Does anyone know if the straight sword is a shaolin kung fu weapon ?
It can be.
The dao has a single edge where as the jian is the double edge sword.
Everthing can be a shaolin kung fu weapon
I’ve seen Shaolin forms for shoes, brooms, bowl & chopsticks, non-folding fans, mostly in Shi Deqian’s book. I’ve also seen benches, yokes, small folding chairs, hats, you name it…
my HB#2 pencil is a kungfu weapon.
The primary ideal behind the multitudes of chinese style weapons forms and training is; so that you become comfortable weilding a large diversity of objects, in weapons manner, so that in turn after mastering all of the weapons set before you, you will have a very large understanding of leaverage, balance and specific technique to enable yourself to turn virtually any object into a weapon.
Shaolin pencil
Actually, I’ve never heard of a pencil style, but I have heard of a pen style - or more literally, a brush style. In fact, I have this memory of that being in one of those Shaolin books. Usually it’s an iron pen, really just a kubuton-like device. The pencil was invented by Conte, a frenchman I think, later.
The primary ideal behind the multitudes of chinese style weapons forms and training is; so that you become comfortable weilding a large diversity of objects, in weapons manner, so that in turn after mastering all of the weapons set before you, you will have a very large understanding of leaverage, balance and specific technique to enable yourself to turn virtually any object into a weapon.
Very well said…
Some people ask “why teach weapons kata’s and application?”
PangQuan answered that question very well in this statement.
Originally posted by serene_dragon
[B]The primary ideal behind the multitudes of chinese style weapons forms and training is; so that you become comfortable weilding a large diversity of objects, in weapons manner, so that in turn after mastering all of the weapons set before you, you will have a very large understanding of leaverage, balance and specific technique to enable yourself to turn virtually any object into a weapon.
Very well said…
Some people ask “why teach weapons kata’s and application?”
PangQuan answered that question very well in this statement. [/B]
I agree 100%. If not, weapon training would have nothing but a historical/esthetical purpose (of course it has that too) 
I’m waiting for the shaolin spork form.
the spork form is rare. you penetrate the skull with multiple hits with the tynes. Then strike to knock the top of the head off, then scoop out that brainy goodness with the spoon part!
It’s all about head attacks with the shaolin spork.
People don’t realize that this weapon is as old a practice as teh monks spade. Crazy man, just crazy.