Weapons Training

[meataxe]

Since we have a brand new CMA forum, I can't think of a better place to bring this up. Please share your opinions on weapons training. Obsolete? Usefulness? LARPiness? Realistic training vs. flappy wushu?

I like weapons training. Some reflections:

1. Most important it's fun.
2. Offers practical strength training that even the most traditional Sifu won't complain about.
3. Some people still do realistic sparring. http://www.grtc.org/cs.html
4. Obsolete? Yes, but so is bare hand fighting, IMHO. State of the art is bomb-fu.
5. Swordsmanship has been attributed as contributing to the development of internal martial arts.
6. Real blades yes! Flappy blades no!

[Cullion]

The weapons training in the type of Tai Chi are just kept as forms for exercise, and I think people do a bit of low-intensity sparring to practice the applications (I haven't learned the weapons yet).

I read somewhere about a TCC school in the US where they did painful bog-brothers style swordfighting with bamboo swords.

[meataxe]

The link I posted is for a school in Washington DC where they do hard sparring with solid wooden swords. I think the only padding they use is gloves. I've met the teacher and he goes to great lengths to have hardcore traditional training. Apparently, their sanshou training is the same way... no padding, let the bruises and busted knuckles happen. I was invited to drop in on one of their classes, but alas had no time.

[new2bjj]

The link I posted is for a school in Washington DC where they do hard sparring with solid wooden swords. I think the only padding they use is gloves. I've met the teacher and he goes to great lengths to have hardcore traditional training. Apparently, their sanshou training is the same way... no padding, let the bruises and busted knuckles happen. I was invited to drop in on one of their classes, but alas had no time.

Yes, because breaking your knuckles and hands helps you....? Just sounds like sado- masochistic nonsense. Really, you can learn more by protecting your body, so you can train with something crazy, like boxing gloves and headgear. IF you get injured frequently, you'll train less frequently.

[Cullion]

Yes, because breaking your knuckles and hands helps you....? Just sounds like sado- masochistic nonsense. Really, you can learn more by protecting your body, so you can train with something crazy, like boxing gloves and headgear. IF you get injured frequently, you'll train less frequently.

What's your barenuckle experience ?

[Mr. Mantis]

Weapons will never be obsolete. They are a great equalizer.

[It is Fake]

4. Obsolete? Yes, but so is bare hand fighting, IMHO. State of the art is bomb-fu.

Nope not at all. Wrong on all counts with this one.

[EmetShamash]

Nope not at all. Wrong on all counts with this one.

Yeah, I gotta agree. You can't solve all your combative fights with firearms and explosives... sometimes you just gotta slap 'em around a little bit.

[new2bjj]

What's your barenuckle experience ?

I don't need any- all that was done a couple of centuries ago, and then they invented boxing gloves, to prevent hand breaks. Now, this is western boxing, so, maybe, there is a CMA way not too break your fists, while hitting as hard as possible? th3e Dea4dly Iron Fist? If you go to a boxing gym, you'll see that everyone wraps their hands, and they do hit hard, very hard. That way, you can use your hands for things like, you know, writing, work, etc. or, for some of you, rolling a splif.
BTW, my favorite CMA weapons are the flexible ones. Not because they are practical, but they are cool.

[Cullion]

I don't need any- all that was done a couple of centuries ago, and then they invented boxing gloves, to prevent hand breaks. Now, this is western boxing, so, maybe, there is a CMA way not too break your fists, while hitting as hard as possible? th3e Dea4dly Iron Fist? If you go to a boxing gym, you'll see that everyone wraps their hands, and they do hit hard, very hard. That way, you can use your hands for things like, you know, writing, work, etc. or, for some of you, rolling a splif.

Punching hard without breaking your hand can be done without any 'iron fist'.

Here is a boxer fighting barenuckle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mo_1AKveRo

My small experience with barenuckle sparring also suggested it was a waste of time, because it draws blood when you make contact with their face much more easily, so most people are constantly stopping and apologising for drawing blood, and very soon start to reflexively pull everything.

However, I don't think that people sparring barenuckle are necessarily going to be messing up their hands.