Martial Study
Weapon Sets (兵器套路)
No other Martial Art system in the world can make claim to incorporate the range of weapons taught in Shaolin Kung Fu (少林功夫). Most styles focus on Empty Hand Sets, yet the Shaolin Arts include an extensive repertoire of Weapon Sets as an equally important component of the curriculum.
You might ask why, in this day and age, should the student bother to learn these weapons. After all, a practitioner cannot strap a Nine Ring Broad Sword to his or her back or walk the streets with a Spear in hand.
There are many reasons for teaching the classic Shaolin weapons not the least of which is maintaining the continuity of their rich history. In the Shaolin Martial Arts, training without weapons is considered incomplete. They help the student develop a deeper feeling for Shaolin Kung Fu (少林功夫).
In addition, the practice of traditional Shaolin Weapons will:
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Enhance the student's power and stamina: It is much more difficult to precisely complete a movement with a Weapon than without. The additional weight requires greater strength to both accelerate and bring the weapon to a stop.
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Reinforce the student's stances: The momentum of the Weapon will tend to pull the student off balance, preventing the novice from properly locking out his or her stance. Once stances can be correctly executed with a Weapon, they become easier to perform empty handed.
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Improve hand-eye coordination: The proprioceptive control of a punch or empty hand technique is fed back through the nervous system - not unlike the test consisting of closing one's eyes and trying to touch the index fingers. However, focusing the inanimate Weapon cannot be felt and is much more difficult. Judging of correct striking distances has to be transferred from the end of the arm to the end of the Weapon. Perfecting the ability to accurately perform Weapon techniques requires considerable practice.
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Help the student learn how to defend against real or improvised street weapons many of which are reminiscent of the time-honored Weapons taught as part of the Shaolin curriculum. The student who diligently practices will become intimately familiar with the principles of the traditional Weapons and be able to use that knowledge to his or her advantage. In addition, the student will be able to effectively make use of implements — the branch of a tree, a broomstick handle, the cover of a trash pail — readily found.
A Few of the Weapons Taught in Shaolin Hung Mei
| Shān Dōng Shuāng Xiăo Dāo | 山東雙小刀 | Double Small Swords - Daggers |
| Shān Dōng Liù Hé Qiāng | 山東六合槍 | Spear |
| Shān Dōng Liăng Jié Gùn | 山東兩節棍 | Two Section Staff |
| Shān Dōng Sān Jié Gùn | 山東三節棍 | Three Section Staff |
| Shān Dōng Qī Jié Biān | 山東七節鞭 | Seven Section Steel Whip |
| Shān Dōng Jiŭ Jié Biān | 山東九節鞭 | Nine Section Steel Whip |
| Shān Dōng Shéng Biāo | 山東繩鏢 | Rope Dart |
| Tai Zŭ Dān Dāo | 太祖單刀 | Nine Ring Broad Sword |
| Tai Zŭ Qī Méi Gùn | 太祖齊眉棍 | Eye Brow Staff |
| Tai Jí Méi Huā Qiāng | 太極梅花槍 | Flower Spear |
| Tai Jí Shuāng Gōu | 太極雙鉤 | Double Tiger Hooks |
| Kūn Lún Kuān Dāo | 昆侖寬刀 | Kwan's Broadsword |
| Kūn Lún Shuāng Dāo | 昆侖雙刀 | Double Broadsword |
| Kūn Lún Dān Căn | 昆侖單鏟 | Single Half Moon |
| Kūn Lún Shuāng Căn | 昆侖雙鏟 | Double Half Moon |
| Kūn Lún Da Pá | 昆侖大耙 | Trident |
