Weaponry Training, what good is it for you?
Taking a Quandao on a train, possibly a Tiger Broad Sword in a Taxi, how about a Red Eagle Spear to the footy. Well no, those are not the type of weapon that people would take with them. How about a Knife, 9 Section Staff, Throwing Starts, Iron Ruler, Knuckle Dusters and more; these are more likely to be taken along by insecure people and hoodlums alike. Yet, a 10 week course in Knife Defence, no matter how good the instructor is, is more likely to endanger you than to help you. Just ask anyone who's profession it is to stand up to people like this and they will tell you; a little bit of training is more likely to get you hurt than to help you because 'learning; is not equal to 'able to use'. But, that would be the only reason to train weaponry unless you are in some type of armed services!

Shaolin Weaponry Training
Shaolin were and still are, for the most, Buddhist Monks. There are a number of guiding principles in Buddhism which constrain the use of weaponry of any kind, including Four Bodhisattva Vows;

1. I vow to rescue the boundless living beings from suffering.
2. I vow to put an end to the infinite afflictions of living beings.
3. I vow to learn the measureless Dharma-doors.
4. I vow to realize the unsurpassed path of the Buddha.

1. Do not kill.
2. Do not steal.
3. Do not engage in sexual misconduct.
4. Do not lie.
5. Do not use intoxicants.

Although there are many more, one can see from these that Buddhist were not allow to harm or kill any living being. This includes in the defence of their own health and well being! But they did train weaponry, but for different reasons!

Shaolin Weaponry training
After the first burning of Shaolin in 570 CE, when it was re-established in 600 CE, the Shaolin went a bit militant. They were in the middle of nowhere, away from easy accessible Civilization and were vulnerable to almost any kind of attack, robber, band of thieves or marauding soldiers. And as little as they had, some had less and would take it from them. They came to the conclusion that they had to take the defence into their own hands.

Shaolin Combat
The first step was to develop a form of efficient unarmed combat. The 18 Hands of Lohan, although having some aspects of Tibetan Kung Fu, was not adequate for defence. With the help of a young warrior noble who followed Buddhism the Shaolin started developing the 72 Fists. As part of this they invited wandering soldiers, warriors and 'others' into the temple for friendly competitions. Thus the 72 Fist came to be. Yet within these was already the seed of downfall as the 72 Fist were both to destructive for Buddhists and did not consider Defence against weapons.

Shaolin Using Weapons
When the 72 Fist were redeveloped into the 170 Moves, the first steps were taken to also develop unarmed defence against weaponry. Shaolin started learning to use weaponry to learn how a weapon can be used, it's strengths and it's limitations. They were taught to master a variety of weapons, those that were most common in the period and then they trained how to defend against these weapons bare hand. This was in addition to and on top of their normal Buddhist duties and bare-hand exercises.

Warrior Monks
Generally, each Monk was taught bare hands, but each monk had also a specialisation. Being a Warrior Monk was just one of these. Some became doctors, scribes, historians, teachers, etc. Those Shaolin that exhibited the least aggression, the least emotion and the least need to do harm were chosen as the Warrior Monks. Not the ones most proficient but the one with the greatest control and the least need to prove that they were good (although in times of strife, this rule may not always have been followed).

Weaponry Training Today
Learning TCW is fun, can be a historical recreation; appreciation of the role that weapons played in creating and maintaining the various civilizations. Learning the difficulties and dangerous of handling various weapons; why swords were so popular; how the Chinese Broad Sword is vastly superior to the famed Japanese Katana; the reason the Spear is called the King of all weapons and the Straight Sword the gentleman of all weapons.

Weaponry Training is also much more. It is the Gym of martial artists; performing the routines with an object of various length and weight in their hand. If you feel that, say your left hand is not as strong as it should be, Tiger broad Sword Training is excellent. For wrists that need strengthening, the Shaolin Staff is second to none; for balance and accuracy the Spear. Yet for Shaolin it was all this and more. It was and still is a way to keep Shaolin Training interesting and challenging; keeping it as a life long health and well-being exercise.