by Sifu Charlie Romeo
Fu For You Summer 2024

In my previous article, Weapons 101: Weapons Are Not Toys, I discussed the importance of possessing the correct mindset when using weapons in Kung Fu. Having control and not using weapons as toys are crucial first steps in wielding weapons in our training. This second part of the article is going to dive further into weapon use for more experienced students. The information here may be more applicable to our advanced students, but it can still be a beneficial read for novice and intermediate students to get excited for what lies ahead.

A great drill for testing your understanding of a weapon is to wield it in one of your open hand forms, such as using double daggers in the tiger form. While some small (or drastic) variations will need to be made, the foundation of the form must remain the same. This is not a drill that will come easy; some moves will work well, and others will take serious thought and adaptation to appropriately represent the form as well as the weapon. It’s important to not rush this drill, but instead take the time to understand how your weapon can be used effectively and adapt as needed.

We can often get so comfortable with a weapon that we forget to think about what exactly we’re doing in our movements. This is a result of muscle memory, which while not a bad thing, can lead to a lack of intent. One way to avoid this is to try working your drills and forms with the weapon in the opposite hand. You will find that swinging a tonfa with your non-dominant hand requires a lot more thought processing than you have needed since you first started using the weapon (this, of course, is less true for the lefties out there). When you switch the weapon back to your right hand, begin to think more about the intent of the weapon rather than wielding it through muscle memory and habit.

By the time you reach the highest junior ranks, you will learn to use a minimum of 5-6 weapons through learning your curriculum forms. Each one of these weapons requires its own commitment to deeply understand, and they are all used very differently from one another. As an advanced junior student, it is important to go back to revisit your previous weapons and re-evaluate your understanding of them. A Jr Brown Sash should have a far better understanding of the staff compared to a Jr Orange Sash. Take the time to break down your weapons forms – alone, with a classmate, or with an instructor – and ask yourself: Are there any moves that I don’t know the purpose of? Do I have any questions about the weapon I’m using? 

Revisiting previous weapons as you advance can help you become a better student and will also help you as you begin your journey as a Leadership Team member. Control of a weapon is important, but as you advance, a more in-depth understanding is expected as you continue your Kung Fu journey.

See all of the articles about Kung-Fu Weapons.

The post Weapons 102: Revisiting Previous Weapons appeared first on Waterloo Kung-Fu Academy.

by Sifu Charlie Romeo
Fu For You Spring 2024

When you start to use weapons in your training, it’s imperative that you first understand this most important rule: weapons are not toys. You must adopt the mindset that focuses on effectively wielding and controlling a weapon, rather than playing with it. Even within our safe and controlled environment, accidents can happen. Therefore, each of us bear the responsibility to use our weapons with the intended purpose, minimizing the risk of harm to others or ourselves. While there is room for enjoyment in learning the use of weapons, you still must have the correct mindset. Learning a new weapon is an exciting milestone in your Kung Fu journey but it should not be taken for granted – just like driving, it’s a privilege, not a right.

Once you understand the proper motivation for using weapons, you need to practice with it… a lot. Picking up your first weapon in Kung Fu is comparable to your first ever Kung Fu class; it’s an entirely new dimension of training that your body isn’t used to. To begin, find an open space that offers minimal risk of damage to anyone or anything, and allow your movements to flow naturally. Or better yet, your instructors can guide you through drills tailored to your specific weapon which will enhance your learning.

You will often hear instructors say that a weapon should be an extension of your body; what does that mean? Think of how you throw a punch or a kick. Using your weapon should be just as seamless as that, with the same accuracy, fluidity, and intent. Much like the symbolic relationship between a cyclist and their bike, ample practice with a weapon allows you to utilize all aspects of it with comfort and control, as if it were a part of your physicality. Next time you use any of your weapons, visualize them as a literal extension of your body. If this is challenging, dedicate more time to practicing until this unity is seamless.

We work with many different weapons in our style of Kung Fu. This includes the staff, tonfa, double daggers, sais, single broadsword, double broadswords, and butterfly swords. These are the weapons that you will learn to utilize on your journey to black sash, which can be sorted into two categories: close range and long range. Close range weapons are those whose optimal range is generally within your typical punching and kicking range. Long range weapons are those that extend past that range. Take the time to consider how each of your weapons are used and try to sort them into the two categories on your own.

It’s natural to be excited about using weapons in Kung Fu, but treating them as toys reveals a misguided mindset (if you still don’t know what that means, start rereading from the beginning). I hope this article is useful in understanding how to achieve the correct mindset for weapons use, and that you can still have (serious) fun with the learning process.

See all of the articles about Kung-Fu Weapons.

The post Weapons 101: Weapons Are Not Toys appeared first on Waterloo Kung-Fu Academy.