| You shouldn't be surprised that there are so many | | | | is the guang dao, which is a pole that has a blade |
| martial arts weapons that have been developed | | | | with a spiked end. A tassel or red sash might be tied |
| through the centuries. Since many martial arts have | | | | to where the blade meets the pole. Nowadays, the |
| been around since ancient times, martial arts | | | | guang dao is one of the martial arts weapons used in |
| weapons are bound to have evolved too over time. | | | | the sport of wushu. But unlike other martial arts |
| Take the knife for example - practically all martial arts | | | | weapons that you can use to attack your opponent, |
| will teach their students how to use knives as martial | | | | the guang dao is used more to disarm an attacker |
| arts weapons because almost all cultures have | | | | and render him helpless. The benefit of such long |
| developed and used some version of the knife. The | | | | martial arts weapons is that you can enter combat |
| Philippines has the balisong, also called a Butterfly | | | | and keep your opponent at a safe distance from |
| knife, which folds into its handle when not being used. | | | | you. |
| The tanto is a Japanese stabbing knife that was | | | | It is not often you find martial arts weapons |
| usually carried by Japanese women within their obi as | | | | designed chiefly for women, but there is actually one |
| their self-defense weapon. There is also the kris that | | | | and it is found in Japan. It is called the Naginata and it |
| was used in Southeast Asian countries such as | | | | is a Japanese pole weapon whose use was reserved |
| Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia during more | | | | for samurai women. Some say the Naginata looks a |
| violent times. | | | | lot like the Chinese guang dao. Modern female |
| Since many times commoners were forbidden to | | | | Naginata users may have been inspired to take up |
| carry bladed martial arts weapons, proficiency in use | | | | martial arts weapons like this one because of the |
| of wooden sticks as martial arts weapons also grew. | | | | famed Naginata user Itagaki who led an entire |
| The Japanese have the long wooden staff called Jo, | | | | garrison in the 12th century. Samurai women were |
| whose use is taught in the martial arts of aikido and | | | | expected in the past to use their Naginata to defend |
| which is still used in modern times by Japanese police. | | | | their families if invaders came while their husbands |
| The term escrima has been applied to stick-fighting | | | | were away. |
| as done in the Philippines - it is said by some that an | | | | There are so many martial arts weapons being used |
| escrima (or arnis) master can use even a simple | | | | nowadays that it is hard to condense their uses to |
| ballpen as a martial arts weapon in stick-fighting and | | | | just one article. However, it is advisable for fans of |
| come out the winner. Use of sticks (both long and | | | | martial arts weapons to take up just one weapon at |
| short) as martial arts weapons allowed ordinary folk | | | | a time to become proficient before trying to use |
| to protect their villages when invaders came to | | | | others. This gives you focus and a sense of |
| plunder their community even in the absence of | | | | accomplishment when you master at least one of |
| bladed martial arts weapons. | | | | the many martial arts weapons available today. |
| Less commonly-known among martial arts weapons | | | | |