Transferring weapons skills

[parkerlineage]

I have come to the conclusion that if one thinks about a weapon in terms of this quote that keeps coming to mind that I believe I heard somewhere, but if I didn't, I'm totally copywriting it: "The master of a weapon uses no weapon," by which I mean the weapon is merely an extension of the body, one can literally transfer empty-hand or other weapon skills to learn the basics of nearly any weapon.

Now, there are many weapons (ie. whip chain, rope dart) that I would never dream of trying with this philosophy (I like my eyes, and other body parts), but the sai can be viewed as another wrist, the kama can be viewed as another wrist with a hand permanently in a crane, the bo as some sort of weird, mutated arm that nevertheless ends in two hands with which you can strike, and has elbow capabilities, and the dao as another elbow (but without a wrist on that arm).

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying or even alluding that anyone could acheive any level of remote mastery by themself, but certainly enough basic skill that they could competently fight with them - if they practice realistic scenarios with the weapons - like bunkai, I suppose.

Humbly submitted, and merely my opinion;

Parkerlineage

[UseoForce]

It really wouldn't apply to any projectile weapon right?

[parkerlineage]

lol, no, unless you viewed it as...a gumby arm that could extend to a finite point in a straight or slightly curving line...hehe

[lordtariel]

There's more to shooting a gun than pulling a trigger though.

[parkerlineage]

As I learned yesterday (see "Guns in MA", General Forum).

[Anbu Alex]

yup like martial arts using a gun right needs training

[bushido_man96]

I think you are correct in the sense that you can transfer basic skills to weapons use. By using what you know about your style, and body mechanics and such, and a little common sense, it could take you a little ways.

[ninjanurse]

Weapons are extensions of the arms/hands. I often have my students hold escrima sticks while they do their basic techniques to illustrate this to them.

[gheinisch]

Great example Ninjanurse. We have a instructor who has been teaching us some escrima techniques. After we have learned the technique he would ask us to put the sticks down and apply the technique to empty hand. Very eye opening and a great way to learn transition from one to the other. We also use sai's in the Heian Sandan kata, very fun to do and not a hard transition.

[Anbu Alex]

I just remebered a time i was doing Muto dori (unarmed against a sword) with a friend and due to training with the weighted chain i was ables to use my job id that has a littte like rope thiningy on it to tie his hands up out of instinct non the less we were all schocked if you do think about it and train your body will naturally see anything is a weapon