Weapons
Sword, staff, knife — weapons systems and their philosophy.
12 articles
Japan ·Feudal Japan; systematized: early Edo period (~1605)
Bōjutsu — The Japanese Art of Staff Fighting
Bōjutsu is the Japanese art of staff fighting — from humanity's most ancient weapon to a refined system that once brought Miyamoto Musashi to a standstill.
France ·Early 19th century (Paris); competition form: 1970s (Maurice Sarry)
Canne de Combat — French Stick Fighting
Canne de Combat is French stick fighting — developed in 19th-century Paris as self-defense for the elite, closely related to Savate, today an official competition sport.
Philippines ·Pre-14th century; first documented: 1521 (Magellan expedition)
Escrima / Arnis / Kali — The Filipino Weapon Art
Escrima is the Filipino martial art of stick, blade, and empty hand — the first martial art to prove fatal to a European conqueror (Magellan) in documented history.
India (Punjab) ·15th century (founding of Sikhism); flourished: 17th–18th century (Sikh wars)
Gatka — The Weapon Tradition of the Sikhs
Gatka is the traditional martial art of the Sikhs — with wooden staves, swords, and shields, deeply rooted in the Sikh philosophy of Miri-Piri and alive at every Sikh festival.
Japan ·Middle Muromachi period (16th century)
Iaijutsu — The Art of Drawing the Sword
Iaijutsu is the Japanese art of sword drawing — the decisive first cut from the scabbard, systematized by Hayashizaki Jinsuke in the 16th century.
Thailand (historically: Siam) ·Ayutthaya period (1351–1767); first school 1935
Krabi-Krabong — Thailand's Weapons Martial Art
Krabi-Krabong is Thailand's traditional weapons martial art — sword and staff as core weapons, developed against Burmese invasions in the Ayutthaya era, today a living cultural heritage.
Japan ·Heian period (794–1185); first mention 712 AD in the Kojiki
Naginatajutsu — The Art of the Japanese Halberd
Naginatajutsu is the Japanese art of the halberd — originally a battlefield weapon of foot soldiers and warrior monks, later the defining weapon of the samurai woman.
Japan (Okinawa / Ryukyu archipelago) ·Ryukyu Kingdom (15th–19th century); formalized: 20th century
Okinawan Kobudo — The Weapon Arts of the Ryukyu Islands
Okinawan Kobudo is the weapon system of the Ryukyu Islands — farm tools transformed into lethal weapons when the population faced weapons bans, Karate's natural complement.
Japan ·Sengoku era (1467–1615) spread; first school ~1625
Shurikenjutsu — The Art of Throwing Blades
Shurikenjutsu is the Japanese art of throwing blades — not primarily to kill, but to distract, delay, and open defenses at critical moments of combat.
India (Tamil Nadu, South India) ·At least 4th century BCE (Sangam literature); flourished: Chera, Chola, Pandya dynasties
Silambam — The Tamil Staff Martial Art
Silambam is the Dravidian staff martial art of Tamil Nadu — over 2000 years old, documented in Sangam literature, unique in its fusion of rhythmic movement and lethal effectiveness.
Japan ·Early Muromachi period (14th century); flourished in the Sengoku era (1467–1615)
Sōjutsu — The Japanese Art of Spear Fighting
Sōjutsu is the Japanese art of spear fighting with the Yari — the dominant weapon on medieval battlefields, today preserved in a handful of rare Koryu schools.
Japan ·Heian period (precursors); formalized: early Edo period (17th century)
Tessenjutsu — The Art of the Iron Fan
Tessenjutsu is the Japanese art of the iron fan — the samurai's most elegant solution for situations where the sword was forbidden but danger remained.