Farm tools as weapons due to 'real' weapons being outlawed...

I have a two part question. First: Weren't all/most of the current weapons in martial arts developed because 'real' weapons were outlawed? It seems there is a growing trend happening again. Here in the U.S.A. martial arts weapons are being banned left and right. Isn't it time to develop new weapons forms for otherwise 'legal' items? Such as a Cane or some such? Anyone have any idea's for new 'weapons' desiguised as regular every day items?<br><br>

My second question: I recently took up kenpo, I am now a yellow belt (I know I have a long way to go), but I'm having a hard time choosing a weapon. My Sifu teaches the arnis, staff, and broadsword. I was debating with myself to pick one of the following weapons ore more: Staff, Tonfa, Arnis, Meteore Ball, Nunchaku, and the Broadsword. I'd really like the staff, but it wouldn't be something I could carry around with myself comfortably. Does anyone know of any manufactors that sell collaspable staffs (not three section staffs) that extend to full length at the release of a button due to springs inside or a pnumatic device? Also what weapons would be easy to carry around? I know the Arnis, Meteor Ball, Tonfa, and Nunchaku would be good options, but I was mainly looking at those because of concealability. What are your guys and gals experiences with weapons? likes/dislikes? <br><BR>

P.S. If anyone could post any links teaching/showing some basic staff kata or self defense I would really appreciate that! 8 ) Thanks all for your time for reading my post.

 

Do what I did - learn 17 ways to kill with a swingline stapler...

 

Being banned? Where's this? Unaware of this? Maybe East Coast or California???

Easy to carry around? Pistols are very portable, provided a good holster and belt. Kubotan is nifty too, but have to get close to threats. Regardless of the weapon, firearm, knife, stick, inter alia, focus on software, not hardware. Weapons do not fight, men do.

Get trained up and allow software to dictate hardware.

My experience with weapons? Many years instruction with sticks, knives, swords, spears, bows and firearms (pistol, shotgun, carbine, machine pistol and rifle). If you select your first weapon and not your instructor, I advise the staff, most utilitarian, IME.

 

I'm not sure about staffs, however my friend who is currently into Wang tsun has collaspable nunchuku. they fit into the back or front pocket of his jeans and extend and lock to full size. i'm sure you could find those online

 

I scoured google and could not find *one* that was outside of a video game or some fiction book.

 

Here in IL where it's really ****ing conservative, You cannot carry a concealed firearm. Not to mention the gun laws are complete BS as well. It's gotta be disassmbled down to every piece all in locked metal containers at least 50feet away from each other and the ammo has to be a billion miles locked away as well and the keys also have to be at least a certain amount of distance from each other. Lots of good a gun will do if it can't be loaded in the blink of an eye. You outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns. You can't carry nunchaku, katana, etc and everything else here. Especially in Cook County which is the main political figure in the state, and the county I happen to live in.

 

And thus empty hand is born.

 

A swiss pocket knife would be conceivable weapon!

 

Aegis: The sai IS an Okinawan weapon. It was originally a farmers tool used for planting.

 

Are you sure Commander?
What purpose did the tines on the crossgaurd serve?
I've seen farmers using a short stick does this mean that that is where escrima came from?
Chinese or Japanese police used a blunt sword/baton. Almost all the police forces I can think of have something similar. Would this not be a more likely precursor?

 

Even if you carry some kind of tool, it's still illegal if you use it on somebody.

The police round here arrest you if you're carrying a baseball bat and you're not carrying a ball, but I'm not sure if it's against the law or not. Probably is.

 

I'm sure there is a thread about this somewhere. Search for Sai in the forum. I think we are flogging a dead horse now LOL

touche

 

Quick response on a few points.

1. Some martial arts weapons were developed from farm implements. However the reason for this was not the myth that traditional weapons were outlawed. It was that metal weapons were too expensive for commoners in Okinawa. The myth comes from a mistranslation of a historical document. The fact is Metal is scarce in Okinawa and the majority of the population were farmers and crafts people who simply couldn't afford luxury items like swords.

Additionally, there's a lot of questions as to what evolved into what. For example, it's now held that Nunchukus (sp) came from horse bridles not rice flails (as they really wouldn't make sense as a function flail). And there is evidence of similar weapons to Sais making their way from India to China and east to Japan. So as Ageis said there is a lot of doubt about sais ever being a planting tool.

On to modern weapon arts. If you're wondering what the best weapons are to carry, try pens and pencils and environmental weapons. Modern application of weapons arts is all about understanding the theory of the weapon and applying it to what you find in an environement. The person I studied Kali from can do as much quick damage with a pen as he can do with a knife. And the pen is a far more innoucous item, which helps his case should he go to court. So look for weapons systems (heck martial arts systems in general) that concentrate on understanding the weapon, not simply teaching techniques.

- Matt

 

Yah, nevermind. Sorry, but I heard of it being a farmers tool somewhere. Sorry 'bout that.

 

Back to original post... forget about the weapon. Really. Learn to make the most use of your body first. Once you have started to do that, it doesn't really matter what weapon you use. All a weapon is, is an extension of your body.
If you have to pick a weapon, go with staff or hanbo. Fairly easy to adapt to any rigid stick like object, including the cane or walking stick.
I'm with Matt on this one though, pens and pencils and keys and belts. Why carry something like looks like a weapon, that's looking for trouble.

Side note, my understanding that the sai is just another version of the jutte. Used to disarm a swordsman, read somewhere (long time ago, so please don't quote me. Use this as a starting point for research) the the sai adn jutte were used by the law to disarm and subdue rowdy (drunk) samurai, without killing them.

 

Bodda *bing*
Bodda *boom* (scroll to the 2nd and 7th items)

 

Thanks for the foldable nunchaku, which are cool too, but I orginally wanted something for the Staff/Bo.

 

Quote:Originally Posted by weirdalan
Thanks for the foldable nunchaku, which are cool too, but I orginally wanted something for the Staff/Bo.

I don't think such a thing exists but you can use a 4ft walking stick or jo stick that we train with at Ju Jitsu, the technique is very similar to the 6ft bo stick. And gauging by what the ninga cud do with a 6in long pies off wood a metal pen cud be lethal