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In the first article in this series of two, we discussed the physical structure of the Chinese Spear, also called the 'Qiang.' You might wish to do a search for part one before you continue with this article. This article describes basic Chinese Spear training techniques.
There are several ways to use the Qiang. The easiest and most common would be to cut or thrust, or to simply bash, However, in the hands of a Master, the spear can be used to disarm, take down a horse, the butt can be used, the shaft can be used to trip or even throw lesser trained opponents.
The beginning methods of using the spear had to do with basic thrusting and cutting. Once these were mastered, other types of uses could be developed. The one exception to this is taking down a horse, which we will speak of shortly.
To thrust the Qiang, hold the butt of the spear, the hands a comfortable distance apart, and step forward as you jab with the spear. Once your arms gain in strength and you get the feeling that you are holding the spear (instead of the spear holding you), make a small circle on a tree and start jabbing the spear into it. While you can hang a small circle of wire if you don't want to hurt trees, the feeling of striking a target, and then having to pull the blade out, is quite educational.
To learn to cut with the Qiang simply hold the base of the shaft, and make small circles in the air. The actual blade is not long, like a sword, but used for circling and flicking motions inside an opponent's body area...when he is a half dozen or more feet away. Make circles, and consider moving in as you do this, so that the tip of the spear can whack at the opponent's wrists, and then thrust the Qiang forward.
The third basic training method is to swing it like a staff. No thought of using the blade, just bashing mightily upon the noggin, cracking any armor or bones as you wish. The point here is to build strength so that you will eventually be able to use the Qiang for other purposes.
Let's speak of other purposes, so that you may better glean the potential usages of this Chinese martial arts tool. Armies in times past had warhorses, and these mighty steeds would charge lines of infantry. The simple method an infantryman, or pikesman, used for dispatching a charging war horse would be to place the butt of the spear upon the ground, and hold the spear so that the horse impaled itself upon it.
Please remember that there are schools of the spear in other countries, most notably the Japanese Martial Art of Sjutsu, which teaches the use of the Japanese spear called the Yari. The information in this article can be used to understand and train in other schools of the spear. That said, I hope all readers have the chance to inspect and even train with the King of Weapons, the ancient Chinese Spear called the Qiang.
There are several ways to use the Qiang. The easiest and most common would be to cut or thrust, or to simply bash, However, in the hands of a Master, the spear can be used to disarm, take down a horse, the butt can be used, the shaft can be used to trip or even throw lesser trained opponents.
The beginning methods of using the spear had to do with basic thrusting and cutting. Once these were mastered, other types of uses could be developed. The one exception to this is taking down a horse, which we will speak of shortly.
To thrust the Qiang, hold the butt of the spear, the hands a comfortable distance apart, and step forward as you jab with the spear. Once your arms gain in strength and you get the feeling that you are holding the spear (instead of the spear holding you), make a small circle on a tree and start jabbing the spear into it. While you can hang a small circle of wire if you don't want to hurt trees, the feeling of striking a target, and then having to pull the blade out, is quite educational.
To learn to cut with the Qiang simply hold the base of the shaft, and make small circles in the air. The actual blade is not long, like a sword, but used for circling and flicking motions inside an opponent's body area...when he is a half dozen or more feet away. Make circles, and consider moving in as you do this, so that the tip of the spear can whack at the opponent's wrists, and then thrust the Qiang forward.
The third basic training method is to swing it like a staff. No thought of using the blade, just bashing mightily upon the noggin, cracking any armor or bones as you wish. The point here is to build strength so that you will eventually be able to use the Qiang for other purposes.
Let's speak of other purposes, so that you may better glean the potential usages of this Chinese martial arts tool. Armies in times past had warhorses, and these mighty steeds would charge lines of infantry. The simple method an infantryman, or pikesman, used for dispatching a charging war horse would be to place the butt of the spear upon the ground, and hold the spear so that the horse impaled itself upon it.
Please remember that there are schools of the spear in other countries, most notably the Japanese Martial Art of Sjutsu, which teaches the use of the Japanese spear called the Yari. The information in this article can be used to understand and train in other schools of the spear. That said, I hope all readers have the chance to inspect and even train with the King of Weapons, the ancient Chinese Spear called the Qiang.
About the Author:
If you want to learn more about training with martial arts weapons, mouse to Monster Martial Arts and look at 6th Sense Swordfighting. It is one of the ten Master Books.. Check here for free reprint license: Building an Ancient Chinese Spear and Training With It (part two).
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