Weapons in the martial arts are not ends In themselves, but extensions of the martial artist's own body and breath. They are not used Instead of traditional hand and foot techniques, but In addition to them: wielding a staff does not mean so mush that an opponent will be defeated by stick techniques but rather that the martial artist now has a nine foot reach. It is with this in mind that weapon sets are built.

Weapon sets are generally easy to learn, as they are not as complex or strenuous as most hula forms, but they are almost never mastered. Each weapon has Its own pattern of breath power, or chi kung that flows through It to make It the most effective Discovering the different channels of power Is the most challenging aspect of each weapon, and also the reason that each Person will find a weapon mat suits him more than any other. A saber requires a powerful chopping motion, so chi is directed in strong bursts and broad strokes. The sword, on the other hand, works best with intricate slicing movements, and requires a much more delicate touch to master. It can take years to master a single weapon, and there are dozens of them in the martial arts library.

Most weapons are derived from everyday tools, such as the walking stick or me farmer's scythe, that were refined over the years Into specific weapons with specific functions. Each curve and surface of the weapon Is carefully considered for its defensive potential , and although the weapons Themselves are often quite beautiful, there are no superfluous parts to them. The curve on the back of the saber Is designed to deflect attacks from other weapons, the stick attached to the Kwan Do is used for striking and blocking, as is the butt of the dagger. It Is the ability to sense the potential of an object that makes it a weapon, not the fact that it has a sharp edge or is hard and heavy. Martial arts movies are famous for portraying nearly any object as a weapon, from umbrellas and teacups to chairs and coat racks. It is the creativity of the martial artist that makes the tool.

In the final analysis, weapons are not considered by the true martial artist as things of destruction, but as tools to I help one perfect his art. They are used to integrate the person with his surroundings, leach precision and control, and the projection of strength or chi, Into the environment. They can be used to destroy, but also have a much higher potential to create beauty.