What are Fighting Fans for?

[isshinryuwarrior]

http://www.karatedepot.com/fighting_fans.html

 

I see these all over the net. I'm just curious what they are really for, just flashy moves for demonstration or can be an effective tool.

 

Not really interested in doing. Just interested in learning what's behind them and what they are all about.

 

Thanx

[KUNTA KINTE]

I am not sure but i think when they are closed they are used against pressure points or to hit with and when open they can cut( i am pretty sure) and for blocking (aluminum fans)

[tommarker]

I believe most "fighting fans" on the market are mostly for show, as are most of the routines out there for them.

 

Closed, they could be used like tantojutsu or yawara techniques, but I imagine they really would have to have a few sharpened edges for them to truly cut someone.

[1kickKO]

I agree, not much use for them in today's world, seeing as how a fan with a dragon painted on it wn't stand up to a gun or knife, but I believe they are more used along the kata line...closed to hit with the tip in vital areas.

[battousai16]

i dunno, the usefulness in a fan is that it's pretty easy to conceal... i mean, it's a fan. but you'd have to get something better made than what's mostly on the market, i'd imagine.

[taiji fajin]

Good fans are DEADLY, but they need to be made well (strong supports, hidden weapons, etc). I've seen some demonstrations with them that were very nice. While opened they can be used to cover a person's view (and sometimes can be used against the eyes or throat). Closed they can be used like a dahn bohng (short staff). In the past, they also had hidden weapons in them. The feathers on the end had poisoned powder in them designed to blind. Open it up across the eyes or even near them, the resulted cloud of powder blinds the person. Also hidden in the feathers were tiny blades that could be used to rake across the eyes or throat as it was opened. Not that those hidden weapons would be used in a demonstration, but the rest of the pressure point attacks and joint locks make me not want to be on the receiving end of them, even in just a demo.

[krzychicano]

Fighting fans allow you to cool off as you work up a sweat of whooping butt all day.............

[1kickKO]

Nooo..those are electric fans...those could be deadly too..anybody ever take the plastic cover off one of those things and threaten to end somebody's life with it if they didn't give you back your twinkie? Oh..uhh..I mean...

[Davison]

I'n todays time, its hard to find a legit iron fan,ones that you see in the magizines are not for fighting.chinese have their own kind as well as the japanese. "Tessen waza"or iron fan techniques are very affective. I had the privledge a few months ago to learn 7 different kata with the fan.I was impressed. When closed, those things hurt like hell when you get hit by them.My wrist was sore for weeks.Depending on if the fan is open and is set with a blade edge,they can do some serious cutting damage

[1kickKO]

IF you can get a good edged one...that's awesome, but those things are hard to find.