Weapons

[Aefibird]

angelag said:

do people on here think that weapons' training also helps their "empty handed" training?

Definately! I think it is a real plus.

[jones]

When I start martial arts I want to find a club that doesn't teach weapons.

I just can't see how weapons will help me practically in this day and age. The times i have been in fights I've been in the pub or in the takeaway after a night out. I wont have access to a katana or a staff then so my training would not help me.

I want to do martial arts for self defence, so spending time learning to use an ancient and outdated weapon (like a sword) would be of no use to me.

[Sionnagh]

Hi jonesy,

IMO weapons training complements empty hand training with developing muscle as well as coordination. Aside from that if you learn bo/staff then you could apply that skill to a pool cue or something.

In any case, some clubs will include weapons in regular classes and others will have separate classes, so don't exclude a club that teaches weapons just because they teach weapons. You might miss out on training with a great instructor!


Mick

[jones]

Yeah, sorry, my post sounded bad. I'm not trying to say that people who train weapons are wasting their time. I'm sure they do have benefits.

[Aefibird]

Weapons training can help with balance, co-ordination, timing, speed, strength and other areas in karate. Plus, as Mick says, the skills you learn with certain weapons can be easily transferred to modern day weapons.

If you can defend yourself with a traditional short or long staff then you can do the same with a pool cue or a piece of two-by-four or a stick or a piece of piping. If you can use a nunchaku or Chinese steel whip you can use a length of chain or even rope.

Most of the traditional weapons and skills learned can be used with modern equivalents, which is always handy "just in case", as you never really know what you'd have to face in any given SD scenario.


(edited for typo's)

[random]

You make some interesting points aefibird I have never done any weapons training mainly because the clubs I have been in haven’t done it. Having read this thread and given it some thought I think that extending the reach effects everything, I play golf and the way the club is swung and the stance affects the way the ball goes. Practicing with weapons, because of the size, weight and movement of them has to exaggerate flaws and weaknesses, not always a negative thing, these can then be worked upon.

The real difficulty I have is in which weapon to learn? I would rather learn a weapon that transposed itself to the everyday items that are likely to be used against one. The main reason for learning how and practicing how to use the weapon is, IMO, if you have to take a weapon, be it knife, club, pool cue, bike chain, wrench etc. off someone, it would then be useful to be able to put it to some use as apposed to just swinging it or discarding it.

Although it did for the cat I am now curious and I am Googeling (is that a word) for a club or at least an individual who practices and trains with weapons, especially if this is during the day…anybody out there know of anybody in the North of England.

[AngelaG]

You'll have to qualify that statement. To us Devonians everything past Bristol is "Up North" ;D

[random]

Sorry about that, forgot were we run by the cream of Devon, I would be looking for somewhere within a couple of hours from Leeds (the one in Yorkshire). I have found someone who has studied Escrima in Doncaster.

[Aefibird]

Leeds? Ah you're in luck! West Yorkshire Kobudo Academy is the place to be for any weapons training. www.wyka.co.uk/

BTW, random, if you don't mind me asking where abouts exactly are you in 'the north'? Are you from Leeds? I live in Wath, which is between Barnsley and Rotherham.

[Aefibird]

Here's a couple of others I know of:

Pete Guest Martial Arts Excellence
29, Grosbenor Rd Woodlands Doncaster South Yorkshire DN6 7LD Tel: [phone]

Rose & Thistle Martial Arts eMail: [e-mail] | Telephone: [phone]

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They're two places in the Donny area that I think do weapons training too.


These two definately train in weapons:

www.tombodojo.co.uk
That's Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (ninjitsu) - think of all the cool ninja weapons you could learn there!

www.mickshore.com
They train in kali.

[random]

thanks for that

Bad days for training, although I am going to give them a ring and see if they do private lessons. And have just spoke to a student of Mick Shaw who studies Escima with him.

[Andy]

random said:

Although it did for the cat I am now curious and I am Googeling (is that a word) for a club or at least an individual who practices and trains with weapons, especially if this is during the day…anybody out there know of anybody in the North of England.

If you PM me the town you are closest to, I can definitely help.
In Wakefield, you have living legend, Pat (the cat) O Malley with his Rapid Arnis guys.

Pats a real gentleman, and there is little he couldn't teach you about weapons application.

[random]

Andy

I am fairly central and can get to South and West Yorkshire as well as North Nottinghamshire with no problems.

[Aefibird]

andy said:

If you PM me the town you are closest to, I can definitely help.
In Wakefield, you have living legend, Pat (the cat) O Malley with his Rapid Arnis guys.

Oh yeah, I forgot about him. I'd love to train with the Rapid Arnis guys sometime. Their reputation is amazing.

[Andy]

Aefibird. Drop him a PM on you know where.

random. here's the website for Pat. www.rapidarnis.com/
I've trained with his guys before.
Highly reccomended.