The Chinese Spear

Technical Emphasis

Compared to heavier bladed weapons, the spear was light and possessed a long reach. Its techniques were simple but efficient. During combat, spear players were never underestimated in combat by smart non-spear players. One wrong move by the opposition and the sharper point of the spear could immediately thrust in and through their body.

The main purpose of learning to use a spear is to build power by learning correct body methods (Shenfa) that open up the joints and dynamically stretches the tendons. This method must be used to improve one's skill. People, who do not practice martial arts or do not practice it correctly, will have rather stiff joints that limit their range of movements. Through proper long spear practice, one can open the joints, increase flexibility, and hence improve agility of movements. Some spear sets emphasize subtle wrist and waist movements that can emit powerful circular movements, which can be technically lethal is combat.

Externally, the proper practice of the spear is all about full body coordination and the mastery of the point thrust techniques with no hard force. The ancient Chinese Martial Art Classics stated that "a spear that moves in a constant rapid-fire pace can never be defeated."

Basic spear exercises usually feature elements of twirling, thrusting, swinging and figure-eight spinning. The two basic combinational movements of the spear are the upward slash and the jab-thrust (poke). Some of the advanced spear techniques can be characterized by free-swinging smoothness and a sequence of confused foot patterns, the same characteristics that apply to the each school's unarmed tactics.

Thrusting

In the beginning of any training, emphasis should be placed on the use of its point or tip. The spear player must be able to thrust the tip of the spear quickly and accurately in any direction. The consummate spear player should be able to move like a "dragon" when using the spear; that is, the movement should be agile and precise.

The spear is held with the front hand to balance the spear while the back hand is used to control and guide. It has been said that a spear in motion "starts like a flying phoenix and accelerates toward the target like a comet." (The tassel should be moving as one unit with the spear.) If the striking motion of a spear is consistently straight, it is then considered that the spear player has achieved the acme of perfection.

Another classic description of a correctly performed spear action is "quick as a serpent's tongue."

Some spear thrusting techniques require the rotation of the spear's head to be as small as the circumference of an orange. If this movement is achieved consistently, it is said that the spear player has mastered the striking ability.

Besides the basic act of thrusting, there are many different types of offensive spear techniques and surprise maneuvers that can be utilized by the spear player. A spear player should never be underestimated in combat.