ANIMAL SPIRITS OF VARIOUS WEAPONS
Round Hammer
Question
What are the animal spirit characteristic of each weapon?
Which are therefore the recommended weapon sets for our unarmed specializations, like which weapon suits a Tiger-Crane, Dragon Strength, Taming Tiger, or Triple Stretch specialist?
Sifu has learned a lot of weapon sets. Why did Sifu decide on the ones in our standard syllabus?
Sifu Leonard Lackinger
Answer
The well known spirits or characteristics of the animals are those of the Shaolin five animals, the monkey, the praying mantis and the eagle.
The Shaolin five animals are the dragon, the snake, the tiger, the leopard and the crane. Their spirits or characteristics are respectively mind, energy, internal force, speed and elegance.
The spirits or characteristics of the monkey, praying mantis and eagle are respectively trickiness, agility and powerful grip.
Most kungfu weapons are not described in kungfu philosophy with a specific spirit or characteristic, except a few like the spear which is often described as a dragon, the sabre as a tiger, and the sword as a phoenix. The sword in our school, however, is more like a dragon.
The great variety of kungfu weapons is often described as the 18 weapons. There are different versions of these 18 weapons, and the latest classification with their representative spirits or characteristics are given below.
The assigning of a spirit or characteristic to a weapon, except the ones mentioned above, are my interpretation. Other masters may differ.
- Spear – dragon
- Crescent-moon spear -- dragon
- Staff -- dragon
- Battle-axe -- tiger
- Big trident -- tiger
- Halberd (Guan Dao) -- tiger
- Spade -- tiger
- Lance – leopard
- Sabre -- tiger
- Roped spear -- snake
- Sword -- phoenix
- Hand axe -- tiger
- Hook-sword -- phoenix
- Steel rod -- tiger
- Soft-whip -- dragon
- Clutch – leopard
- Round hammer – tiger
- Short dagger – monkey
Listed below are the recommended weapon sets for those specialized in the respective unarmed sets:
Tiger-Crane -- Thirteen-Technique Spear
Dragon Strength – Traveling Dragon Sword
Taming Tiger – Taming-Tiger Big Trident
Triple Stretch -- Crescent-Moon Guan Dao
I have learned about 30 weapon sets, which is a lot by any standard. Most masters know only a few weapon sets, and usually the common ones like the staff, the sabre and the spear. I know some exotic weapon sets like the soft-whip, the round hammer, the snake-headed lance, the battle axe, the double steel rods, as well as famous weapon sets like the Green Dragon Crescent Moon Guan Dao, the Six-and-Half-Point Staff, and the Fifth Brother Octagon Staff.
The weapon sets that I have not learned are the rope-spear, hand axe, hook-sword, clutch and three-sectional staff. However, due to my deep understanding of weapon philosophy and wide experience in using many weapons, I shall know how to use these not-yet learnt weapons though I did not learn their weapon sets.
Interestingly, the three-sectional staff is not listed in any version of the 18 weapons. Some weapons in older versions of the 18 weapons of more distant past were bow and arrow, shield, claws and mace, which I also did not learn.
The main reason why weapon sets are included in our standard syllabus is that one’s kungfu training is considered incomplete if he has not learnt any weapons.
The two weapon sets for our Shaolin syllabus are the Flowing Water Staff and the Plum Flower Sabre. The staff is chosen because it is representative of Shaolin weaponry. The Flowing Water Staff is chosen amongst the many staff sets I know because it is simple but very effective for combat. The sabre is chosen because it is a popular weapon. The Plum Flower Sabre Set is chosen because it is a famous sabre set.
The two weapon sets for our Taijiquan syllabus are the Wudang Sword and the Taiji Sabre. The sword is chosen because it is representative of Taijiquan weaponry. The Wudang Sword is chosen because Wudang Kungfu, from which Taijiquan evolved, is famous for its sword, and the chosen set is both beautiful and effective for combat. The Taiji Sabre Set is chosen because the sabre is a popular weapon and the set gives a good idea of what Taijiquan was originally like.
The coming Special Weapon Course is a rare opportunity. It is suitable for kungfu practitioners of all styles. Those who miss it may not have a similar opportunity again.
Sword against Staff
This answer is taken from Special Weapon Course: 10 Questions to Grandmaster Wong of the Shaolin Wahnam Institute Discussion Forum.
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