Dear Family,
Following is the first of Sifu's amazing answers to the Weapon's thread questions
I wanted to allow for some more time to pass before I start posting them since there are already five awesome question and answer thread for upcoming courses underway, but I couldn't hold on any longer. These answers are too beautiful to not be shared immediately
Enjoy,
Claude
Following is the first of Sifu's amazing answers to the Weapon's thread questions
I wanted to allow for some more time to pass before I start posting them since there are already five awesome question and answer thread for upcoming courses underway, but I couldn't hold on any longer. These answers are too beautiful to not be shared immediately
Enjoy,
Claude
Question 1a
Is there a specific essence to each Shaolin weapon and if yes, what is the specific essence for each weapon that is going to be taught at the Special Weapon's Course?
Sifu Claudien Scicluna
Answer
Yes, there is a specific essence to each weapon.
The five weapons to be taught at the Special Weapon Course are
1. Big Trident
2. Soft Whip
3. Sword
4. Spear
5. Guan Dao
The essence of a Big Trident is weight. The Big Trident is one of the heaviest, if not the heaviest, of all weapons. A signature technique of the Big Trident is to slam it down on an opponent, or his weapon. When the opponent lets go of his weapon due to the pressing weight of the Big Trident, the Trident exponent may thrust the three pointed forks into the opponent.
Because of its weight, some people may consider a Big Trident clumsy. But in the hands of a master, the Big Trident can be very sophisticated. Because of the weight of the weapon, its three pointed fork can be employed to capture an opponent’s weapon.
The essence of a Soft Whip is flow. Unlike in all other weapons where their techniques can be applied in isolation, the techniques of a Soft Whip must be applied in a continuous flow. In other words, in all other weapons there can be pauses in between patterns, but in a Soft Whip there cannot be any pauses.
For example, after slashing with a sabre or thrusting with a spear, you may pause to consider what technique to use next. But with a Soft Whip, you cannot pause; you have to continue with other techniques in a continuous flow.
This flow aspect has its advantage and disadvantage. The flow of continuous techniques give an advantage to an exponent. He does not hesitate, for example, to think of the next pattern to use. But a skillful exponent may anticipate the flow of a Soft Whip, and thus be able to counter more efficiently.
The essence of a sword is agility. Besides agility of footwork, which is very important in swordsmanship as it is disadvantageous to clash a sword with another weapon, the lightness of a sword enables it to be manipulated by the wrist, which further enhances its agility.
It is a common mistake to use a sword as if it were a sabre. A sword and a sabre have different characteristic features. Their philosophy and application are vastly different.
The essence of the spear is the thrust. A spear thrust is technically the most difficult weapon technique to defend against. . It is like an opponent pointing a gun at you, with the exception that you could block a spear thrust but not a bullet. Hence, in kungfu culture, one is consider capable in the use of his chosen weapon only if he can use his chosen weapon to defend or counter a spear thrust
To overcome an opponent blocking a spear thrust, the spear exponent uses circuling or sometimes merely pulling the spear a short distance back. Hence, circling and thrusting and pulling back are important techniques of a spear.
Like the Big Trident, the essence of a Guan Dao is also weight. The Guan Dao, which means the Big Knife of Guan Yu, a great warrior of the Three-Kingdom Period of Chinese warring history, is also a heavy weapon. But unlike a Big Trident where the essence of its weight is used in pressing down an opponent or his weapon, the essence of its weight of a Guan Dao is in chopping.
The weight of its heavy blade enabled a Guan Dao exponent to chop his opponent right through the latter’s armour. As fighting was on horseback, the weapon needed to be long. So a long shaft was attached to its heavy blade.
(Part 1b follows)
Is there a specific essence to each Shaolin weapon and if yes, what is the specific essence for each weapon that is going to be taught at the Special Weapon's Course?
Sifu Claudien Scicluna
Answer
Yes, there is a specific essence to each weapon.
The five weapons to be taught at the Special Weapon Course are
1. Big Trident
2. Soft Whip
3. Sword
4. Spear
5. Guan Dao
The essence of a Big Trident is weight. The Big Trident is one of the heaviest, if not the heaviest, of all weapons. A signature technique of the Big Trident is to slam it down on an opponent, or his weapon. When the opponent lets go of his weapon due to the pressing weight of the Big Trident, the Trident exponent may thrust the three pointed forks into the opponent.
Because of its weight, some people may consider a Big Trident clumsy. But in the hands of a master, the Big Trident can be very sophisticated. Because of the weight of the weapon, its three pointed fork can be employed to capture an opponent’s weapon.
The essence of a Soft Whip is flow. Unlike in all other weapons where their techniques can be applied in isolation, the techniques of a Soft Whip must be applied in a continuous flow. In other words, in all other weapons there can be pauses in between patterns, but in a Soft Whip there cannot be any pauses.
For example, after slashing with a sabre or thrusting with a spear, you may pause to consider what technique to use next. But with a Soft Whip, you cannot pause; you have to continue with other techniques in a continuous flow.
This flow aspect has its advantage and disadvantage. The flow of continuous techniques give an advantage to an exponent. He does not hesitate, for example, to think of the next pattern to use. But a skillful exponent may anticipate the flow of a Soft Whip, and thus be able to counter more efficiently.
The essence of a sword is agility. Besides agility of footwork, which is very important in swordsmanship as it is disadvantageous to clash a sword with another weapon, the lightness of a sword enables it to be manipulated by the wrist, which further enhances its agility.
It is a common mistake to use a sword as if it were a sabre. A sword and a sabre have different characteristic features. Their philosophy and application are vastly different.
The essence of the spear is the thrust. A spear thrust is technically the most difficult weapon technique to defend against. . It is like an opponent pointing a gun at you, with the exception that you could block a spear thrust but not a bullet. Hence, in kungfu culture, one is consider capable in the use of his chosen weapon only if he can use his chosen weapon to defend or counter a spear thrust
To overcome an opponent blocking a spear thrust, the spear exponent uses circuling or sometimes merely pulling the spear a short distance back. Hence, circling and thrusting and pulling back are important techniques of a spear.
Like the Big Trident, the essence of a Guan Dao is also weight. The Guan Dao, which means the Big Knife of Guan Yu, a great warrior of the Three-Kingdom Period of Chinese warring history, is also a heavy weapon. But unlike a Big Trident where the essence of its weight is used in pressing down an opponent or his weapon, the essence of its weight of a Guan Dao is in chopping.
The weight of its heavy blade enabled a Guan Dao exponent to chop his opponent right through the latter’s armour. As fighting was on horseback, the weapon needed to be long. So a long shaft was attached to its heavy blade.
(Part 1b follows)
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