Feeling mischevious tonight, wanted to ask members for their thoughts specific to weapons practice.

What kinds of things SPECIFICALLY if/when you see them being done, is a dead give away something is severely mistaken on whatever level in terms of instruction???

Lets avoid the whole child weapon issue if we can to keep this civil/easy. Aside from that, what indicates a problem whether technically, or otherwise... but hopefully technically

Examples:
Extended index finger along on the tigne <sp.?> of a sai
Tonfa in a galaxy far, far away (sic. from the practitioners forearm...)

So forth...

Thoughts ?
J

Generally the more colourful the outfit they're wearing, the faster you should run away.

A note about the index finger thing, I guess it's wrong to do that in Okinawan styles. But many mainland Japanese styles feature the index finger pointing off the weapon (except during strikes/cuts, then it's retracted). Something about extending ki I guess.

twirling nunchaku and bos?

Hello Paradoxbox:

<<Generally the more colourful the outfit they're wearing

Oh come on, I LIKE their Satine <sp.?> material... really!!!! Btw, does that mean someones title emblazoned across their uniform/top counts too??? (a-typically pretty 6" red sequin lettering

<<A note about the index finger thing, I guess it's wrong to do that in Okinawan styles.

Anatomically, it certainly seems foolish... imagine one tiny digit sitting straight (sic. in front of the "tangs") awaiting its fracturing-splintering....

<<But many mainland Japanese styles feature the index finger pointing off the weapon (except during strikes/cuts, then it's retracted).

I am sorry you lost me... during strikes, cuts it is unforgivable "bad form", so what does that leave when would it ever be (IYE/IYO) good technique???

<<Something about extending ki


J

Hello Harlan:

Twirling... ok, that too seems common sense. Weapons should not be ~fans~.... nunchaku <shrug>, the kama-weighted chain (Kirigama <sp.?>), the steel whip chain likely excluded I would think...

Would there be a context for APPROPRIATE twirling from the technical perspective... IYO? (ie Bo? Jo? Hanbo? etc.)

J

Aside from limbering up/exercising: twirling=theatrics

Not talking about flipping, or a sweep/lower block, or 3/4 turns with an overhead block here...but out and out twirling that requires one to take a hand off the bo

I twirl my bo , but that's for warming-up purpose only. (And defining the balance.)

Run for the door, when you see bringtly coloured gi's (preferably without sleeves). And fancy stuff.

Wait just keep it at fancy stuff. Without any purpose.

One of our kata has overhead twirl, pass behind the back and change hands and strike manouvres. Ushiro Dori, Daisha Mawashi & Tsuki.

Being able to move the bo from one side/part of the body to the other quickly and keep it from being grabbed and bringing it into a strike position is useful. Hence keeping it moving so the end cannot be grabbed.

Parts of other kata have two handed side to side twirling movements [Hachiji Mawashi - figure 8 movement] that are similar in effect to redondo used in FMA stick fighting. They serve to keep the opponent well away until you can line them up to strike them.

Shimabuku has a two handed overhead sweep/twirl targeting the head/neck which would be devastating if it hit....

If we look at Demura's book on the bo we find Ushiro Dori [back grab] and Daisha Mawashi [large circular movement] both of which incorporate single hand movements of the bo twirling around the body. And Harai Uke which is the 2 handed overhead twirl and downward block we see in many kata.

Here endeth the technical bit.

In my book any exercise that brings better handling of a weapon is usually a good thing. It makes the weapon more a part of the practioner and you learn to work with it on a more natural level.

So, go forth and play with your weapons until you know them better!

I believe that is what Matayoshi used to tell his students as well. 'Go Play.'

Quote:

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So, go forth and play with your weapons until you know them better!

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