Is there a style that uses a stool/small chair as a weapon?

[Du Hast]

I seem to remember hearing something about a Kung Fu style that used a stool or small chair as a traditional weapon. Anyone know anything about this?

[orion82698]

Get into many bar fights?

Cannot say that I have heard of this, but Kung-Fu is not my strong point. I have a friend I work with who takes Wing Chun. I'll fire this at him.

[Meguro]

I've seen it in kung fu flicks. It looks very similar to what Jackie Chan does with everday items. But seriously, wouldn't you rather work with a staff rather than a piece of furniture. This reminds me of the Austin Powers movie when Random Task throws his shoe at Powers. 'Honestly, who throws a shoe?' So I ask you, honestly, who fights with a bench?

[Du Hast]

But seriously, wouldn't you rather work with a staff rather than a piece of furniture.

What's wrong with a stool? It's a lot more likely to be around than a sai, tonfa, 3 sectional staff, whip chain, etc., etc. I can see training with a bo or a jo, because there are a lot of similar sized sticks around.

Really I'm just curious. I remember someone telling me about an at that did this (might have been Hung Gar)...

[White Warlock]

You are likely referring to the horse bench. There are a few Chinese styles that practice with it, but not many. Choi li fut is one of them. A horse bench, as a weapon, is a reasonable study, since chairs and coffee tables can be found most everywhere. It provides a multitude of offensive and defensive characteristics and can often be seen picked up by people who are attempting to present 'distance' between themselves and an assailant. This distancing effort is a defensive one, but one can study the use of such a thing to develop ones abilities to use it more effectively for defense, as well as use it for offense.

Those untrained in the use of the horse bench will find that a chair lifted in self-defense can easily be taken from them. However, one trained in its use can thwart efforts by assailants to disarm you, and inverting the situation so that you become the aggressor.

Horse bench attacks include, but are not limited to:

Spearing - a linear strike with one or more of the legs,

Uppercut - an upward circular strike, with one of the legs again,

Roundhouse - a horizontal circular strike... with the legs,

Hammer - a downward strike with the base or the legs (base is better),

Push - a linear strike/push with the base,

Pull - a hooking and pulling of the assailant's head/neck with the base, or with a bench leg's crotch,

Hook - a hooking of the assailant's leg with the bench leg,

Trap - a trap/lock of an assailant's arm via the use of two or more legs, performed with a windmill-type, or swirling, action. This technique is also useful for disarming a person armed with a long weapon.

As you'll note, there's really not much 'new' in reference to how one would fight without a bench. The differences are in adjusting to the 'extension' of oneself,' for the bench is a versatile weapon that requires a good amount of adjusting to. Unfortunately, it is also quite heavy (between 14 and 20 lbs).

[Du Hast]

Thanks White Warlock - once again you have answered my question!

[White Warlock]

np

[Meguro]

But seriously, wouldn't you rather work with a staff rather than a piece of furniture.

What's wrong with a stool? It's a lot more likely to be around than a sai, tonfa, 3 sectional staff, whip chain, etc., etc. I can see training with a bo or a jo, because there are a lot of similar sized sticks around.

Really I'm just curious. I remember someone telling me about an at that did this (might have been Hung Gar)...

As I look around the room I find a mop and broom in the corner. In the hall closet is a steel rod to access the attic trap-door, a base-ball bat and hockey stick. If you look hard enough, there are many staff-like everyday items you can use as a weapon. Sadly, no horse bench anywhere. The chairs are kind of heavy, but if I broke off one of the legs I might use it as a short staff.

[Du Hast]

As I look around the room I find a mop and broom in the corner. In the hall closet is a steel rod to access the attic trap-door, a base-ball bat and hockey stick. If you look hard enough, there are many staff-like everyday items you can use as a weapon. Sadly, no horse bench anywhere. The chairs are kind of heavy, but if I broke off one of the legs I might use it as a short staff.

Well, if your criteria for a martial arts weapon being worthwhile to learn is that it must be something you would have handy access to at any given time - then that rules out a lot of traditional ones. You should pick on something like a sai or kama or 3 sectional staff before you pick on the poor bench...

Seriously, if practical usage of the weapon is a big concern - you should put your time into one that you could carry on your person.

Like a horse bench. I carry one everywhere I go. How do you think I got arms like this? Plus it's real handy if you have to wait in line somewhere.

[Meguro]

and there you have it.