List of Martial Arts Weapons

Many martial arts schools teach weapons forms in their curriculum. A student must practice diligently if he is to truly master a weapons form. Some weapons have a history of use in ancient armies while others are derived from items found in everyday use. If you are a martial arts student or a collector, there are many effective and impressive weapons to choose from.

  1. Jian

    • The jian is the Chinese word for double-edged straight sword. There are two main types--a dueling jian and a combat jian. The dueling jian is similar to a western rapier. It is light, fast and has a slightly flexible tip. The combat jian is much heavier and sturdier and was often used during combat in ancient China.

    Dao

    • The dao is a Chinese broadsword. Though the exact shape of the dao has changed over hundreds of years, it usually has a broad tip with a narrow base and is only sharpened on one side. The dao was regularly used by the ancient Chinese military and was very effective in combat.

    Staff

    • Staff fighting methods were perfected by the Shaolin monks.

      Made famous by the Shaolin monks, the staff is a long tapered stick, usually made of slightly flexible waxwood. The Shaolin monks perfected the staff method during the Ming dynasty and it has been used in Shaolin kung fu and Wudang kung fu ever since.

    Monk's Spade

    • The monk's spade is a variation of the typical gardening spade that Buddhist and Taoist monks would use in ancient China. In addition to daily chores and self-defense, the monk's spade was also used to quickly bury the dead. The shape of the monk's spade has evolved over many years, but usually has a sharpened, spade-shaped piece of steel connected to a wooden or steel staff.

    Katana

    • The katana is a Japanese sword originally used by the soldiers of ancient Japan. It is a single-edged weapon with a narrow blade that connects to an equally narrow tang. Both hands are used when wielding a katana, and it was an effective weapon employed by members of the warrior class, such as Samurai, in feudal Japan.

    Hook Sword

    • Often called "tiger hooks," the hook sword is a Chinese martial arts weapon that originated some time during the Song dynasty. Made of steel, the hook sword has a sharpened hook on one end and a straight, pointed hilt. The wielder holds a crescent-shaped guard, part of which is also sharpened. Tiger hooks are normally used in pairs and are have historically been a civilian weapon.