DVD/MP4 ~ nearly 1 3/4 hours.
“Everyone in Kung Fu knows the four grandparent weapons (staff, saber, sword and spear.) They are so-called because they will look after you like a full set of grandpas and grandmas and protect you from harm. And the best of this venerable group is the spear. This might strike you as a little odd—but actually it is the prize weapon of all Kung Fu. Right now, the entertainment world regards the straight sword as the quintessential Kung Fu weapon. The way I look at it, the straight sword portrays the vision of what a Kung Fu practitioner wants to be: deadly but graceful, practical but with a tint of mystical and a pint of dramatic. This is the nature of the sword, but not even the slashing sword teaches the real Kung Fu student more lessons than the spear.
Nowadays everyone wants to learn about usage. Well here’s usage that would work even today. And these actions coupled with proper training reflect back into the human body, making thespear a sort of tireless teacher in all aspects of Kung Fu: yes, all.
So when I was punching the keys, looking for text on the subject, I finally realized that I saw no major pieces on the spear. This affected me so much that I halted work on another book and set out to present some of this crucial information.
Why crucial? Because there is almost no movement of the spear that does not improve the Kung Fu player’s empty-hand work.
I repeat this point in my book, that everything learned there can be transferred to the unarmed human body. All the basics are here and variations of strikes that are somewhat more than basic, that demand refined movement. The essence of each move is expressed. I also included a form (the Zha spear) because I know people like to practice this way. I attached a whole selection of spear Key Points to make the form come alive. Then I added two entire groups of applications, demonstrated against advanced teachers wielding spear and saber. More than just poking around, this usage embodies many of the spear’s core principles in these hand-picked applications.
There are some good books on other martial subjects out there, but in this case I wanted to capture something specific; not an appreciation of the spear, or a simple workbook. Those would be fine, but I wanted to create a book that lets you experience the essence of what spear-energy has meant through a thousand of years practice and refinement; when the lives of nations and the fate of history hovered between two very long rows of spearmen facing one another, poised before conflict.Don’t just shake the spear. Shake up what you think it can do, compared to teachings that flower directly from weapon to you. “
TED MANCUSO – KUNG FU SPEAR – KING OF WEAPONS
