The Cane:

Ancient Weapon for Seasoned Practitioners
by Bruce Cohen

The world of Chinese martial arts is resplendent with exotic weaponry, from the flashing broadsword to the dizzying gyrations of the spear. Within this pantheon of weapons, one can make two groupings: those weapons used primarily on the ancient battlefields of China, and those used in civilian life.

Among the weapons used in civilian life are the gim (a master's dueling weapon) and the staff (often the weapon of choice for travelers and priests). These weapons were carried openly, ready to wield against thugs or rivals.

These combat weapons, while commonly carried in ancient days, are no longer practical on today's mean urban streets. There is, however, a third class of Chinese weapons sufficiently covert to be carried in public. Some -- such as the double daggers, flute gim or whip chain -- have certain legalistic issues or jurisdictional considerations that may make them illegal to carry. You would have to check in your own area to find out what laws are in place that might restrict carrying such weapons or what permits are needed to do so legally.

A fourth set of weapons can be carried in most places in plain sight and would appear to the uninitiated completely innocent. Examples of these weapons are the flute, the fan and -- perhaps the most powerful and useful of this class of weapon -- the cane. The Wah Lum kung fu system, headed by Grandmaster Chan Poi, has all of the above weapons and more. In fact, the system's practitioners have access to over 40 different weapons and training from a man who is considered the foremost authority on Chinese weapons today.

The weapons are taught through a system of forms. There is a common misconception that forms are a "classical mess" that imprisons the practitioner who learns them. Nothing could be further from the truth. The forms actually comprise a vast encyclopedia of movements and techniques that, when absorbed by the student, can be applied to any combat situation. It is only the uneducated practitioner that gets trapped into the form-is-everything concept. When taught by a legitimate and qualified teacher, forms are an integral and necessary part of training.

One of the most useful and versatile weapons available today is the cane. It has the ability to strike at close, medium and moderate long range. It allows the practitioner to defend against multiple opponents and can be used on a sliding force continuum. This means that it can deliver techniques ranging from discouraging to deadly and anything in between. The cane can also act as an equalizer. Older students can learn the cane form as well as its applications and for them the use of the cane on the street would not be incongruous and thereby raise suspicions that they are in fact ready and able to defend themselves.

The cane is very flexible in application, it can face multiple opponents and allow the user to utilize all aspects of the Wah Lum system: striking, trapping and locking, combined with active, penetrating footwork.

The type of cane used is a version of the Shaolin Monk's cane. This type of cane uses a straight cross handle rather than a curved crook style. The longer side of the handle is usually pointed and can be used for precise pressure point hits, hooking, trapping or even plucking. The short backside of the handle is flat and hammer like for use in applying blunt trauma. This handle type has the advantage of greater striking power than the rounded version, greater ease of spinning actions and less chance of injury to a partner's neck during training.

The cane can be applied in a variety of strikes to an opponent. It can be spun either with a forehand or backhand stroke, a two-handed power strike, a single-handed long thrust and an extended one-handed hit very similar in action and application to a long fist strike. These attacks give the cane its longest distance techniques. Long-range preemptive strikes can be used to keep multiple opponents at bay, or to attack a mugger or street thug before he can apply close-range fighting techniques. Such strikes are also good for disarming an opponent with a knife or sap type weapon before it comes into effective range, thereby giving the cane fighter the advantage. Follow-up strikes can then be administered at long range to keep the opponent off balance. Then by applying the gap-closing footwork of Wah Lum you can move to midrange techniques such as two-handed strikes and thrusts and finally finishing with up-close-and- personal techniques such as reinforced punches, handle-assisted locks and throws.

As a defensive weapon the cane makes an excellent equalizer against range weapons such as pipes, rebar or pool cues. The blocking power of the cane when used in both hands will withstand any direct attack and with practice the glancing blocks can be used to not only defeat the attack but simultaneously close the gap and apply a solid finishing technique.

If you are in need of an effective striking weapon that can be carried in plain sight, the cane is a good candidate to get the nod. It is powerful, fast, ready for action in an instant, and is versatile enough so that it can serve in a variety of tactical situations.

Written by Bruce Cohen for KUNGFUMAGAZINE.COM

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