In Chinese Wing Tsun, two weapons are used: the Long Pole - Luk Dim Boon Kwun - and two specialist swords used together - Bart Chum Dao. Originating directly from the Shaolin Monastery, these weapons were chosen by the founding Masters of Wing Tsun as the most effective of all the Shaolin weapons (which traditionally numbers 108 different weapons). As with the rest of Chinese Wing Tsun, there are weapons forms and applications. However, unknown to most practitioners, there are also training sections and even a specialist dummy.
Few people know the authentic Wing Tsun weapons, and even fewer are highly skilled. Master Máday Norbert was one of only a very few selected students to complete the whole art from Grandmaster Leung Ting - including the weapons. In turn, only a handful of handful of Master Máday Norbert most trusted and loyal students have trained and learnt weapons skills from him.
Misunderstood
Within the Wing Tsun/Wing Chun/Ving Tsun community these weapons are perhaps the most misunderstood of the whole art. This is not unexpected; weapons skills are among the most secret techniques, usually only taught after the completion of the whole empty hand system of Wing Tsun. Indeed, an old Shaolin saying states ‘the empty hands techniques should be taught as early as possible, weapons as late as possible.’
The reasons behind this saying are certainly strong; training with weapons is only for the most serious student. All weapons, by their very nature, are dangerous. Even in training a small misjudgement can have fatal results. A pre-requisite of high skill is needed; if a person cannot fight effectively with empty hands then they it will be very hard for them to do so with the extra addition of a weapon.
Long Pole
The Luk Dim Boon Kwun – Six And A Half Point Pole – was the most revered of the Shaolin weapons. Called a ‘rat-tailed pole’, as one end is wider than the other, the Long Pole is between 8½ and 9 feet long. Requiring small, precise movements, the pole techniques were created for use in confined spaces.
Bart Chum Dao
The Bart Chum Dao – Eight Cutting Swords – is the highest level in Chinese Wing Tsun. Often erroneously called Butterfly Knives (which are a different Shaolin weapon) the Bart Chum Dao are uniquely designed swords; the applications are simple but deadly, teaching defence against not just other swords but many different weapons.
Practical
One of the biggest misunderstandings regarding the weapons, in particular of the Long Pole, is the perceived lack of practical skills. Taught in the appropriate way, with the correct understanding, the Chinese Wing Tsun weapons develop highly useful and adaptable skills. A true expert is able to develop skills not just in the Wing Tsun weapons, but to be able to use any weapon in their possession.
Effectiveness
While violence is always the last, and unwanted, scenario in martial arts, these weapons were created to defend their owner. Simple, consistent, clear, serious training is needed if a person is able to do so against anything more than unskilled attack. From Shaolin monks and Samurai warriors to modern day firearms experts, the same principles are true for all fighting disciplines. Weapons masters spend their whole lives studying; there is simply no ‘quick fix’ to develop serious skills.
It is a basic rule of all serious martial arts that the weapons follow the same principles as empty hands fighting. It is for this reason that Chinese Wing Tsun is never combined with Escrima or other weapons systems. The differing origins mean fundamentally dissimilar concepts, stances and striking method. This very fact not only makes it wholly incompatible for a serious Wing Tsun practitioner, but undermines the training in both. In actual combat the nervous system must react in best way immediately if a person is to be able to defend themselves effectively. It is extremely important to understand that training two different systems (and consequently two different responses) for one attack can result in not only a delayed reaction, but a fatal consequence.
Please note this writing, along with the rest of the website, is copyright and as such is not permitted to be copied, published or used in any way without the express, written permission of the Julian Hitch Martial Art Schools of Excellence.
In Chinese Wing Tsun, two weapons are used: the Long Pole - Luk Dim Boon Kwun - and two specialist swords used together - Bart Chum Dao. Originating directly from the Shaolin Monastery, these weapons were chosen by the founding Masters of Wing Tsun as the most effective of all the Shaolin weapons (which traditionally numbers 108 different weapons). As with the rest of Chinese Wing Tsun, there are weapons forms and applications. However, unknown to most practitioners, there are also training sections and even a specialist dummy.
Few people know the authentic Wing Tsun weapons, and even fewer are highly skilled. Master Máday Norbert was one of only a very few selected students to complete the whole art from Grandmaster Leung Ting - including the weapons. In turn, only a handful of handful of Master Máday Norbert most trusted and loyal students have trained and learnt weapons skills from him.
Misunderstood
Within the Wing Tsun/Wing Chun/Ving Tsun community these weapons are perhaps the most misunderstood of the whole art. This is not unexpected; weapons skills are among the most secret techniques, usually only taught after the completion of the whole empty hand system of Wing Tsun. Indeed, an old Shaolin saying states ‘the empty hands techniques should be taught as early as possible, weapons as late as possible.’
The reasons behind this saying are certainly strong; training with weapons is only for the most serious student. All weapons, by their very nature, are dangerous. Even in training a small misjudgement can have fatal results. A pre-requisite of high skill is needed; if a person cannot fight effectively with empty hands then they it will be very hard for them to do so with the extra addition of a weapon.
Long Pole
The Luk Dim Boon Kwun – Six And A Half Point Pole – was the most revered of the Shaolin weapons. Called a ‘rat-tailed pole’, as one end is wider than the other, the Long Pole is between 8½ and 9 feet long. Requiring small, precise movements, the pole techniques were created for use in confined spaces.
Bart Chum Dao
The Bart Chum Dao – Eight Cutting Swords – is the highest level in Chinese Wing Tsun. Often erroneously called Butterfly Knives (which are a different Shaolin weapon) the Bart Chum Dao are uniquely designed swords; the applications are simple but deadly, teaching defence against not just other swords but many different weapons.
Practical
One of the biggest misunderstandings regarding the weapons, in particular of the Long Pole, is the perceived lack of practical skills. Taught in the appropriate way, with the correct understanding, the Chinese Wing Tsun weapons develop highly useful and adaptable skills. A true expert is able to develop skills not just in the Wing Tsun weapons, but to be able to use any weapon in their possession.
Effectiveness
While violence is always the last, and unwanted, scenario in martial arts, these weapons were created to defend their owner. Simple, consistent, clear, serious training is needed if a person is able to do so against anything more than unskilled attack. From Shaolin monks and Samurai warriors to modern day firearms experts, the same principles are true for all fighting disciplines. Weapons masters spend their whole lives studying; there is simply no ‘quick fix’ to develop serious skills.
It is a basic rule of all serious martial arts that the weapons follow the same principles as empty hands fighting. It is for this reason that Chinese Wing Tsun is never combined with Escrima or other weapons systems. The differing origins mean fundamentally dissimilar concepts, stances and striking method. This very fact not only makes it wholly incompatible for a serious Wing Tsun practitioner, but undermines the training in both. In actual combat the nervous system must react in best way immediately if a person is to be able to defend themselves effectively. It is extremely important to understand that training two different systems (and consequently two different responses) for one attack can result in not only a delayed reaction, but a fatal consequence.
Please note this writing, along with the rest of the website, is copyright and as such is not permitted to be copied, published or used in any way without the express, written permission of the Julian Hitch Martial Art Schools of Excellence.