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The weapons are from a variety of sources as are the skills and forms corresponding to those weapons. Some of the forms and techniques taught are of traditional origin and some are contemporary and once the student has learned the appropriate basic skills, they are able to choose for themselves which forms they would like to learn. The following weapons are available to the students. The Long Staff (Cudgel)
The bo is a wooden staff, traditionally about 6 feet long and about 1¼ inches thick in the middle. While there are some variations, most bos taper at the ends to about ¾ of an inch thick. To suit individual needs and preferences, modern bos are available with different lengths, thicknesses, weights, finishes and materials.
The Medium-Length Staff
The jo is a wooden staff, approximately four feet long and about 1 inch in diameter. As with the bo, weapons similar to
the jo must have been used by man since prehistoric times. However, the
man credited with inventing the first jo fighting method was Muso
Gonnosuke. Around 1610 A.D., Muso Gonnosuke was a Samurai-in-training
and well trained in various Japanese martial arts including bojutsu. In
order to prove himself a great warrior, he challenged an undefeated
swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi, to a duel. Although detailed accounts vary,
it's clear that Musashi beat Gonnosuke quite easily. Gonnosuke retreated
to a remote area of Japan to reflect on his defeat and retrain himself.
During his meditation, Gonnosuke was inspired by the idea of a new
fighting system based on a medium-length staff, the jo. After refining
his newly devised jojutsu (the art of the jo), he challenged Musashi
again and won easily. Jojutsu techniques continued to evolve until, in
the early 1960s, the use of the
A significant influence on jojutsu was it's incorporation into aikido by it's founder, Morihei Uyeshiba. Uyeshiba established aikido in the early 1900s and 'aiki-jo', as it was called, was a mixture of classical jo techniques and the typically circular aikido style moves. Aiki-jo is currently the most popular form of jojutsu, although more classical forms are still practiced. The Sickle
The sickle is typically a 12 to 18 inch-long wooden stick with 6 to 10 inch-long metal blades mounted at right angles at the end.
Although there is evidence of weapons similar to the sai in India, Indonesia and China, it's the Okinawans that developed the use of the sai weapons into a systematic fighting art. Thought to have originated as a farm tool to measure stalks or to hold cart wheels in place, it consists of a long unsharpened dagger with two symmetrical projections (called tsuba) attached to the handle. The sai was used effectively against swords since the sword's blade could be trapped by the sai's tsuba. Sai's could also be thrown and were lethal up to distances of 30ft. Thrown with enough force, a sai could also penetrate armor. Okinawan's were often armed with three sais, they would normally fight with one in each hand plus one spare. With a sai in each hand, a sword or other long-reach weapon could be blocked with one sai and the other used for a short-range stab.
The Flail
The popularity of the Nunchaku was given a significant boost by perhaps the most famous martial artist, Bruce Lee in the movie Enter the Dragon.
The Tonfa
Being exclusively Japanese, the tonfa is not known by any other names. The tonfa is a 15 to 20 inch-long stout stick with a cylindrical grip attached at right angles about 6 inches from the end.
The Short Stick
Although the short stick is often referred to as an 'escrima', strictly speaking, escrima is the name of the Filipino weapon-based martial art that includes the use of the short stick. Kali and Arnis are also commonly used to describe Filipino martial arts that emphasize sword or stick fighting. While not the first to use the short stick in a combat application, it's the Filipino martial arts that have made short stick fighting familiar to most martial artists. The word Escrima comes from the Spanish word 'esgrima', which means 'fencing', Arnis comes from the Spanish phrase 'arnis de mano', which means 'harness of the hand'. Kali is thought to be derived from the Filipino word 'Kalis', meaning 'sword', although Kali is not used to describe Filipino weapon martial arts in the Philippines itself. The history and development of the Filipino martial arts is very difficult to trace since there is no documented evidence. It seems likely that Spanish sword fighting techniques were a significant influence as a result of the Spanish invasion in the early 16th century. It has also been suggested that the roots of the Filipino martial arts lie in the Indonesian martial arts that are strongly influenced by the Chinese. Others believe that since the Filipino martial arts are weapons-based, they probably developed completely independently from the foreign 'fist' systems. The short sticks used in Escrima/Arnis/Kali are most often made from tough rattan wood. Rattan is an ideal material to make many practice weapons from since it doesn't break easily and when it does break, it doesn't splinter like most other woods. Kamagong (also known as ironwood or ebony), bahi (heart of the palm) and molave are other woods used to make the fighting sticks. These days, aluminum and carbon fiber are also used. The Sword
The development and use of the sword in its multitude of forms could not possibly be done justice here. Many volumes have been written about the sword and its importance in cultures throughout the world.
There are many forms of sword martial arts currently practiced. Iaido, Kendo, Iaijutsu, Aikido, Kenjutsu, Tai Chi, Kumdo, Gum Sul, many styles of Kung Fu and others. The Fan
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Ji Pang E | Called the 'Ji Pang E' in Korean, the cane is easily recognized by martial artists and non-martial artists alike. |
The only weapon that can be legally carried anywhere, the cane or umbrella is also perhaps the most misleading weapon. A person carrying a cane is often perceived as being infirm or disabled in some way. It is this perception that can be used to some advantage by a person skilled in the use of the cane as a weapon. The cane has been integrated by a number of contemporary martial arts, perhaps most notably by the Korean martial art, Hapkido.
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Evergreen Martial Arts Academy's Tae Kwon Do program is unique in many ways,
but one of the more popular features is that weapons training is allowed when
students reach green belt level. Green belt and higher students are eligible to
attend special classes where they can learn a wide variety of weapons skills and
forms from one of the qualified instructors. 
jo had become established as Jodo (the
Way of the jo). 
Of course, the sickle originated as a farming implement used for
harvesting various crops. The first accounts of a sickle being used as a
weapon are the Greek myths of Chronus and Perseus. The Okinawans were
responsible for creating the first combat system with the sickle (nicho
kama is Japanese for a pair of sickles) when they were banned from
possessing swords or other weapons. Clearly, the kama is one of the more
lethal-looking weapons and students are taught how to practice safely
from the start.
Most
likely originating in China, the flail had numerous forms depending on the grain
it was being used on. All forms consisted of two stout sticks tied together with
a length of rope. The form of the flail that was adopted by the Okinawans as a
weapon and ultimately developed into another of their awesome fighting systems
is the form familiar to most martial artists today. Two equal-length sticks,
approximately 12 inches in length attached to each other at one end with a short
length of rope or a short chain. The Okinawans called the flail the Nunchaku of
course, and that name is the weapon's most recognizable name today. It has been
suggested that the origins of the Nunchaku was not the flail, but a crude horse
bridal used by the Okinawans. The lack of documentation on the subject leaves
the dispute unresolved. 
The tonfa is yet another everyday implement
that was turned into weapon and developed into a fighting system by the
Okinawans. Originally, the tonfa was a crank handle on a millstone ('toifa'
is the Japanese word for handle). The handle could easily be removed
from the millstone and was, with practice, found to be an excellent
means of extending striking range and supplementing blocks. As with
other Okinawan weapons, the banning of swords and such strongly
encouraged common people to become proficient in the use of the tonfa
for their own protection.
The
first swords were, no doubt made from stone and wood, but the first metal sword
(made of bronze) dates back to 3000BC. In Europe, the most common types of
swords were straight-bladed and double-edged all the way through to the middle
ages. Although not the leaders in sword technology, the Indians and Persians
were the first to realize the benefits of a curved blade. The Turkish scimitar
was modified by the Europeans to become the cavalry saber and Amakuni who is
traditionally considered to be Japan's first swordsmith is credited with giving
the Japanese Katana its characteristic curve. The Japanese Samurai warriors
turned swordmaking and swordsmanship into a semi-religious affair.
The non-folding fan originated in China and was adopted by
the Japanese and other Asian cultures around 750 AD. Japanese military
commanders used these fans as a means to visually signal their commands to their
troops in battle. The folding fan, or 'Sensu', was invented by the Japanese and
evolved into a weapon in the hands of the Samurai. When Samurai warriors were
required to disarm themselves (during official gatherings, for instance), the
fan was one of the few items that they could keep with them. It wasn't long
before the Samurai realized the usefulness of becoming skilled at using the fan
as a weapon. The Sensu was made from bamboo and paper which was not very strong,
of course. The 'Tessen' ('Tieshan' in Chinese) was an iron and silk version of
the sensu and was much better suited for use as a weapon. The tessen was also
used by Japanese military commanders to signal their troops in battle.