improved.


10.5 Blocks

A few words about blocking, the blocks are based on the unarmed blocks, however, there are also variations that are not existing when unarmed, such as hovering the weapon above the head and blocking over the shoulder. The basis of the movement is the same as unarmed and a research of the universal technics is required. 


10.6 Philippine Fighting Sticks

As I said before, in my personal point of view, weapons should be start learned with Philippine fighting sticks. I think so because this is a dynamic style and teach movement with weapons, teach to feel the weapon. Sticks have all the thirteen directions of wielding, basic drills that can be practiced alone, possibility for fast and intensive pair drills and there are no forms. The lack of forms is simplifying the usage learning. One can get a pretty good level even without practicing any Philippine style that is specialized with knives and sticks.

This style teaches the use of single hand and two hands fighting, joint locks and combining unarmed strikes with armed fighting.


The sticks should be held about 10 cm from the edge. The short segment has many uses in locks, disarming and short range strikes.


10.7 Boken (Japanese wooden sword – stick (bo) sword (ken))

Boken is a practice weapon that resembles Japanese Katana. This weapon can be used single handed or both hands together. This weapon allows us to practice also scimitar technics (Dao sword) and allows practicing pair drills and free fights.

The sword is a great tool for focus and precision and sharpness practice.


Several points to be noticed:

1)     Single handed wielding is similar to the wielding of a stick and yields in round movement. This style generates more momentum then force.

2)     Two swords wielding is similar to the wielding of two sticks.

3)     Wielding of a single blade with both hands yields in angular and minimalistic movement. This style generates more force than momentum.

4)     The sword has a cutting edge, thus we will prefer not to block with the cutting edge but with the back of the blade and by sliding with the sides of the blade.

5)     When trusting with the blade to the ribs, the blade should be turned horizontally otherwise it might not go through the ribs.

6)     Sword does not have 11th and 12th direction of wielding.

7)     In a short range the handle can also be used for strikes and locks, just as the short side of the Philippine stick.


10.8 Bo (150-180 cm fighting staff)

There are two ways of holding a fighting staff, the first is as with the Monkey King Staff, both hands on the same side of the staff and the second way is as in Lau Gar Gwan, the hands are on the opposite sides of the staff. Anyway, the two ways of holding are changing during a fight.

The long staff is a weapon that produces a large momentum, but can be used in short range for locks, takedowns and strikes, however it is recommended to use it in as long range as possible.

We can find this weapon in a form of a broom stick, for example. This is a pretty common weapon, in oppose to a sword and if it is broken, we got a Philippine fighting stick or two. This weapon has all the thirteen directions of wielding.

 


10.9 Han Bo (half a staff, 90 – 120 cm staff)

A staff weapon, similar in use to the Bo but produces less momentum, due to its shorter length, however it allows better maneuvering and can be used as a fighting stick.


10.10 Short stick (20 – 30 cm)

First use for the short stick is strengthening of the punch and adding a stab option. Holding the stick in the middle allows stabbing to both sides of the punch, grips and licks. The stick enhances many unarmed technics and adds some strangling technics.


10.11 Knives (with some sarcasm for spicing)

Knife is defiantly one of the more threatening words on the street (right after indiscriminate automatic fire and fragmentation grenades, oh and recently also RPGs and LAWs).

The knife will not always be drawn before the combat and no sane person will attack from a three meters range (unless they are really good with knife throwing), most knife attacks will performed form extremely close range, a blade that is trusted under the ribs or into the kidney.

Thus it is most important, if u got yourself within a combat, keep you red lines (4.3) and do not get into contact without initiating an attack. In case you got someone angry with you in a club (even if it is really not your fault and they are a bunch of criminals), get out and try to go away. If not avoid a combat, it is better to fight (better outside) than get stabbed in the back while dancing.


Another mode of attack that can be encountered when the enemy is armed with a knife is: the knife will be drawn surprisingly, but the attack will be fast and very aggressive. The attacker will try to grab you and pull you in oppose to the knife movement.


10.11.1 Attacking with a Knife, Blade Forward

Mostly a knife with two edges blade will be held forwards, thus the blade is coming out of the punch, from the side of the thumb (if it will be held backwards it might cut the holding hand and this is a sign that the holder is an idiot). The second hand is always escorting the blade hand and the preferred way of movement is hand chasing hand and movement against movemrnt.

With a knife held this way, one can draw as if he was holding a brush and turn a human face into an impressionistic piece rapidly and easily.

Forward – backward movement and stabbing are the preferred ways of attack when holding the blade forwards, fast as a snake's bite.

A smart user will also know to attack from a hug with stabbing to the back and the neck.

More common areas for attack are the inside of the forearms and noticeable tendons. For your information, a stab to the inner hip can have a lethal outcome, since a major artery is going through it, a two minutes bleeding to death. This of holding the knife can interrupt the holder to fight with the rest of his body and even put himself in danger in case he has been taken over.


10.11.2 Attacking with a Knife, Blade Backwards

A single edge blade will not cut with forward – backward strikes, but it can be held in a way that the blade comes out of the punch from the side of the little finger, parallel to the forearm.

This way of holding is completely changing the way one works with the knife. This is a more defensive way of holding that allows integrating with the enemy movement and perform many attacks from the inside. This is the way to hold a knife in case you want to disarm a knife. This way of holding is also protecting the forearm and prevents technics of diverting via the armed forearm. This way is slower on the attack than the forward holding, but stronger and can cause more damage with a single cut, this way is better for use of all the body in combat and less chances for self-injuries.

This way of holding has an advantage in the field of by passing defenses since it has a more winding movement than the forward holding, however it requires more skill.

One more element of attack that does not exist with the forward holding is the "force compressing". The blade is turned toward the enemy and we push the blade into the enemy by pressing with the other hand on the closed punch.

In a knife Vs. a knife, the forward grip has the speed advantage over the backward grip.


10.11.3 Defense Against A knife

Upper attack:

Stopping the hand with the opposite side hand (right against left) and simultaneously dropping the weight to the other hand into the attacker’s elbow. Pull the elbow against the thrust with the stopping hand. (for shorter people it would be more difficult to get leverage, however, it is still a position where one can get advantage).


Any other stab (not including thrust and lower stab):

One should attack the elbow of the arm that holds the knife. Do not try to take over, just make your weight fall into in order to stop the attacker, to interrupt the momentum.

It is better to cause the attacker to half-spin while you have your free hand get closer to attack position.


Lower stab:

Drop your both hands with an overlapping surface on the knife holding forearm – break the momentum and the distance.


Thrust:

Should be treated as a lower stab. Each attack try to diverse it to a position where you can attack.


Summary:

1.      Defense against knife attack is a misleading concept. You should attack the holding arm.

2.      You should be aggressive (speed and intention).

3.      Do not try to take over the holding arm, instead attack it to the elbow, break the momentum and attack the attacker.

4.      Assume that the attacker will try to pull his arm and stab over and over or perform manipulations.


10.11.5 Hook Knife (Karambit)

A hook knife is a knife that looks like a little mean hook. This knife has an addition feature of tearing. It is similar in use, attack and defense to the regular blade, but much meaner.


10.11.6 Addition

All that was said above about knives is talking about the medium range. Another smart attack can be done in the long range. At this situation it all takes a fencing character, which means fast attack and disengaging, getting out of range. This is a way to cause accumulative damage. This is a good way to fight in knives fights, in which there are great odds to end up with a serious injury, even if we won. In this situation we will try to strike the enemy on his back hand of the knife hand, causing bio-mechanical cut. All out attacks will be with the goal of hitting the target and disengaging before the enemy strikes back. 



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