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As an integral part of Pakua, the study of ancient weapons is critical to martial art development.
Coordination, precision, discipline are some of the numerous benefits of studying the art of combat
with ancient weapons.

In ancient times the traditional weapons were used for self defense. The art of combat with one of these weapons,
very often developed, out of necessity, with the use common contemporary items.
The stick that accompanied a traveler on his journey turned into a weapon and its use
eventually evolved in to an art. The common household item
used to carry water back from the well, was used as a weapon in case of emergency.

Other ancient weapons are actual weapons of war. Their study is accompanied by a study
of the warrior's discipline which help us today in our daily battles of life.

The discipline of mind and body acquired during the study of any of these weapons from the past,
is an invaluable tool for us today.

Some of the ancient weapons taught in Pakua are the following:

· Long Stick (Bo) ·
· Two Short Sticks ·
· Articulated Double Sticks (Nuntchaks) ·
· Three Articulated Sticks ·
· Shinai (wooden training sword) and Saber ·
· Pakua Jian ·
· Throwing knifes ·
· Night Stick ·
and more

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Long Stick (Bo)

The long stick evolved as a weapon, and subsequently as a an art of self defense and attack,
out of a need for a readily available means of defense.

. In ancient times, people would walk with a stick (also called staff).
The staff also became a symbol of status. Poorer people would carry a simple staff
made of a cheap and readily available wood.
People belonging to a higher social class, or richer, would carry a stick made of harder and better wood, thus
signaling their social status. People belonging to the upper class carried a very ornate staff
not only made of rare and beautiful wood, but very often ornate and decorated with various design elements.

Travelers would often be attacked on their journeys and used their staff, to fend of of attackers
and defend themselves, their families and their possessions.

Skillful and very effective ways of disabling (and sometimes killing) the attackers
developed over time using the staff.

Pakua has kept, in its vast array of martial art knowledge, this ancient means of self defense.
It is studied within the familiar arrangement of the Pakua symbol, making use of the eight changes,
the three distances of Sky Man and Earth, the Yin Yang theory, and the general
unified philosophy of Pakua. (Please see Symbol for more information on this subject.)

The study of this ancient weapon teaches much more than just another means of self defense.
The posture acquired during the training with the Long Stick, the dexterity, the ability to
use a common household item object (such as a broom stick) for self defense, has
enormous benefits to any Pakua student.

The course in the use of the Long Stick is divided in to four levels.
After completing the fourth level and with the proper amount of training, the student
acquires the ability to teach the art of self defense using the Long Stick.

To see some photographs of Long Stick training, please click here.

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Two Short Sticks

The art of fighting with two short sticks is a very interresting study.
The versatility that of fighting with the sticks provides am excellent extension of a students martial arts studies.

The study of this wepon is also based on the arrangement of the Pakua symbol, and
makes fuls use of the circular movements, the principal of Sky Man and Earth distances and the
use of the opponent's energy.

The combination of martial art fighting with the use of the short sticks adds tremendous
versatility to the students martial arts abilities. It enables the student to elaborate on techniques
previously studied and now modified to increase effectiveness.
Techniques of fighting with the short sticks can also be combined with training on other weapons. where
one opponent attacks with another weapon and another defends himsefl as well as counter attacks with
the short sticks.

What Pakua offers in the study of the short sticks, is not only the ability to inflicts serious injury to
the opponent (by breaking bones or applying deadly locks), but also the study of pressure point attacks
that immobilize the opponent as well the use of the short sticks for ground fighting.
Flips and "take-downs" are also a very im portant part of short sitck fighting.

To see a photograph of Two Short Sticks training, please click here.

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Shinai
Wooden Training sword
and Saber

The Shinai is a wooden training sword. It is customarily made of bamboo and has a long handle
that is held with both hands.

Being a warrior's art, the study of the art of combat with the Shinai requires a certain discipline
that is taught to the student. This discipline pertains to the mode of behavior, dress and
general mental condition.

The discipline taught in Pakua Martial Art is a form of self discipline that
will help the student both in his martial arts career and in life in general.
By acquiring this self discipline in a martial art and by acquiring the warrior's state of mind,
a Pakua student learns to overcome a lot of his shortcomings and learns to combat many of life's obstacles.

The art of fighting with the Shinai is deep-rooted in ancient Oriental history.
Combined with the knowledge of the Pakua symbol, it forms a very elaborate mode of fighting
that is excellent for learning how to exit the common linear mode of combat so vastly found in most martial arts.

The traditional Saber is used in ceremonial context and traditional garb is worn as well.
Obviously, the Saber is not used for training as it is an extremely sharp weapon,
capable of severing a limb with the mere weight of the weapon.

The respect that such a weapon requires, teaches a student many aspects of respect to
material possessions.

To see some photographs of Shinai training, please click here.
To see some photographs of Traditional Saber training, please click here.

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Pakua Jian

The art of Pakua Jian is simply, just beautiful.

Taught as a form of slow movements, the Pakua Jian is an elaborate series of graceful movements
very much like the Pakua Shadow Movements.

The art of Pakua Jian requires (and teaches) balance, coordination of movements and thought,
concentration, and clarity of mind.
After studying the prescribed series of movements, the student develops his own style of
fighting with the Pakua Jian.

Made of aluminum, the Pakua Jian is a telescopic sword, which once folded fits in its own handle.

To see some photographs of Pakua Jian training, please click here.

   

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