Fighting fans

[Darkflames21]

does anybody know the history, strenghts, and uses for the fighting fan. Also, which is better, steel or bamboo?

[electrobes]

Aww man I got so excited I think you and I are the only ones interested in this topic : ( - But I'll share with you what I have read about this art. Samurai's took these weapons along with them into battle should they loose their sword. But in those days, the fans were completely made of matel, no cloth like you see now. But another diff is that these fans were permantley open, you could not close these things. But in the 1920's (I think it was in Japan) the weapon ban closed every weapon out... swords, sais, even sticks were banned. Criminals still carried weapons, so civilians felt defenseless. Thus the cloth fan came into existence... they could carry it legally and still defend themselves. Other methods like canes became popular too. so there's a really short form of it.

Now to your other question. I assume when you mean metal fan... only the ribs are metal. Well I would definately suggest bamboo first. One needs to learn the techniques, and using the bamboo fan is a lot easier... its lighter, less of an investement, and less of a strain on your body. For first starters, if you are not used to using any weapons... then the bamboo is definately for you only because your wrists and hands will go on strike if you shoot straight for the heavy iron or stainless stell fan.

You need to understand this.. I did a lot fo research and the ironic part is I have yet to actually train in ANY MA. Actually I have been looking for a teacher for about a year (is when I got my steel fan for cristmas). I was so focused that it never occurred to me that there were other martial arts that dealt with a more broad range of weapons. Now I start Kali on friday!!!!... a filipino art that deal in weapons like sticks, knife fighting, etc.. I will use that to eventually prepare to use more weapons like the sais and the fan (my two absolute fav).. what I am trying to say is that I am an obvious newbie and there is probably a lot more to know about the fan than what I have told you. Defianately if you want to get a fan, get a bamboo because its like 12 bucks online (without shipping). The stainless steel fan that my fiancee got me was about 50-60 bucks (of the ones I've seen online)!! Anyways sorry for babbling on and on, especially when I am not as knowledgable : P - Good luck I hope you get into it... I'll ahve someone else to talk to then with an interest in it :* (

[Darkflames21]

here is a website on so information on the fighting fan. http://www.e-budokai.com/articles/weapons.htm
i am currently training with the sai. my sis is learning to use the fan, but im interested on it and will like to learn it.

[Darkflames21]

i also have websites for the sai, if you want it.

[Darkflames21]

one more question, do you know where i can find a fighting fan that is all metal, meaning no cloth on it?

[electrobes]

Oh yeah you asked for strengths... well the funny thing about a fighting fan is that it is not meant to be used opened up (unlike the very first fighting fans), but closed. You can tell this becaue if you look at the first and last bar of the steel fans (higher end fans, more expensive) there are actually handles to place your hand over. Bamboo wouldn't really need that because its still pretty easy to grip on its own. Becaue the fan is "closed" when in use its a lot more solid and is sorta used to "smack" and stun, but also very effective in blocks and when trained enough you'll see its used a lot for throws (of people) and the such.
You also asked which was better, and I at first thought you meant to start out with, but then it occurred to me that you could have meant in use and not practice. When I mentioned that the bamboo fan was lighter, you could also associate it with high speeds. Bamboo is light AND strong, great combo to have when being confronted. you won't necessarily use it for blocking so much as attacking, its GREAT for using the throwing of people as I said earlier. The metal fans are a lot more durable and heavier. Lower speeds but because you have a stack of metal "flat bars" on top of each other, its damn near indestructible. The bamboo fan looks less threatening compared to a metal fan, plus its more easily allowed to be carried, a heavy ass metal fan just looks plain suspicious when you could have a VERY light bamboo one. Granted a lot of people will already be suspicious in america after seeing a huge fan like that as opposed to a much smaller one. Anyway thats all I can think of to say for now : )

[electrobes]

man you wrote three posts! I must be a slow person ; ) - I AM SO ENVIOUS! I can't find a soul here in gainesville florida (and no I am not surprised not to find anyone who can teach it ; ) - I remember searching my butt off looking for an all metal fan, but I could not find one ANYWHERE on this world of internet. Its wierd, but not a soul seems to have one, the only one I came across was the permanently opened one... I mean I could even find a reference after seeing crouching tiger hidden dragon (when the restaurant seen, right before the girl whooped some ass, the guy came at her threateningly with an all metal fan. I will try to look again since its been about 4 months since my last search. Does your sister have a teacher, and did she learn a prior art of anykind before she started with the fan? Thanks! Man I am also jealous of you being able to train with the sai, but it'll be a while till I can confidently say I not only can train or even try the sai, but think I'll do great with it because of learning something else first : )

[electrobes]

heyyy I've seen that site before, man my info was a little off, but not too bad for about 7 months of not seeing it! There were some other sites i have seen, but my computer had to be formatted since then.. lost all of my anime too :* (

[surgingshark]

One of my female MA friends has a lot of fans in her room. I thought they were just for display. Now, whenever I walk into her room, I shall feel fear...

[electrobes]

Haha awesome!! Tell her "she rules", for me ; ) - As of current I have two bamboo fans (identicle) and a staineless steel black cloth fan with a dragon on it, kind of like the pheonix one too, maybe as a reward down the road I may have to get one muwahahaha!

[Cudgel]

the fans were also used by ranking officers to signal to their troops what to do. And were genreally painted with the mon or clan symbol.

[ShadowDrakken]

wow, that's kinda interesting info... I always thought fan fighting was for show only, like the giant popsicle stick looking zanbatou (the ones that are 3x the size of the wielder) shown in various anime. Kinda neat seeing it as a legit form of defense

[Cudgel]

i think was more of an oh s*** whack with metal fan than a i am carrying this to hit people and to signal my troops with thing.

[electrobes]

Yeah its definately a unique weapons, in weapon form its about a 23 inch long in full bloom, unlike the dance type fans which are sometimes something like 41 inch long!

[electrobes]

Hey darkflames how long has you sister been with the fan training and has she ever done or is pursuing a martial art, and how long did she do that for??

My plan was to start doing PTK, and during PTK when I found the time was right... start the road of using/mastering the other weapons that I mentioned above (Fan and Sais). Of course before that I want to get pretty freakin good with the escrima sticks : ) - Sheesh why is it I love me some weapons handling more so than empty handed MAs? : P

[Darkflames21]

there are three of us, me, my sister, and cousin. we have been doing tae kwon do for two years. my cousin and sister are red belts and i am a red belt 2nd stripe. the rule in our school, when you get your red belt, you are able to learn a weapon. there is a instructer at my school that learn many types of martial arts and weapons. he knows how to use the fan, sai, bo, nunchakus, escrima sticks, spear, three sectional converta staff, kama, tonfas, and the tai chi sword. he is know training with the wind and fire wheels. he does know, i saw him use all of these weapons. I am traing with the sai. my sis is getting the fan and my cuz is getting the escrima sticks.

[Darkflames21]

Does anybody know where i can buy an all steel fan?

[electrobes]

sure you can buy themeverywhere just do a google search or even buy it off ebay I saw a couple on their... not a huge price difference though between websites.

[Cudgel]

Or you ocuild make one. It cant be too hard. just take some 1/8 plate steel cut it to the proper shape, drill a hole through it an rivet together.
Hey I thkn I will make one now. *looksaround for his tools*

[electrobes]

you mean for an all metal fan cudgel?? Or metal ribs with cloth? Hey if you d find out how to make an all metal one, do tell me would love to try one!! : )

[Cudgel]

I think it would work for both one jsut needs beefier ribs than the other. But htat becasue I took few classes on metal working in H.S. and college all prt of my plan of making swords in the future.
Sadly I dont have acces to the tools that would make this easier so i will hold off until I do, it either that or learn how to use a sledge hammer to drill holes and cut steel. :D
Damn I hate having no machine tools if i had acces to some i would be done in a matter of hours. Stupid Comunity college and their nolonger having a running machine shop.


Wait maybe i could go to one of hte custom machine shops in town and see if they will let me use their tools or maybe make ne for me......naw too bad metl not liek wood.

[Darkflames21]

the all steel fighting fan is not on ebay. does anybody know where it is. all steel meaning no cloth on it.

[electrobes]

I don't think they make them period.. but hey if you ever find one please tell me, muy interested meng!!

[imperial_guardz]

uh...Chinese and Japanese arts have different histories and methods in using the fan as a weapon...

so far the Japanese history is written...
I've written the Chinese history in another thread called
'Is this the Fan' or something...also in the weapons thread as well i do believe...but yeah...

[Qiao_AS89]

I plan on buying some bamboo fans. I found these large fans that were about 30x50 inches. They have bamboo ribs and instead of cloth, it's some form of cardboard. It's in a store full of martial arts weapons such as swords, maces, and the such. However I'm not sure if they can actually be used in any styles. The sales lady assured me they could, but I'm still not sure. Do you guys have an opinion on it?

[nunchaku8587]

hey, related to this topic (sorta, since it's about fans) does anybody know any katas online for the fans? single or doubles, doesn't matter

[Darkflames21]

i couldn't find any. i dont think they have them.

[moonstone71]

Can anyone tell me if there is a site on the wed with a form using the fighting fans ,,, single fans or two fans
thanks

[surgingshark]

Didn't find any downloads, but I did find these for sale:


http://www.superiormartialarts.com/cgi-bin/uniform/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=thispage&thispage=fanvideos.html&ORDER_ID=!ORDERID!&affiliate=!affiliate!

[xuande]

Unfortunately you'll probably need to find a qualified instructor first. One of the few books that I've seen that show a fan form can be found here http://www.wle.com//products/b307.html it's a very neat Choy Lay Fut set. I don't think there are videos or books for the other ones my SiFu has taught me. The sets I've seen or trained in are the Choy Lay Fut, a Hung Gar set, the wandering fan and dagger from the 8 immortal Taoists style and a couple Tai Chi and Ba Gua. The Tai Chi and Ba Gua forms that I've seen are usually performed with bamboo fans.

Chinese fans as far as I know had the metal ribs that ended up in sharpened points, like the tip of a dagger, they also had a bit of cloth that flopped around on the curve end (it helps hide the sharpened points). It has been a quest of mine to find one of these fans, unfortunately I've been disappointed so far.

[Chase]

Hi, This is a most informative thread as am thinking of trying to use a fan as a way to be more delicate & precise with my weapons study in both Kali & Tai Chi. One thing: is a fan hard to open & close?

Thanx,

Chase

[xuande]

Chase:

It took me a good month or so of practicing with my fan to be able to open and close it smoothly, took me another week or two to learn how to do it with my left hand. Now I might just be slow but it's hardly as easy at it seems, specially with the heavier steel fans.

[StorDuff]

Funny thing...I picked it up (open/close) almost instantly, but never thought to use my left hand. I am so dominated by my right hand that I guess I just forgot. I created a thread about learning the fan in the general discussion forum. I can't find anywhere that offers instruction :o

[cloudgodd]

I cant imagine that the tecniques are much different then Kubotan seeing that they are both pressure point weapons and close to the same size....

[xuande]

I'm not familiar with how a Kubotan is used but depending on the intention you can utilize it open most of the time. The fan and dagger set I know the fan is used mostly open as a disguise for the dagger and just when your opponent starts thinking mostly about the dagger you kindly remind him that the fan can still cut, or it would if I had one of the sharpened ones.

StorDuff:
There is a fan set from the Canton Hung Gar where half the set is with your right hand and the other half is done with your left. Also my SiFu likes for us to get comfortable with our weapons on both hands, whether the set calls for it or not though most sets do anyways.

[martyn]

i also have websites for the sai, if you want it.

could you please post it :) :) :)

[Darkflames21]

Here is one: http://www.uechi-ryu.com/oldsite/sai_article.htm

[Chase]

I'm not familiar with how a Kubotan is used but depending on the intention you can utilize it open most of the time. The fan and dagger set I know the fan is used mostly open as a disguise for the dagger and just when your opponent starts thinking mostly about the dagger you kindly remind him that the fan can still cut, or it would if I had one of the sharpened ones.

StorDuff:
There is a fan set from the Canton Hung Gar where half the set is with your right hand and the other half is done with your left. Also my SiFu likes for us to get comfortable with our weapons on both hands, whether the set calls for it or not though most sets do anyways.

Its funny, because I practice mostly from a chair, I thought I could make up for some of immobility by practicing everything I do right & left. It is especially advantageous with a weapon.
Ingat ka,

[surgingshark]

Here's a fan form that I found of a Choy Li Fut site...

http://home.iprimus.com.au/...mpg (http://home.iprimus.com.au/choy/clf/video/craig_fan.mpg)