Junior Student’s Corner
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.