I am familiar with the basics of mantis weaponry (swords/staffs/knives, etc), but does your families system have a form that uses an unusual weapon?
(elk-horn knives, hammers, etc?)
Just curious of if you do & if you know the origin of the form.
Thanks,
BTL
Very cool,…
Do you know the Chinese names for the forms & any origins of them? (what lineage are they common in & how old the forms are?)
Thanks for answering so quickly!
~BTL
We’ve also got the Chat Sing Seung Cheui - Seven Star Double-Hammers. Nice form. But i haven’t seen the ironwhip nor do i know this weapon.
double cane
double 7 star hammers
9 section steel whip
2 sectional staff
war fan
ill get some names of forms soon for you…but now im going to bed.
craig
Greetings and Happy new year guys,
No time to get on the fourm much but I stop by when I can. Just wanted to mention that Chiu Chi Man had several unusual weapons he taught. Aside from the Hammers and Iron Whip sword there is also double cresent spear (short) double spear (short), some unique technique on the needles, short tapered staff, short trident (thin tong), as well as the chain whip, flying plummet, fan, chopsticks and a few more in addition to the more conventional weapons. Check out the weapons at the back of the pic.
PS: hey Othal, email me;
sevenstarmantis@hotmail.com
Chop sticks sounds cool does anyone have any more info on this form?
Monkey foot
Tell us more about the two section staf please! I have always wanted to learn this weapon!
Jake
2 section staff
I’ve seen a partnerform with the two-section-staff on a HK demonstration. I think it was against speer. Nice techniques.
I like to hear more about needles and Chop sticks 
Greetings
Chris
My Shifu of Northern Shaolin, Wang Shuming, taught the chopsticks.
There was no form.
A plate of thin wood was leaned against the wall and students perdfected the method of throwing the chopstick to puncture the wood and get it buried halfway.
The chopsticks were real, not some weapon, but something from a nice restuarant. All disposable.
About 2 or 3 guys could make it threw the wood on every throw.
Originally posted by Tainan Mantis
[B]My Shifu of Northern Shaolin, Wang Shuming, taught the chopsticks.
There was no form.
A plate of thin wood was leaned against the wall and students perdfected the method of throwing the chopstick to puncture the wood and get it buried halfway.
The chopsticks were real, not some weapon, but something from a nice restuarant. All disposable.
About 2 or 3 guys could make it threw the wood on every throw. [/B]
I’ve seen this done before and it’s amazing. I never could figure out how they were doing it. The skeptical part of me assumed there was a trick in the wood or the chopstick. . . .
As for the “two-section” staff I assume it a long staff with a shorter staff attatched by a chain at one end?
Of the weapons listed,
How many of them had their origins within the system & how many were “borrowed” From other systems?
Any clue to how old these weapon forms might be?
Thanks for all the replies BTW, I find the “Exotics” an interesting subject.
~BTL
I thought the general consensus was that all the mantis weaponry was from outside sources. ???
Oso I believe that all of the 7 star weapon forms were borrowed or adapted. As for other mantis styles I’m not sure. My teacher speaks highly of the taiji mantis weapon sets.
I started to learn the chain whip but never finished it. I was going to pick up the bench form but ended up not even starting it. I really just wanted weapons I would actually be able to use if need be, like the stick, staff, and daggers. But now in my old age I would like to pick up some more.
Originally posted by Oso
I thought the general consensus was that all the mantis weaponry was from outside sources. ???
Um,…yeah,…but Which one(What system) would be what I’m shooting for here,.. Sorry for not being more specific earlier.
IMHO, knowing what system the weapon form came frome can give an idea on the way the form should feel/look. Just like knowing from what family of mantis a form comes from can affect the way one interprets the movement “feel”/execution.
Well…
I am not a weapon guy. So I don’t know that much weaponary like others in my style. GM Chiu has a very extensive weaponry curriculum. Basically there are 5 categories:
Long: Spear, staff, harper, etc…
Short: Sword, Saber, hooks, Tonfa, etc…
Hard: Usually defensive such as the shield or something you can wear on the body such as the iron rings or studded wrist band, etc.
Flexible: Nanchakus, 3 sections, whip Chains, rope dart, etc…
Projectile/concealed: Archery, Darts, chops sticks (throwing), knives, etc…
There are regular weapons and odd weapons in these categories.
I am more a big fan of knives ever since I saw the movie Musa the Warriror. The only guy that lives in end of the movie was the Archer who would use throwing knives as well. My theory is that Archers are like snipers. They depends on marksmanship which relies on keen observation and quick decision making skills. Most of the time they have to be stealth and patience is everything. Now that’s discipline. 
Besides you can get close or stay at long range with knives. So, I rather have a knife (concealed) than other weapon.
In this date and age, besides firearms, I think the best way to equipe yourself is a jacket, belt, keys and a knife without getting yourself into too much trouble. BTW, steel toes boots and halmets are good too if you are working in construction. lol… That’s my take on “exotic” weaponry.
Mantis108
ok, I see, take it back to the style of origin to get the original flavor.
wasn’t slandering that concept, btw. I mean, most everything in mantis was borrowed in the beginning.
Robert: your description of weapon classification is almost exactly like my old hung gar teacher’s was.
Stick (long or short)
Edged
Flexible
Paired
I am not sure what other styles he studied, but I was told by my teacher that Li San Jin added the hook swords and the jien set high noon sword. I think he was a body guard for merchant caravans and probably well versed in kung fu even before he learned mantis. I have heard his nickname was lightening fist Li, or hook sword Li. There is no written record of who added what forms from that time period. In my family system we have a couple of weapon sets that were probably adapted from other systems. This is the natural evolution of kung fu.
Mantis 108
LOL, you just had to mention steel toed boots! You stole my thunder
I`ve been lucky to have been taught some nice weapons, long list and continuing to add to.
The most unusual was a weapon hand made by a crazy a s s student named howie. A 36" blow dart gizzmo. Very sweet and extremely accurate. At 60 feet, I can get within one inch of target, and 30 feet straight up bullseye. I have no idea where howie learned how to make this precision weapon. If I were to practice, I could probably get better. BTW, the needles are about 4 inches long and penetrate well.
chopsticks sound great… one question though… are they thrown end over end-like a knife- or in a manner similar to a dart?
as an interesting aside, my brother and I used to play a game when we were kids back in the swamp involving my father’s radial saw blades. We threw them into the fence (that was the game) and at $70 a pop you could imagine my father was none to pleased.