The W. Chun weapons

        The weapons of this chinese martial art are:

1) The Long Pole and

2) The Butterfly Knives

 Six and a half Long Pole

    The first formal weapon of the W. Chun system of Kung Fu is the “Six and a half Long Pole” form. The long pole form is well-known as Luk Dim Boon Kwun. Others know this form as “Dragon Pole”. Because of its weight, when practitioners train themselves in the Six and a half long pole form, they train and strengthen their arms and more specific their punches become more forceful and their legs, wrists, back and learn how to apply energy and also, the practitioner understand the empty-hand skills better. The length of the wooden heavy pole can vary, oscillates between 8 feet to 13 feet and there is a variety in weight and length depending on the use of each practitioner. The long pole is being used in order to fight from distance. The name Six and a half Long Pole emanates from the 7 series moves. The 7 moves are the following: Tai-uprooting, lan-to expand, dim-shock, kit-deflect, got-cut down, wan-circle, lau-flowing. The last one, the seventh is known with the name lau-flowing and is being the half-point. There are three stances in the Six and a half Long Pole form. The first one is called “Yee Jee Kim Yeung Ma” and it isn’t used nowadays. The second stance is called “Say Ping Ma” or 'quadralateral stance' and with this stance you strengthen your lower body and use this stance to make an attack with the pole, the third stance is the well-known as the previous one “Ding Jee Ma” or 'T stance' which are used nowadays. The basic stance is the “Kwun-Ma” or ‘Pole stance’ and is used for attack and defense and help the practitioners to feel where is the opponent’s pole. For most applications and drills is used the basic stance (Pole stance) as you train yourself in "Sticking-pole"-Chi Kwun.

Si-Hing Sam performing Long Pole Form

The Butterfly Knives

     The Butterfly Knives or Butterfly Swords or “Bart Jarm Do Faat” as they are well-known, is the last level of W. Chun Kung Fu system. Bart Jarm Do Faat is the 'eight chopping knives technique' and the took that name because the knives chop really. The Butterfly Swords are also known as Yee Jee Seung Do ("Parallel Shape Double Knives") and known as Dit Ming Do ("Life-Taking Knives"). If the practitioner want to learn the Butterfly Knives technique, he must be taught the eight sections and the eight methods to conquer completely the technique of the knives. Firstly, practitioners warm up their hands to handle good enough the knives. Then, practitioners learn the form and after that they learn how to fight with opponent’s weapon, then some drills and after that learn knife sparring. The length of the twin knives is about 1 foot and the weight of the twin knives is approximately 1-1/2lbs. each one. The butterfly knife its blade, isn’t sharpened all of it but a part of it. From the middle down to the handle, the knife is not sharpened but it is ideal for blocking the opponent’s attacks without injury them. Practitioners who train in this technique increase their power and flexibility on their wrists. Also, practitioners learn to make multiple attacks and to move themselves quickly from angle to angle. Contrary to the “Six and a half Long Pole” form, the double Butterfly Swords are a practical close range weapon. In the Butterfly Knives there are 108 movements in this form. We can see in many movies with martial arts, many of the actors use the butterfly knives, for example in the W. Chun movie the actress Michelle Yeoh (Yim W. Chun) uses the Butterfly Knives technique and in other movies we see them. Furthermore, we can see Kano a fighter of MK(Mortal Combat) Deadly Alliance, whose weapon is the butterfly knives and his style is Aikido.

Wing Chun - William Cheung - Butterfly Knife form