Chinese Weapons
Chinese weapons can be considered to be the origin or mother of all asian oriental weapons. The ancient monks of Shaolin learned to use anything as a useful weapon. The most popular chinese weapon was the staff, considered to be the king of all weapons.
The most popular Shaolin Kung Fu 'tool' wass the staff. A long stick that had a variety of uses and purposes. It is a multi-purpose implement that can be used for many things other than self defense. A staff is used as a walking stick, to carry loads on your back, carry and transport two water buckets, as a lever, tent pole, writing implement (in the sand) and many more. This is also the weapon that almost all Chinese martial arts consider to be "The Father of all Weapons". It is also highly effective and recommended for all martial artists to learn.
There were of course many staff types as there are different woods, people and ways of using. But in general most staffed weapons can be but into 5 specific sizes(general lengths - all Shaolin weapon dimensions were measured in 'natural' measurements relating to the user);
Dragon Staff (app 1 1/2 person lengths or 8 to 9 foot)
Shaolin Staff (app 1 person length or 5 to 6 foot[also Rat Tail Staff, very flexible, Bai La Wood])
Carry Staff (app 3/4 person length)
Cudgel or Walking Stick (app half person length and very stout)
Flute, Ruler (app fore arm to fore arm and hand length)
Virtually any item that comes to hand can be used as an item of defence.
Clubbing or blunt weapons were popular among the Shaolin Monk Kung Fu practitioner for several reaons. Because of their spiritual beliefs they didn't believe in hurting or killing. Although a blunt weapon could hurt, it was difficult to kill someone with a staff or stick. What you would most likely do is subdue the attacker and hurt them. Many of them originated as farm tools and then became more refined and specialized with time.
Flexible weapons were the most difficult to master and the least understood. Few students ever mastered or took the time and discipline necessary to learn a flexible shaolin kung fu weapon. When we think about flexible weapons, we think of the 9 ring chain whip, the three sectional staff and many other. These weapons were the complete opposite to the sword and staff. They required a great deal of talent and training to master. Some weapons of the China was designed to be used from a distance. Distance is preferable as a good defense and for secret attacks. Shaolin monks are normally not in the business of secretly attacking people, so these were rarely used and in very extreme circumstances. These weapons were common amonst vagabonds, assasins and ninjas. They were considered to be weapons of unfavorable reputation. Shaolin Kung Fu and Chinese Martial Arts has 4 basic weapons: The staff, the broadsword, the spear, and the straight sword. These are the 4 basic weapons of Kung Fu and Chinese Martial arts and one that all serious martial artists should master.
The Staff - The Father of All Weapons
The Broad Sword - The Marshall of All Weapons
The Spear - The King of All Weapons
The Straight Sword - The Gentleman of all Weapons
The origin of all weapons are as follows: The knife, the stick, the spear, the rope, and the hammer. From here all the weapons of the martial arts have grew and flourished. From these basic tools, we can find every martial art weapon of the tree.
The Chinese Sword
Medieval China saw great advancements in the science of metallurgy. They were far ahead of the technology available in Europe. These advancements allowed China to become a major military power. The power of the sword and arrived.
The basic techniques of forging and tempering developed in China. From these techniques, the renowned Japanese samurai swords were crafted. These skills arrived in Japan as early as the Sui and Tang Dynasty China AD 589.
Research has shown that the sword smiths of China were able to combine the following attributes over the past 20 centuries: Hard and durable edge, a resilient body that absorbs shock without breaking. In a sword this is very difficult to achieve and found to be impossible to combine for centuries before.
Smiths were able to combine these two apparently incompatible attributes by combining hard and soft steels in various ways. hard steel tends to be brittle but strong. Soft steel tends to be resilient and springy but not strong and easily bendable.
There are 3 basic methods: There is Baogang or wrapped steel method. The hard high carbon steel forms the cutting edge and encloses a softer core of mild steel. The core metal is often folded on itself to increase density and strength. A baogang blade must be made with fairly thick jacket of hard steel or else it will lose it's sharpness after some use.
A more common form of blade forging is qiangang, or "inserted” steel. The high-carbon edge forms a core with is sandwiched between "cheeks" of mild steel. The cheeks are often made of alternating layers of iron and steel, which produce a pattern on the surface when the blade is polished. A skilled smith can manipulate the layers to produce patterns of great beauty, in addition to providing structural strength to the sword.
The last major type of forging is known in the West as "twistcore". This type is formed of parallel bars of twisted layers of hard and soft steel, all welded into a single unit under heat and hammer. When ground and polished, the surface resembles rows of feathery, star-shaped, or swirling elements.
Other technological advancements involved hardening the blade through the use of heat and quenching in liquid. This technique is universal today wherever blades are manufactured. China was one of the few places in which techniques were devised to differentially heat treat the edge as opposed to the entire blade. This technique was then further perfected by the Japanese, who used the skill labor of enslaved Chinese and Korean Smiths.
Weapons of The Japanese and RyuKyu Islands
Japanese weapons include: The Katana, the Tanto, the Sai, the Tonfa and the Nunchaku. Japanese weapons originated from China, Korea, the original native Okinawans and through their own unique culturalism. The centuries of wars and battles engaged by the Japanese warlords and Shoguns helped further evolve the Japanese weapons collection into what we know of it today. Other widely known Japanese weapons include the Jutte, The Yumi, The Naginata, The Yari, The Shuriken (throwing star), The Ebo, The Keibo, The Jo (Staff), The Bo, and the Kama.
The Katana - The katana emerged in the sixteenth century as a curved, single-edged weapon of the Samurai warrior class in Japan. When paired with a shoto (short sword) such as a wakizashi or the dagger-like tanto, the result is a daisho, a pair of swords worn representing the honor, social power and the very soul of the Samurai warrior. The longer katana was used in open combat primarily for cutting, slashing, and parrying maneuvers, while the shorter blades were used for close-quarters stabbing as well as seppuku, or ritual suicide. Katana swords were traditionally worn the edge facing up, and the art of drawing and attacking an enemy, known as iaijutsu took years to master its many intricacies.
The Kama - Originaly a farming tool to weed plants. Because the farmers were not allowed to carry weapons they used their tools to defend themselves. This weapon is most know for its use by ninjas.
The Bo - A large staff (about 2 M) used as a self defense weapon by the common people, who were not allowed to carry weapons.
The Jo - A shorter staff (about 1.35 M) also used as a selfdefense weapon by the common people.
The Tanbo - A baton size weapon, much like the Escima stick. Sometimes used in pairs and is then called Nitanbo.
The Keibo - A small stick (about 35 cm) used for fighting in small area's.
The Ebo - A very small stick (about 15 cm) perfect as a defense weapon and easy to cary around.
The Tonfa - A nightstick with a handle attached to the side of it. many police forces have adopted it to replace the old police baton (nightstick).
The Nunchaku - Two sticks connected by either a small cord or chain. Originally it was used as a Bridle to harness horses.
The Shuriken - The word shuriken means ``a dagger hidden in a palm,'' so all daggers small enough to hide in a palm were called by this name. They have many variety in their shape and usage. Some are starlike shaped, and thrown with spin. Some other are needlelike shaped, and thrown just like a throwing dagger. Though a shuriken can hardly penetrate armor protection, it was enough because Samurai threw it at unarmed target mainly. Venom and other poisons was used with shuriken normally.
The Yari - The Japanese spear didn't differ largely from that of other countries. During the Civil War Era, spear was the most standard weapon of bushi.
The Naginata - A pole arm with a single, curved blade on one end, is employed with sweeping, circular motions and, as an extension of the wielder, channels energy in a harmonious display of beauty and precision. The Naginata is a weapon with a rich history, utilized and refined from the Nara Period (710-784 A.D.) to today. Employed initially by the Bushi, it later found itself the specific weapon of the Sohei or Buddhist monks. It is the school of the spear and, as such, is a shafted weapon. The length of its oval shaft varied, from 5' to 8', depending on battle conditions and personal requests. The most striking feature, however, was the blade; it could be anywhere from 10 inches to more than 2 feet, and was sharpened on a single side, fashioned in the manner of either Sakizori or Uchizori. As with most shafted weapons, it was most devastating when utilizing sweeping, circular motions. However, thrusts with the blade and also the heavy Ishizuki on the butt end were acceptable tactical alternatives.
The Jutte - Jutte are implements that were used by the samurai as well as the feudal era police. They were used for trapping the blades edged weapons as well as jabbing, striking and trapping fingers.
The Yumi - The Japanese bow was the main battlefield weapon for the bushi until the 1530's. A typical Japanese bow is 2.3m length, made of bamboo with a string of silk and pine resin. An arrow is made of bamboo and bird feather. Bamboo is the best material for bow in the plant kingdom. Though inferior to modern composite archery bow in penetration and accuracy, it was a deadly weapon, too. Until the musket was brought from Europe in 17th century, the bow was most respected by bushi.