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