Naginatajutsu
The Naginata is the traditional weapon of the Samurai daughters, and the fluid, spinning footwork taught by this style for both attack and defense were considered the epitome of beauty, grace, and femininity in medieval Japan. Practice of this art by women dates back to Japan's Tokugawa Period 1600-1867 , but the form continues today in a Kenjutsu-like sport, still dominated by women. This style, however, represents the older combative form of the art. Prerequisite Weapon Training Basic...
Arnis
Arnis was developed by the settlers of the Philippine Islands, many of them from China, India, Indonesia, and Southwest Asia. When the Spanish invaded the islands, they dubbed the fierce stick-fighting style of the natives Escrima, which means skirmish. After conquering the island, the Spanish outlawed the style, and it was forced underground. The style was preserved through dances and mock battles, in which the natives played the role of Spaniards, wearing the arnes, or medieval armor. These...
Chain
This weapon is one of the most difficult martial arts weapons to learn, but it is also one of the most powerful in the hands of the skilled user. The Chain grants the wielder a 2 equipment bonus on Trip and Disarm attacks. Kyoketsu-Shogi This variation on the Chain is closely associated with the ninja. Rather than simply a weighted chain at each end, the Kyoketsu-Shogi has a hooked blade at one end, which not only allows the wielder to stab with the weapon inflicting piercing damage rather than...
KENdO
Many martial arts have heavy spiritual overtones and for some, the spiritual journey becomes as important, if not more, than any combat application. Japanese martial arts note this focus through the suffixes -jutsu, meaning art or skill and -do meaning way or philosophy. Thus all Japanese martial arts can be broadly divided into bujutsu martial arts and budo martial philosophies . For swordsmanship, the journey from martial art to martial philosophy began in the mid-Edo period, around the 17th...
Drunken Master
Martial Arts Style Like many ancient martial arts, the exact origin of Drunken Master is hard to determine. There are many legends that give possible origins for the style. The tale of the Eight Drunken Immortals, who fought with their fellow gods while drunk, and the tale of an intemperate Monk who defeated thirty of his fellows while drunk, then ripped the doors off the monastery, are only two of the mythological origin stories for this martial art. Monkey, Eagle, and Shao-Lin Kung Fu all...