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