Are you for learning weapons forms, or against the idea?

Question

If so, what is your favorite weapon or weapon you would most like to learn? Or if not, why?

Answer 1

Hi there

It is true that most of the traditional weapons don't have much practical use today but the principles from them still apply. Projectile weapons still teach the principles of throwing, Chain weapons teach you how to manipulate objects attached to a cord and Swords teach you the principles of swinging etc. Its all good but it does depend on the practitioners knowledge and willingness to break the mould.

I am a big fan of the Katana but think the Jo or hanbo are much more practical weapons. They teach you so much and when they are incorporated with unarmed fighting skills the two become inseparable.

Form however is another issue.

Weapons kata just like unarmed kata do not teach you anything if all you are doing is copying them. This is painting by numbers. Repetition is not a replacement for instinct. The two are not the same. Kata are a fantastic learning tool if the practitioner is able to extract the principles trapped within them. I say trapped because without experience it is difficult to backward engineer forms to reveal their true intention.

Let's not forget that most of the modern styles of budo were formalised after the 1500's when warriors were redundant. Hence the spiritual mess of modern kata. If anything the ture fighting spirit of kata has been lost and replaced with something that is artificial.

Don't get me wrong I am a traditional martial artist. I'm just not convinced about the modern perception or application.

Theres nothing spiritual about fighting nor is it semetrical. Its a nasty business. However maybe modern kata and repition can help to refine the practitioners spirit reducing the desire for conflict?

Horses for courses. ;-)

Best wishes

idai

Answer 2

learning weapons is great it teaches hand eye cordernation good reflexes and great skills. i love the nunchaku (nunchuks) i taught myself how to use them. but my most favourite weapon is the 3 section staff and it's one of wushus most difficult weapon to succesfuly use, again i taught myself how to use it i'm good but not a champion.

Answer 3

Well, the weapons taught in martial arts are historical ones, that nowadays, really don't have much use. For example, you don't see people with katanas walking down the street. I would support staff fighting though, as a long branch or some pole could always be nearby if you get into a bad situation.

Answer 4

Done properly they increase spirit .The weapon should be part of you not something seperate of you.

I train in IAIDO and AIKI KENJUTSU  and when I get decrepit enough to have to walk with a cane it might come in handy.

Answer 5

I am for learning weapons, i am against learing weapon FORMS (except perhaps in the very earliest days of training with larger weapons that you need to learn to move with properly, sword, staff, spear, etc.).

you cannot learn to fight by using forms, so if that is all you are learning, you are not learning to use the weapon and you are wasting your time.

if they are teaching you to cut properly (sword) or strike properly with power, that can't be learned from a form.

you can't learn to get by an opponent's defenses with pre-arranged tactics so again, they don't help here.

I have explored a range of weapons, some practical (knife, jitte,shotgun, bow) some not so (sword).

but in all cases I trained against resisting opponents who could hit me and be hit (except the firearm and bow- those kind of fall in a different cagegory) and I actually can say that I learned something from the training.

if I had my choice I would learn to use either a spear or sniper rifle- neither really practical but fun.

EDIT: an interesting point brought up by the guy above me talking about using a cane, that is true, even an impractical art can teach you something practical or be applied to something practical, but just FYI- there are people who take cane specific tehcniques, so usually if there is a practical application- there is a quicker way and more direct teaching of it already.

Answer 6

I agree with Matt K. Weapons training is fun and all , but I just dont see the usefulness in it , in this day and age. You dont have to duel with people anymore or do samurai showdowns. But training with the staff or knifes I can see how that would come in handy. But the best type of martial arts weapon training now days is the one I do in shooting ranges, because if Samurai had  9mm instead of katanas back then they would use 9mm instead. I wish we still killed eachother with cross bows , nunchucks and katanas , but some a*****e had to bring guns into the whole equation , so now I gotta learn how to prepare.

Answer 7

The Filipino martial arts are the way to go for weapons training. You can always find a blunt object or a sharp object when you need to defend yourself; I myself carry several knives at a time, even on my keychain. Stick and Knife carry over well for real world application.

Answer 8

I practise the classical Japanese sword drawing art, MJER iaido.

Fair enough, no-one really goes to war nowadays brandishing a sword but the Iaidoka (a practitioner of iaido) wields a sword: not to control the opponent, but to control himself. Iaido is mostly performed solo as a series of Waza. The Iaidoka executes various techniques against single or multiple imaginary opponents.  In addition to sword technique, practitioners require imagination and concentration in order to maintain the feeling of a real fight and to keep the Kata fresh.  

The training method is aimed towards development of the practitioner's every mental and physical resources.

Iaido is an authentic martial art that proved its martial values in a time of constant battle and warfare, that was preserved and passed on directly from teacher to student over generations in an unbroken lineage for 450 years. Iaidoka developed the mind towards an ultimately peaceful, harmonious, and active state ready to react and deal with any life situation.

Iaido is never practised in a free-sparring manner.

Answer 9

Weapons kata's definetly have there place in training. Handling weapons builds dexterity, helps improve hand eye co-ordination, actually helps build physical strength, focus, and helps in training you to go through a target. It also adds another dimension to your training. Probably the most practicle now days is the bo.

Edit for Bluto- I generally respect and agree with most of your answers, but I have to disagree with your statement about kata not being good for anything. Kata teaches the basic handling and learing to move the weapon without the additional fear of getting hit. I agree that live training must be done in order to fully understand the use and limits of the weapon, but I do think that kata has it's place when the weapon is  first being learned.