What is Nunchaku?

A nunchaku (Chinese: 雙節棍 shuāng jié gùn, 兩節棍 liǎng jié gùn, or 三節棍 sān jié gùn), also called nunchucks or nunchuks (sometimes hyphenated as nun-chucks or nun-chuks or spaced as nun chucks or nun chuks), is a martial arts weapon of the kobudo weapons set and consists of two sticks connected at their ends with a short chain or rope. The other Kobudo weapons are the Sai, Tonfa, Bo and Kama.

Nunchaku in popular culture

The nunchaku were made popular in the West mostly due to their use by Bruce Lee in a scene from his film Enter the Dragon (though he had actually first used nunchaku in Fist of Fury), in which he demonstrates Eskrima flail techniques. Michaelangelo of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was also known for using nunchaku. In the U.K. version of the 1987 cartoon series, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, the nunchaku was censored out. Also, the weapon that Selphie Tilmitt of Final Fantasy VIII wields is called nunchaku in the NTSC versions of Final Fantasy VIII, and shinobou in the PAL version.

Formal nunchaku styles

The most common martial arts to use nunchaku are the Japanese martial arts such as some forms of karate, but some Eskrima systems also teach practitioners to use nunchaku. Songahm Taekwondo, a Korean martial arts style, also teaches how to use one and two Nunchakus, though in Korean, they are known as Sahng Jeol Bahngs, or sometimes Sahng Jeol Bongs. The styles of these three arts are rather different; the traditional Okinawan arts would have used the sticks primarily to grip and lock, while the Filipino arts would have used the sticks primarily for striking, while Songahm Taekwondo teaches a combination of both.

An interesting thing to note is that while most Martial Arts Styles that teach Nunchaku do not start teaching until after Black Belt, Songahm Taekwondo starts teaching Nunchaku techniques at Orange Belt, the second belt in Songahm Taekwondo.

In the early 80’s, Kevin D. Orcutt, an American police sergeant, holder of a black belt in Jukado, developed the OPN (Orcutt Police Nunchaku) system. Since then some American Law Enforcement Agencies employ the Nunchaku as a control weapon instead of the Tonfa, also known as the common police baton, which also finds its origin in the Kobudo weapons family. This system emphasises only a small subset of the nunchaku techniques, for speedier training.

There is now a dedicated World Nunchaku Association, based in the Netherlands, which teaches Nunchaku-Do as a contact sport. They use yellow and black plastic weight balanced training chucks and protective headgear. They have their own belt colour system where you earn colour stripes on the belt instead of using the full colour belts. In competition, one opponent turns over the belt, as one side is white and the other black.

Anatomy of the traditional nunchaku

A nunchaku is two sections of wood (or metal in modern incarnations) connected by a cord or chain. Chinese nunchaku tend to be rounded, whereas Japanese are octagonal. The ideal length of each piece should be the length of the users forearm; the bone between elbow and wrist. Traditionally both ends are of equal length (although asymmetrical nunchakus exist). The ideal length for the connecting rope/chain can be calibrated for each individual by letting the rope hang over the wrist, with the sticks hanging comfortably pointing straight to the ground, but without giving more rope than is necessary for it to do so. Weight balance is extremely important, cheaper or gimmicky nunchakus (such as glow-in-the-dark ones) are often not properly balanced, which prevent the artist from doing the more advanced and flashier ‘low-grip’ moves, such as overhand twirls. The weight should be balanced towards the outer edges of the sticks for maximum ease and control of the swing arcs.

The traditional nunchaku must be made from a hardwood that is strong yet flexible, such as oak, loquat or pasania. Originally, the wood would be submersed in mud for several years, where lack of oxygen and optimal acidity prevent rotting. The end result is a hardened wood. The rope was made from horsehair, said to be able to block a sword. (Although likely, there is no recorded confirmation of this.) Finally, the wood is painted and varnished to keep colour.

There are various traditional alternative forms such as the 3-sectional and 4-sectional staff, these are nunchaku with 3 and 4 interconnecting pieces.

Anatomy of the modern nunchaku

The modern nunchaku can be made from any material: from wood as well as from almost any plastic or fiberglass material. Modern equivalents of the rope are nylon or metal chains on ball bearing joints.

The Nunchaku-Do sport, governed by the World Nunchaku Association, promotes black and yellow Styrofoam chucks. The difference with readily available plastic training chucks is that these are properly balanced.

There are some alternate nunchakus such as:

• Telescopic Nunchakus: which are metal retractable chucks, available in 2 sizes.
• Glow-Chucks – made either with fibreglass and a coloured light fitted in the ball bearing or some kind of fluorescent taping around the sticks.
• Penchakus: There are flashier Lissajous-do sticks available for artistic performances. These are more colourful and sometimes fluorescent with a modified anatomy which favors control in expense of power; they have longer length sticks and extremely short ropes. The idea is based on a mathematical model, the Lissajous, which allows the user to keep a continuous flowing form.

Nunchaku in combat

When used in combat, the nunchaku provide the obvious advantage of an increase in the reach of one’s strike. Although somewhat difficult to control, the rope or chain joint of the nunchaku adds the benefit of striking from unexpected angles. The motion of the nunchaku is often found distracting by opponents, who may have trouble keeping up with the nunchaku’s rapid motion. In addition, the reach of the nunchaku is often underestimated, even by those experienced with its use.

The wooden or metal sections of the nunchaku are used to strike, while the joint is used to apply locks or chokes.

Care of the nunchaku

For wooden nunchaku it is advisable (although not strictly necessary) to clean the nunchaku with a cloth moistened in olive oil, camellia oil or any other plant oil for easier grip and this also prevents fading of the original color (because it puts a coating layer where the varnish disappeared). To prevent wear of the nylon ropes candle wax can be coated at the tips where the most friction occurs. For true aficionados, you should learn to tie the traditional knots that bind the pieces. There is even an annual knot tying contest in Japan.

Metal chain and ball bearing chucks can also be oiled up to prevent wear and squeaking.

Nunchaku masters

Unlike other kobudo weapons of the same period such as the Bo and Sai, there are no surviving Katas for the Nunchaku. Practice movements were transmitted by word of mouth and in limited writing, suggesting that the Nunchaku was a less formalized style, and training did not reach the level of sophistication as the other Budo weapons.

Luckily there are some internationally recognized grand masters, extremely talented people in the world, here listed with their respective publications:

• Tadashi Yamashita – Dynamic Nunchaku
• Jiro Shiroma – Nunchaku, the Complete Training Guide
• Fumio Demura – Nunchaku, Karate Weapon of Self Defense

Kyūdō- the japanese form of archery

A full draw, called “kai“.

Kyūdō (弓道:きゅうどう, Kyūdō^?), literally meaning “way of the bow“, is the Japanese art of archery. It is a modern Japanese martial art (gendai budō).

It is estimated that there are approximately half a million practitioners of kyūdō today. Kyūdō is a rare sport in the sense that it is not dependent on age or sex. If the practitioner is dedicated, male or female, they can learn at any age. It’s never too early or too late to learn Kyūdō. Although one could learn Kyūdō at any point in their life, it can take a lifetime to perfect.

In its most pure form, kyūdō is practiced as an art and as a means of moral and spiritual development. Many archers practice kyūdō as a sport, with marksmanship being paramount. However, the goal most devotees of kyūdō seek is seisha seichu, “correct shooting is correct hitting”. In kyūdō the unique action of expansion (nobiai) that results in a natural release, is strived for. When the spirit and balance of the shooting is correct the result will be for the arrow to arrive in the target. To give oneself completely to the shooting is the spiritual goal. In this respect, many kyūdō practitioners believe that competition, examination, and any opportunity that places the archer in this uncompromising situation is important, while other practitioners will avoid competitions or examinations of any kind.

Practice

Kyudo is practised in different schools and styles and even between dojos of the same style the form of practice can vary. For joint practice, competition and graduation between different styles a standard form was prepared in 1953 by the Japanese Kyūdō federation as (kyūdō kyūhōn). Here however is an example of a practice session with a form different from kyūdō kyūhōn.

A practitioner will begin with seiza (traditional sitting position) followed by mokuso (meditation).

The practitioner may shoot at a specially designed straw target called makiwara (not to be confused with makiwara used in karate). The makiwara is shot at from a very close range (about seven feet, or the length of the archer’s strung yumi when held horizontally from the centerline of his body). Because the target is so close and the shot most certainly will hit, the archer can concentrate on refining his technique rather than on worrying about where the arrow will go.

After warming up, the archer may then move on to shooting at a target called a mato. Mato sizes and shooting distances vary, but most mato typically measure thirty-six centimeters (or 12 sun, a traditional Japanese measurement equivalent to approximately 3.03 cm) in diameter and are shot at from a distance of twenty-eight meters. However, depending on the practitioners skill level, they may be asked to shoot from half or three-quarters distance.

Typically the first round of shooters will fire two arrows in seated practice (zasha) before shooting from the standing position (risha)

Equipment

The yumi (Japanese bow) is exceptionally tall (standing over two meters), surpassing the height of the archer (kyūdōka). Yumi are traditionally made of bamboo, wood and leather using techniques which have not changed for centuries, although some archers (particularly, those new to the art) may use synthetic (i.e. laminated wood coated with glassfiber or carbon fiber) yumi. Even advanced kyūdōka may own non-bamboo yumi and ya due to the vulnerability of bamboo equipment to extreme climates. The suitable height for yumi depends from the length of archers draw (yatsuka) which is usually about half the archers height.

Ya (arrow) shafts were traditionally made of bamboo, with either eagle or hawk feathers. Most ya shafts today are still made of bamboo (although some archers will use shafts made of aluminum or carbon fibers), and ya feathers are now obtained from non-endangered birds such as turkeys or swans. The length of an arrow is the archers yatsuka plus between 6 to 10 centimeters. Every ya has a gender (male ya are called haya; female ya, otoya); being made from feathers from alternate sides of the bird, the haya spins clockwise upon release while the otoya spins counter-clockwise. Kyūdō archers usually shoot two ya per round, with the haya being shot first. It is often claimed that the alternate spinning direction of the arrows would prevent two consecutive identically shot arrows from flying identically and thus colliding.

The kyūdō archer wears a glove on the right hand called a yugake. There are many varieties of yugake, they are typically made of deerskin. Practitioners can choose between a hard glove (with a hardened thumb) or a soft glove (without a hardened thumb), there are different advantages to both.

With a hard glove, the thumb area is not very flexible and has a pre-made groove used to pull the string (tsuru). With a soft glove, the thumb area is very flexible and is without a pre-made groove, allowing the practitioner to create their own, based on their own shooting habits.

Typically a yugake will be of the three or four finger variety. The amount of fingers on the glove is dependent on the school of kyudo and the weight of the bow being pulled. Three finger yugake are usually used with bows below 20 kilo, while four finger yugake are used with bows above 20 kilo. Though rare, it is not unheard of for archers to use one finger or five finger gloves. Some schools, such as Heki-ryū Insai-ha only use the three fingered glove, even with bows above 40 kilo. A practitioner’s nock and grip of the arrow can be dictated by the glove and bow they are using. It is not uncommon for practitioners who have upgraded or downgraded bow weight to continue to use the same glove and not change.

Technique

Yumi draw type is the right of image (Fig.3).

All kyūdō archers hold the bow in their left hand and draw the string with their right, so that all archers face the higher position (kamiza) while shooting.

Unlike occidental archers (who, with some exceptions, draw the bow never further than the cheek bone), kyūdō archers draw the bow so that the drawing hand is held behind the ear. If done improperly, upon release the string may strike the archer’s ear or side of the face.

Resulting from the technique to release the shot, the bow will (for a practised archer) spin in the hand so that the string stops in front of the archer’s outer forearm. This action of “yugaeri” is a combination of technique and the natural working of the bow. It is unique to kyūdō.

Kyūdō technique is meticulously prescribed. The All Nippon Kyudo Federation (ANKF), the main governing body of kyūdō in Japan, has codified the hassetsu (or “eight stages of shooting”) in the Kyudo Kyohon (Kyudo Manual). The hassetsu consists of the following steps:

1. Ashibumi, placing the footing. The archer steps on to the line from where arrows are fired (known as the shai) and turns to face the kamiza, so that the left side of his body faces the target. He then sights from the target to his feet and sets his feet apart so that the distance between them is equal to his yatsuka, approximately half his body height. A line drawn between the archer’s toes should pass through the target after the completion of the ashibumi.
2. Dozukuri, forming the body. The archer verifies his balance and that his pelvis and the line between his shoulders are parallel to the line set up during ashibumi.
3. Yugamae, readying the bow. Yugamae consists of three phases:
   1. Torikake, gripping of the bowstring with the right hand.
   2. Tenouchi, the left hand is positioned for shooting on the bow’s grip.
   3. Monomi, the archer turns his head to gaze at the target.
4. Uchiokoshi, raising the bow. The archer raises the bow above his head to prepare for the draw.
5. Hikiwake, drawing apart. The archer starts bringing down the bow while spreading his arms, simultaneously pushing the bow with his left hand and drawing the string with the right, until the arrow is level with his eyebrows.
6. Kai, the full draw. The archer continues the movement started in the previous phase, until he reaches full draw with the arrow placed slightly below his cheekbone. The arrow points along the line set up during ashibumi.
7. Hanare, the release. The bowstring is released from the right hand.
8. Zanshin, “the remaining body or mind” or “the continuation of the shot”. The archer remains in the position reached after hanare while returning from the state of concentration associated with the shot.

While other schools’ shooting also conforms to the hassetsu outlined above, the naming of some steps and some details of the execution of the shot may differ.

Rankings

Using a system which is common to modern budō (martial art) practices, most kyūdō schools periodically hold examinations, which, if the archer passes, results in the conveying of a grade, which can be kyū or dan level. Traditional schools, however, often rank students as a recognition of attaining instructor status using the older menkyo (license) system of koryū budō.

While kyūdō’s kyū and dan levels are similar to those of other budō practices, colored belts or similar external symbols of one’s level are not worn by kyūdō practitioners.

taken from here

Bow (weapon)

A bow is a weapon that projects arrows powered by the elasticity of the bow. As the bow is drawn, energy is stored in the limbs of the bow and transformed into rapid motion when the string is released, with the string transferring this force to the arrow. The bow is used for hunting and sport (target shooting), and in historical times it was a weapon of war.

The technique of using a bow is called archery. Someone who makes bows is known as a bowyer, and one who makes arrows a fletcher. Together with the atlatl and the sling, the bow was one of the first ranged weapons or hunting tools which used mechanical principles, instead of relying solely on the strength of its user.

Many bow designs have been used in different cultures and time periods. Common designs include the widespread long bows (Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia), short bows (South African Bushmen), laminated wood (Japanese and Sami bows), sinew-backed bows (common in North America), and the horn-wood-sinew composite, (Eurasian nomads, also used for centuries in the Middle East, the later Roman Empire, China, Korea, and India). In modern times, the recurve and compound bows dominate for sport and hunting practices. Newer materials, including flexible plastics, fiberglass, and carbon fibers, have led to increases in range and projectile velocity.

Modern-day use of bows for hunting is a matter of controversy in some areas but is common and accepted in others. Modern hunters are often drawn to bow-hunting because it generally requires more practice and skill than taking game with a firearm. While modern rifles allow hunters to shoot large game (such as deer or elk) at distances of 100 yards (metres) or more, archers must usually take large game within 40 yards (metres); thus the archer must stalk the game more closely without frightening it away. Bow hunting is also still practiced in traditional cultures worldwide.

History

Rama breaking Shiva’s bow at Sita’s Swayamvara in Mithila, by Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906)

The bow was likely invented in the late Paleolithic or early Mesolithic. The oldest indication for its use in Europe comes from the Stellmoor in the Ahrensburg valley north of Hamburg, Germany and from the Grotte dell’Addaura in Italy, dates from the late Paleolithic (9th millennium BC). The arrows were made of pine wood and consisted of a mainshaft and a 15–20 centimetre (6–8 inches) long foreshaft with a flint point. There are no known definite earlier bows; previous pointed shafts are known but may have been launched by atlatls rather than bows.

The usage of bows in warfare is described in the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.

The oldest bows known come from the Holmegård Fen, or swamp in Denmark. In the 1940s, two bows were found there. They are made of elm and have flat arms and a D-shaped midsection. The center section is biconvex. The complete bow is 1.50 m (5 ft) long. Bows of Holmegaard type were in use until the Bronze Age; the convexity of the midsection has decreased with time.

Mesolithic pointed shafts have been found in Italy, England, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. They were often rather long (up to 120 cm [4 ft]) and made of hazel, wayfaring tree, and other woody shoots. Some still have flint arrow-heads preserved; others have blunt wooden ends for hunting birds and small game. The ends show traces of fletching, which was fastened on with birch-tar.

The “Levantine” style of rock art, once dated to the Paleolithic but now thought to be early Neolithic,^[1] includes pictures of archers, such as the Cova dels Cavalls [2] in La Valltorta, declared a World Heritage site in 1924.^[2] One petroglyph of the Levantine style has been dated to approximately 5000 BC.^[3]

Self bows and arrows have been present in Egyptian culture since its predynastic origins, with “The Nine Bows” being a term for the various neighbours and enemies of Egypt[3]. Egyptian composite bows are known from the ancient tombs, some dating from the early New Kingdom, indicating possible introduction by the Hyksos. Some bows from Tutankhamun’s tomb were composite bows, others self bows.^[4]

Most Neolithic European bows are made of yew. Ötzi the Iceman, an Italian cave-man found in the Ötztaler Alps of Italy carried an unfinished yew longbow, with a bowstring of nettle or flax fibre.

In the Levant, artifacts which may be arrow-shaft straighteners are known from the Natufian culture onwards. The Khiamian and Pre-Pottery Neolithic A shouldered Khiam-points may well be arrowheads.

Native Americans used longbows (especially on the east coast) and flatbows (especially on the west coast), often recurved, made from various hardwood species, such as hickory. Likewise, the Fenno-Ugrian nations in Eurasia have traditionally used ash, maple, or elm flatbows. The bow was a late invention in the Americas.

Archers, also armed with spears, detail from the archers’ frieze in Darius’ palace, Susa.

The bow became the main weapon of war of the Assyrians and Egyptians, whose warriors shot it on the ground and from chariots to great effect. War chariots fell entirely out of fashion by approximately the beginning of the Common Era, but development of horse archers by the people of the Eurasian Steppe, brought highly mobile archers back to the fore. Using composite bows, steppe peoples such as the Scythians, Huns, Turks, and Mongols became a dominant force.

In the Middle Ages, European powers made effective use of the longbow as a major weapon of war. It was an extremely effective weapon in battle and could penetrate armor from a considerable distance. The longbow however is a difficult weapon to master and requires years of training for effective use in war. A longbow which can pierce later medieval armour also requires a very strong man to draw it. In Medieval England and Wales, the longbow became a popular weapon, and archery was a popular pastime. When the quality of English archery began to decline in the 16th century, English monarchs went so far as to mandate by law longbow training for males of military age and placed restrictions on other physical sports such as football and ninepins so people would practice.

The development of gunpowder, muskets, and the growing size of armies (and their consequent demand for less-trained levies) slowly led to the replacement of bows as weapons of war, supplanted by firearms, which were simpler for conscripts to learn and use, causing bows to be relegated to sport and hobby use.

Ishi: The last Yahi Indian

Ishi: The last Yahi Indian Tribe who taught and his skills of hunting have been wide spread throughout western worlds till now.

Ishi in 1914

Ishi (c. 1860 – March 25, 1916) was the name given to the last member of the Yahi, in turn the last surviving group of the Yana people ofBiography of Ishi

n August 1911, Ishi, the last surviving member of the Yahi Indian tribe, walked out of the foothills near Mount Lassen — leaving behind his Stone Age world — and entered twentieth-century California society. From 1911-1916, Ishi resided at the Anthropology Museum of the University of California Affiliated Colleges on Parnassus Heights in San Francisco (now the site of UCSF), sharing knowledge about his culture and beliefs with Anthropologists Alfred L. Kroeber and Theodore T. Waterman, as well as Surgeon Saxton T. Pope. Soon, Dr. Pope was joined by archery-enthusiast Arthur Young.

Graciously collaborating with the anthropologists, Ishi provided insight about his language, a dialect presumed lost until his emergence from the Mill Creek region of California. Free to return to his homelands, Ishi chose to remain at the museum as a living interpreter of his culture. Exposed to a society hosting diseases foreign to the Yahi, Ishi contracted tuberculosis and died on March 25, 1916, at the medical college on Parnassus. Ishi left behind a legacy of invaluable information about his people, and provided a shining example of a courageous human spirit bridging the divide between two worlds.

Ishi and archery

Ishi, like other California Indians of his time, was an excellent archer. Among his closest friends at the university was Saxton Pope, a physician called in to care for him. Pope was particularly fascinated by the bows and arrows Ishi made, and by the practice of archery. Ishi taught Pope how to make the equipment and the two hunted together in the mountains of California. After Ishi’s death, Pope continued with the archery that Ishi had taught him and went on to write the book Hunting with the Bow and Arrow, which became influential in the development of modern-day archery and archery hunting. Ishi’s arrow heads were made from obsidian, although when making arrowheads for the public he often used the bottoms of beer bottles.

Today, an annual archery tournament called the “Ishi Tournament” is held in the Yuba-Sutter community, about 40 minutes from Oroville. The tournament is open to both youth and adults, testing their skills in comparison to Ishi’s archery skills. Two awards can be earned during the tournament:

• The Ishi Certificate is awarded to any archer who can hit all 30 arrows to a 20 yrd. target, get a score of at least 99 to a 40 yrd. target, and have one arrow reach 100 yrds.
• The American Ishi Degree is awarded to any archer who can match Ishi’s 1914 archery scores or better. This award only goes to an average of 1-3 people a year, due to its complexity.

Excalibur

Excalibur is the mythical sword of King Arthur, sometimes attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Great Britain. Sometimes Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone (the proof of Arthur’s lineage) are said to be the same weapon, but in most versions they are considered separate. The sword was associated with the Arthurian legend very early; in Welsh, the sword was called Caledfwlch.

Caliburn to Excalibur

Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain is the first non-Welsh source to speak of the sword. Geoffrey says the sword was forged in Avalon and Latinizes the name “Caledfwlch” to Caliburn or Caliburnus. When his influential pseudo-history made it to Continental Europe, writers altered the name further until it became Excalibur. The legend was expanded upon in the Vulgate Cycle, also known as the Lancelot-Grail Cycle, and in the Post-Vulgate Cycle which emerged in its wake. Both included the work known as the Prose Merlin, but the Post-Vulgate authors left out the Merlin Continuation from the earlier cycle, choosing to add an original account of Arthur’s early days including a new origin for Excalibur.

Attributes
The Lady of the Lake offering Arthur the sword Excalibur.

In many versions, Excalibur’s blade was engraved with words on opposite sides. On one side were the words “take me up”, and on the other side “cast me away” (or similar words). This prefigures its return into the water. In addition, when Excalibur was first drawn, Arthur’s enemies were blinded by its blade, which was as bright as thirty torches. Excalibur’s scabbard was said to have powers of its own. Injuries from losses of blood, for example, would not kill the bearer. In some tellings, wounds received by one wearing the scabbard did not bleed at all. The scabbard is stolen by Morgan le Fay and thrown into a lake, never to be found again.

Nineteenth century poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, described the sword in full Romantic detail in his poem “Morte d’Arthur”, later rewritten as “The Passing of Arthur”, one of the Idylls of the King:

There drew he forth the brand Excalibur,

And o’er him, drawing it, the winter moon,
Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth
And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt:
For all the haft twinkled with diamond sparks,
Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work
Of subtlest jewellery.

Taken from: wiki

Excalibur – The legend

A while ago, I was thinking of why this sword was so famous. In fact, Many people talk about the popular story of the sword on the stone. Years ago I had read the story of it, but I had never realized the sword mention in the story was non other then the sword Excalibur. So I’ve decided to check it out the legend behind.

Here is some info of the legend of the story

Sword in the Stone (the proof of Arthur’s lineage)

 

 

In surviving accounts of Arthur, there are two originally separate legends about the sword’s origin. The first is the “Sword in the Stone” legend, originally appearing in Robert de Boron’s poem Merlin, in which Excalibur can only be drawn from the stone by Arthur, the rightful king. The second comes from the later Post-Vulgate Suite du Merlin, which was taken up by Sir Thomas Malory. Here, Arthur receives Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake after breaking his first sword in a fight with King Pellinore. The Lady of the Lake calls the sword “Excalibur, that is as to say as Cut-steel,” and Arthur takes it from a hand rising out of the lake.

As Arthur lies dying, he tells Sir Bedivere (Sir Griflet in some versions) to return his sword to the lake by throwing it into the water. Bedivere is reluctant to throw away such a precious sword, so twice he only pretends to do so. Each time, Arthur asks him to describe what he saw. When Bedivere tells him the sword simply fell into the water, Arthur scolds him harshly. Finally, Bedivere throws Excalibur into the lake. Before the sword strikes the water’s surface, a hand reaches up to grasp it and pulls it under. Arthur leaves on a death barge with the three queens to Avalon, where as his legend says, he will one day return to rule in Britain’s darkest hour.

Malory records both versions of the legend in his Le Morte d’Arthur, and confusingly calls both swords Excalibur. The film Excalibur attempts to rectify this by having only one sword, which Arthur inherits through his father and later breaks; the Lady of the Lake then repairs it.

Other information

The story of the Sword in the Stone has an analogue in some versions of the story of Sigurd (the Norse proto-Siegfried), who draws his father Sigmund’s sword out of a tree where it is embedded.

In several early French works such as Chrétien de Troyes’ Perceval, the Story of the Grail and the Vulgate Lancelot Proper section, Excalibur is used by Gawain, Arthur’s nephew and one of his best knights. This is in contrast to later versions, where Excalibur belongs solely to the king. In the Alliterative Morte Arthure, Arthur is said to have two legendary swords, the second one being Clarent, stolen by the evil Mordred. Arthur receives his fatal blow from Clarent.

How to shoot your Bow

Having a bow but have no idea how to use it? Here is the few simple steps we need to take before shooting.

1. Stance Stance prior to shooting the bow:Stand upright with feet shoulder width apart, and feet at 90 degrees to the target.

2. Grip Keep a relaxed grip on the bow handle

3. Place The Arrow On The Bow Turn the bow so that it is horizontal and the arrow rest is facing upwards.Place the arrow on the shelf of the arrow rest. (the picture shows the type of arrow rest usually supplied with Archery World bows)Push the nock of the arrow onto the string between the two brass nocking points, ensuring that the cock fletch (the odd coloured one) is pointing upward.Bring the bow back to vertical.

4. Finger Position Position the fingers on the string with the index finger above the arrow and two fingers below as shown in the diagram.The string should sit in the last crease of your fingers (nearest to your finger tips)

5. Draw Do not grip the arrow with your fingers.Pull back the string using your back muscles, not your bicep/arm.Pull back the string so that the index finger of the pulling hand is under the chin, and the string touches your nose and lips.

6. Aiming Using your dominant eye, look down the arrow and align it with the target.

7. Release Relax your grip on the string and allow your fingers to slip backward .After shooting, maintain your body position.

Ninja Throwing Stars / Shurikens

Haha I had been searching in the internet regarding shuriken stars, and there is a few example of it

Scorpion Throwing Star

1.2 oz. – 4 inches

 

Airclaw Throwing Star

 

• 

1.8 oz. – 4 inches

Havok Throwing Star


2.6 oz. – 4 inches

 

tar Child

Unique 4 pointed throwing star. Features steel riveted plates for design and balance. Professional Quality. The perfect precision throwing star and includes carrying case.

 

1.9 ounces
4 3/4 inch x 3 1/2 inch.

Typhoon Throwing Star

3.1 oz. – 4 inches

 

And there is a few more pictures that did not label the name of the stars down, but pretty cool

Traditional Japanese Weapons

The Katana – Not just a weapon, but the soul of bushi.It is the most sophisticated form of the beauty of killing.The more beautiful it is, the more deadly sharpness it has. Katana are distinguished from broadswords for the extremely sharp edge and the slightly curved blade.The beauty of a katana appears on its blade and edge.Its grace form and grim beauty has been fascinating many warriors.

The Wakizashi – Shorter than the Katana (about 68 cm), this sword was worn indoors by the Samurai, because the Katana was too long to fight in small rooms.

The Tanto – This is a small japanese knife from the same steel as the Katana and the Wakizashi. This knife was sometimes worn instead of the Wakizashi.

The Kama – Originaly a farming tool to weed plants. Because the farmers were not allowed to carry weapons they used their tools to defend themselves. This weapon is most know for its use by ninjas.

The BO – A large staff (about 2 M) used as a self defense weapon by the common people, who were not allowed to carry weapons.

The Jo – A shorter staff (about 1.35 M) also used as a selfdefense weapon by the common people.

The Keibo – A small stick (about 35 cm) used for fighting in small area’s.

The Ebo – A very small stick (about 15 cm) perfect as a defense weapon and easy to cary around.

The Tonfa – A nightstick with a handle attached to the side of it. many police forces have adopted it to replace the old police baton (nightstick).

The Nunchaku – Two sticks connected by either a small cord or chain. Originally it was used as a farming tool to thresh grain. and the farmers started using them as weapons to defend themselves.

The Shuriken – The word shuriken means “a dagger hidden in a palm,” so all daggers small enough to hide in a palm were called by this name. They have many variety in their shape and usage. Some are starlike shaped, and thrown with spin. Some other are needlelike shaped, and thrown just like a throwing dagger. Though a shuriken can hardly penetrate armor protection, it was enough because ninja threw it at unarmed target mainly. Venom was used with shuriken normally.

The Yari – The Japanese spear didn’t differ largely from that of other countries. During the Civil War Era, spear was the most standard weapon of bushi.

The Naginata – A pole arm with a single, curved blade on one end, is employed with sweeping, circular motions and, as an extension of the wielder, channels energy in a harmonious display of beauty and precision. The Naginata is a weapon with a rich history, utilized and refined from the Nara Period (710-784 A.D.) to today. Employed initially by the Bushi, it later found itself the specific weapon of the Sohei or Buddhist monks. It is the school of the spear and, as such, is a shafted weapon. The length of its oval shaft varied, from 5′ to 8′, depending on battle conditions and personal requests. The most striking feature, however, was the blade; it could be anywhere from 10 inches to more than 2 feet, and was sharpened on a single side, fashioned in the manner of either Sakizori or Uchizori. As with most shafted weapons, it was most devastating when utilizing sweeping, circular motions. However, thrusts with the blade and also the heavy Ishizuki on the butt end were acceptable tactical alternatives.

The Jutte – Jutte are implements that were used by the samurai as well as the feudal era police. They were used for trapping the blades edged weapons as well as jabbing, striking and trapping fingers.

The Yumi – The Japanese bow was the main battlefield weapon for the bushi until the 1530’s. A typical Japanese bow is 2.3m length, made of bamboo with a string of silk and pine resin. An arrow is made of bamboo and bird feather. Bamboo is the best material for bow in the plant kingdom. Though inferior to modern composite archery bow in penetration and accuracy, it was a deadly weapon, too. Until the musket was brought from Europe in 17th century, the bow was most respected by bushi.

Miyamoto Musashi- The legendary samurai warrior

Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵, Miyamoto Musashi?) (c.1584–June 13 (Japanese calendar: May 19), 1645), also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke, or by his Buddhist name Niten Dōraku[1], was a famous Japanese samurai, and is considered by many to have been one of the most skilled swordsmen in history. Musashi, as he is often simply known, became legendary through his outstanding swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age. He is the founder of the Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū or Niten-ryū style of swordsmanship and the author of The Book of Five Rings (五輪書, Go Rin No Sho?), a book on strategy, tactics, and philosophy that is still studied today.

The details of Miyamoto Musashi’s early life are difficult to verify. Musashi himself simply states in Gorin no Sho that he was born in Harima Province.[2] Niten Ki (an early biography of Musashi) supports the theory that Musashi was born in 1584: “[He] was born in Banshū, in Tenshō 12 [1584], the Year of the Monkey.”[3] The historian Kamiko Tadashi, commenting on Musashi’s text, notes: “[...]Munisai was Musashi’s father…he lived in Miyamoto village, in the Yoshino district [of Mimasaka Province]. Musashi was most probably born here.”[4] His childhood name was Bennosuke 弁之助.

Musashi gives his full name and title in Gorin no Sho as “Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Genshin.”[5] His father, Shinmen Munisai 新免無二斎, was an accomplished martial artist and master of the sword and jutte.[6] Munisai, in turn, was the son of Hirata Shōgen 平田将監, a vassal of Shinmen Iga no Kami, the lord of Takeyama Castle, in the Yoshino district of Mimasaka Province.[7] Hirata was relied upon by Lord Shinmen, and so was allowed to use the Shinmen name. As for “Musashi,” Musashi no Kami was a court title, making him the nominal governor of Musashi province. “Fujiwara” was the lineage from which Musashi claimed nominal descent.

More details here