General Weapon Classification

The Martial Arts Weapons and Their Classification

The weapons used in Martial Arts can be classified into various categories- but they can fall into any of the three basic ones, namely, short weapons, long weapons, and flexible weapons.

Short weapons – Here seen are the weapons whose angle of strikes and blocks quickly changes directions. It is important that one has a powerful and flexible wrist.

Examples of short weapon together with their Chinese names:

1. Nine Ring Broadsword (Jiu Huan Dao)
2. Nine Hook Broadsword (Jiu Gou Dao)
3. Southern Broadsword (Nan Dao)
4. Ghost Head Broadsword (Gui Tao Dao)
5. Swallow Tail Broadsword (Yan Zi Dao)
6. Long Broadsword (Zha Dao)
7. Straight Sword Piercer (Jian Ci)
8. Snake Straight Sword (She Jian)
9. Whip (Bian)
10. Mace (Jian)
11. Hammer (Chui)
12. Eight Corner Hammer (Ba Ling Chui)
13. Steel Fan (Tie Shan)
14. Iron Smoking Pipe (Tie Yan Dou)
15. Iron Flute (Tie Di)
16. Cymbals (Ba)
17. Iron Ruler (Tie Chi)
18. Crutch or Cane (Guai)
19. Fly Whisk (Fei Mao Dan)
20. Shield (Dun)
21. Water Parting Shield (Fen Shui Dun)
22. Bench (Ban Deng)
23. Two-Handed Broadsword (Shuang Shou Dao, also Bagua Dao)
24. Two-handed Straight Sword (Shuang Shou Jian)
25. Push Dagger (Chi Shou)

Long weapons – these weapons are the ones that are usually lengthier than the height of the person using it.  Long weapons give the advantage of hitting an opponent from a distance.  A person using a long weapon has to learn though to transfer his energy and power throughout the staff up to its tips. Here belongs the oldest of weapons, the staff and all its variations.

Examples of long weapons and their Chinese name:

1. Dagger Axe (Ge)
2. Lance (Mao)
3. Long Stick Axe (Yue)
4. Halberd (Ji)
5. Single Halberd (Dan Ji)
6. Double Headed Spear (Shuang Tou Qiang)
7. Snake Spear (She Qiang)
8. Hooked Single Spear (Lian Dao Qiang)
9. Talon, Claw (Zhua)
10. Pen (Bi)
11. Buddha Hand (Fo Shou)
12. Monk Cudgel (Chan Zhang, Zen Stick)
13. Monk Spade (Chan)
14. Gold Coin Spade (Jin Qian Chan)
15. Rake (Pa)
16. Hoe (Chu Tou)
17. Tiger Fork (Hu Cha)
18. Two Teeth Fork (Liang Jian Cha, Two Point Fork or Niu Jiao Cha, Ox Horn Fork)
19. Flying Fork (Fei Cha)
20. Dragon Whisker Fork (Long Xu Cha)
21. Three-Point Double-Blade Sword (San Jian Liang Ren Dao)
22. Long Handled Sword (Da Dao)
23. Kwan Dao
24. Eagle Head Sword (Ying Tao Dao)
25. Pu Dao
26. Horse Chopping Sword (Zhan Ma Dao)
27. Heaven and Earth, Sun and Moon Sword (Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao)
28. Cicada Wing Sword (Chan Zi Dao)
29. Heaven Lotus Phoenix Tail (Tian He Feng Wei Tang)
30. Wolf Spear (Lan Qiang)
31. Wolf Teeth Club (Lan Ya Ban)
32. Wolf Teeth Spiked-Trident (Lan Ya Dang)
33. Lashing Staff (Shao Zi Gun)

Flexible weapons or soft weapons – this weapons are the easiest to carry and can be hidden for a surprise attack. However, it is also the hardest and most dangerous to use and is usually reserved for more advance users. It has the ease of carriage of short weapons and the advantage in striking of long weapons.

Examples of flexible weapons and their Chinese name:

1. Meteor Hammer (Liu Xing Chui)
2. Rope Javelin (Sen Biao)
3. Flying Weight (Shuang Tao Fei Chui)
4. Mother and Son Hammer (Zi Mu Chui)
5. Three Section Staff (San Jie Gun)
6. Two Section Staff (Er Jie Gun)
7. Whip Chain (Qi Jie Bian, Seven Section Whip or Jiu Jie Bian, Nine Section Whip)
8. Dragon Head Stick (Long Tao Gan Ban)
9. Double Flying Claw (Shuang Fei Zhua)
10. Four Section Sickle (Si Jie Tang)

Some weapons can further be classified as to method of use. So there’s the so-called Twin Weapons and Flying Weapons.

Twin Weapons are those that require a weapon in each hand. They are twin-mirror image weapons and they help to balance the left hand with the right.

Examples of Twin Weapons and their Chinese name:

1. Twin Broadswords (Shuang Dao)
2. Twin Straight Swords (Shuang Jian)
3. Butterfly Knives (Hu Die Shuang Dao, Butterfly Double Sword or Niu Er Jin Dao, Ox Ear Sharp Sword)
4. Axe (Fu)
5. Sickle (Lian Dao)
6. Hook (Gou)
7. Nine Teeth Hook (Jiu Zi Gou)
8. Twin Halberds (Shuang Shou Ji)
9. Twin Daggers (Shuang Bi Shou)
10. Ring (Huan) or Wheel (Lun)
11. Iron Ring (Shuo Huan)
12. Deer Antler Knives (Lu Jiao Dao)
13. Iron Comb (Tie Su Zi)
14. Iron Chopsticks (Tie Kuai Zi)
15. Emei Piercers (Emei Ci)
16. Horse Halberd (Ma Ji)
17. Unicorn Horn Sword (Lin Jiao Dao)
18. Mandarin Duck Spade (Yuan Yang Chan)

Flying weapons are usually also considered as hidden weapons except for the bows. Because most are small, they can be hidden up the sleeve or in the robe and become useful in creating an element of surprise to the opponent/s especially during close combat.

Examples of Flying Weapons and their Chinese name:

1. Arhat Coin (Luohan Qian)
2. Flying Knife (Fei Dao)
3. Flying Dart (Fei Biao)
4. Sleeve Sword (Shu Jian)
5. Iron Toad (Tie Chan Chu)
6. Flying Locust Stone (Fei Huang Shi)
7. Scholar's Brush (Pan Guan Bi or Zhaung Yuan Bi - Judge's Brush or Champion Place Brush)
8. Wolf Teeth Hammer (Lan Ya Chui)
9. Bow (Dan Gong)
10. Crossbow (Lu)

Everyday, more weapons are discovered and improvised. What is important is that he who uses the weapon masters and uses it well such that it becomes part of the martial artist’s life. His power transmits to the weapon and the weapon becomes an integral part of his power.

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