Originally, Kung Fu weapons was composed of eighteen classical weapons introduced by the 18 Lo-han. Some say that the eighteen weapons changed over different dynasties or that different styles have different groupings. The term "eighteen weapons" should be approached metaphorically.

Literally hundreds of different kinds of weapons were accumulated over the centuries which fall into five categories: long, short, soft or flexible, hidden or flying, and twin or double. Long weapons are generally taller than the user and require both hands, like the staff and spear. Short weapons are shorter than the user and generally use one hand, like a sword. Most of them were considered personal side arms. Soft or flexible weapons have one or more joints like the three section staff and the whip chain. Many of these can also be hidden weapons, since they are very compact when closed. There are both long and short soft weapons. Hidden or flying weapons are used to expand the range of offense beyond close combat like the Chinese throwing knives, the Arhat Coin (sharpened coin), and the flying dart. These weapons were created to surprise the enemy. Small enough to be hidden in a sleeve, pocket, robe or sash and was very useful when the user was outnumbered. Twin weapons are a pair of weapons used one in each hand like the twin broadswords, twin straight swords, butterfly swords and the hook swords.

There are four basic Kung Fu weapons that the serious Kung Fu student must strive to learn. All of the other weapons derive from these four. It is said that if a student is proficient in these four weapons that the rest will come natural. These four weapons are: the staff, known as the father of all weapons, the broadsword, known as the marshal of weapons, the spear, known as the king of weapons and the straight sword, known as the gentleman of weapons.

Less than a hundred years ago many martial artists still fought with swords and spears in China. Today, in the world of guns, atomic bombs and chemical warfare, those weapons may seem obsolete. So why are the weapon sets or forms an important part of the Kung Fu Kwoon's (school's) curriculum.

There are many good reasons why classical weapons are still being taught today. Today, we don't carry around swords or spears, but in a self-defense situation, you can often find a piece of wood, a broomstick etc., that can be used as a weapons. Also if an assailant uses such improvised weapons against you, you will be able to deal with them properly if you have trained with their classical counterparts in weapons forms.

You can also further increase your stamina, stances, speed, power, balance, flow and focus while training with weapons which can be transmitted in other parts of your Kung Fu training like empty hand forms and unarmed combat. So as you can see, weapons training is an important part of Kung fu and will continue to be for the years to come.

Written By Sifu Rino Côté