Karate Weapons - Self Defense With An Edge

The term weapon in martial art does not indicate an actual weapon but it is a hand held weapon either with an edge of metal or blunt wood. Hand held martial art weapons have large verities like sai, kama, nunchaku, bo and sword, to mention only a few in this context.

In the past, each country in Asia had its own characteristically devised weapons, which were concentrated only in the hands of the royal rulers, who had used them for military purposes. Such weapons had never reached the hands of the ruled class and the common people had no alternative other than depending on their own implements they devised as weapons for use.

It is for this reason that countries like Japan, Korea and China brought into use the converted farm tools for the defense of the common people. The hands and the feet have been the main weapons used in martial arts from the time unknown.

These weapons with nothing held physically on hand are considered to be most lethal in most of the countries and were widely in use by black-belt holding professionals. The term karate itself is an indication of empty hand to learn martial arts. Use of external weapons came into practice only in the later days.

The hand weapons required to acquire a special skill for their effective application. The blunt wood weapons mentioned in the terms of martial art required high speed, force and sudden body movements to generate the power required for neutralizing an enemy.

The application of sharper metal weapons required adequate skill and cleverness to cut or puncture the foe. All these fighting methods required a lot of training if one had to reach the required level of success in self-defense. A person can attain this stage only through constant and intensive training and self-practice.

Gradually by constant practice the body will adopt reflective action with no time for thinking. Only on reaching such a stage one can claim himself to be proficient enough in using a particular weapon in the martial arts. It has to be kept in mind that though the practices will take us to certain level, the real test lies in successfully fighting and winning over an enemy at a critical moment that may endanger life.

If he survives fighting out such a situation successfully by avoiding any body injury during a combat, he can claim that he has achieved the required skill in martial art. Whatever be the type of weapon applied to combat a situation, it has to be made sure by the performer that he can survive a conflict.

At times you may have to confront more than one attacker, which you can do with the weapon you are proficient to use. If both combatants use weapons, the one with greater skill will go winning, as he excels the other in martial art skills. It is therefore very important to practice martial art weapons against all possible situations of combats.

If a situation can be diffused by staying calm and without entering into any encounter, there are no chances of harm to you. A person can remain calm in a threatening situation, only if he has continuously practiced the martial art weapons and acquired enough skills.

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