The Chinese Spear

Other Techniques

Thrusting is not the only thing that a spear player practices on. Other techniques range from deploying circular movements to changing the grasp of the weapon without loosing contact with it. Both actions are difficult tasks to deploy when going full speed with a spear.

The Technical Parallels Between the Chinese Spear and
Chinese Straight Sword

Depending on the Chinese martial art systems, the biomechanical movements and principles of the spear concepts can be applied to the straight sword. In rare martial arts systems, the biomechanical movements and principles can be interchangeable between the straight sword and the spear. (There are also select open-hand combat concepts that can be applied to the straight sword and vice-versa.)

While the spear is a longer weapon, the straight sword is physically a faster weapon. It has been said that the sword can sometimes win against the spear. The general adage of martial arts combat is that the player of the weapon makes the weapon, not that the weapon makes the player.

What makes the Chinese long spear a supreme combat implement is the emphasis on the point first and then the edge. (Again, very similar to the Chinese straight sword). In combat, the point is more effective than the edge and the advantages in using the point are greater range, centralized power, and safety from counter.

The two principal techniques that are involved in the usage of the spear are the point and the edge.