Weaponry
Weapons in traditional Martial Arts were used to enhance the students understanding of energy output. Different weapons require different footwork and handwork to generate the energy required for their efficient use. In our Tong Long system these ideas prevail. Certain grades include specific weaponry, either as form work, or two person applications. The weapon will enhance the students understanding of the energy they are required to generate for their current grade. Below is a description of each of our Tong Long weapons, which grade they belong to and why, and some of the movements and applications of each.
GWUN – STAFF.
Gwun Faht ( Preparatory Form ) – Orange Belt Staff Form.
Si Tai Gung Nat Yuen says weapons are an extension of your hand. We learn to extend our Qi into the weapon of choice. For Tong Long this teaches us how to generate and emit more ging output when hitting with our hands. Sigung Henry Sue says watch the staff with your eyes when learning, then watch the staff with your mind. In Southern Tong Long thick, heavy staffs were use, rather than the thinner, lighter staffs used in some styles. This adds to the power a student needs to wield such a weapon. The result being a more solid ma, stronger waist, forearms, wrists, and fingers. This form emphasises Chum ging and Bic Kiul in its techniques.
Lao Shui Gwun Faht – (Flowing Water Staff Form) – Purple Belt Staff Form.
As the name of this form suggests, it is a fluid moving form. It utilises the smooth movement of flowing water in the foot work, as well as the use of the staff. Being in the Tong Long Bic Sarn Gung grade the power of the staff is generated through the philospohy of the grade, ie to lift, crush, and drive through the mountain.
Ng Gwun Faht – Five Element Staff Form ( Five ways to use the Staff ) – Red Belt 2nd Degree.
In this form make your body part of the staff. Generate the power with your body, sai. Flow with the pokes. Do not hit in straight lines with the staff. Use circular motions to generate the power into the hits, supported by your sai.
The danger of the Tong Long staff is the sliding hands and the pokes at the eyes, throat, groin.
When stepping and hitting down wait for your body to get there.
Dim = point. Do not use chum power to hit the staff level with the floor. Hit with the end of the staff, keeping it at your head height. When doing double dim hits, lift your right heel to hit down with your sai.
Keep your front arm bent when hitting forward. Hold the stick in a claw, rather than a fist. This allows an opponents staff to slide along your staff without damaging your fingers.
Dook Sair Gwun Faht – Poison Snake Staff Form – Red Belt 3rd Degree.
This form teaches the power of pinpoint striking, as if to kill a venomous snake with one hit. Once again the art of the Tong Long staff is seen through interchangeable hands, chum ging, and thrusting attacks.
Bow Sim Gwun Faht – Catching Cicada Staff Form
Dit Jek - Iron Rulers (Tridents) – Green Level 2.
As the tridents are such a heavy weapon you do not need to use a lot of over zealous power to be detrimental. The finesse comes from using you gok choy to generate the ging to the end of the trident. The tridents enhance the catching and snatching energy that is to be developed in this grade.
You will also use the weight of the weapon and your chum ging to pierce downwards. You use your sou gai boi to thrust through objects.
The sai is emphasised in the trident form to help assist the weapon to smash and thrust.
The wrists are developed to become more supple and fluent ith the turning and circling movements that are performed in this routine.
Walking Stick – Green Level 2.
The walking stick is an innocuous looking weapon. It is more familiar as a support for the elderly or injured. But when used correctly it can be used as an extremely useful weapon against an attacker, even if they have a weapon of their own. The walking stick is taught at Green Level 2 to complement and enhance the student’s learning of the Bo Sim Sou energy. In our Tong Long system this weapons form is seen as the “ballet” of the art. Students learn a walking stick versus staff jong at 1st Degree Red Sash.
BROADSWORD – Red Belt 1st Degree.
The broadsword is taught at the Tong Long Fut Sou level to teach students the Buddha Hands, or supernatural, energy of the grade. This refers to the increasing ability to deliver a great deal of striking power using short distances but internal connections and ging output.
