Umbrella/Walking Stick

[Zhong]

Anyone do Umbrella Form? (Or Walking Stick?)
Do they use a Chinese umbrella or the Western one with a hooked handle?

Could you use the Walking Stick with an Umbrella Form or would they have to be seperate?

[TaichiMantis]

We have an umbrella form in our style (CCK Taichi Praying Mantis). Click on the link and look at the next 17 photos.

[Zhong]

Thanks. Will do.

Do you train with it in partner work?
Could you use swap it for a walking stick? Do you use the hook much?

[golden arhat]

We have an umbrella form in our style (CCK Taichi Praying Mantis). Click on the link and look at the next 17 photos.

yet another person looking silly

[TaichiMantis]

It's not hard to find the applications. It's just using something in your environment to assist in your attack and defense. Block, hook, stab, chop...open it to block their view of low moves like a kick or trip...basically some of the same principles and apps you would find in some of your sword, stick or fan forms.

[Mook Jong]

Is this one that was developed "recently", taking movements from other forms in the style? What i mean by recent is the last hundred years or so bc i've never heard of monks with umbrellas. Could just be I'm uninformed

[BoulderDawg]

Is this one that was developed "recently", taking movements from other forms in the style? What i mean by recent is the last hundred years or so bc i've never heard of monks with umbrellas. Could just be I'm uninformed

Let me start out first by saying that I saw some of those pictures of "The Umbrella form"...... Yeah Right. Looks like a cane form to me.

Anyway who's to say that a form had to be created hundreds of years ago to be valid? Why could we not have a "Laptop" form? A "cell phone" form or an "Ipod" form. Afterall I more apt to carry a cell phone than I am an umbrella.

[Mook Jong]

I'm not saying that the newer it is, the less valid it is but i just curious how 'traditional' it was. Again, not that tradition=good but the mind wanders sometimes.

[GeneChing]

His group demoed it at the last TJL. I have a pic of it in my TJL report in our Nov Dec 2007 issue - see 20 Years of USA Chin Woo: The 10th Taiji Legacy International Martial Arts Championship.

The problem with an umbrella form is that most umbrellas aren't very sturdy. They'd probably break on impact. I once had the opportunity to acquire a so-called CIA umbrella which had some insane titanium shaft and kevlar webbing. It boasted a spring-loaded action that could knock people away and being kevlar, it was bulletproof against low caliber guns. The source was sketchy and the asking price was over $500, but it sure sounded cool.

Many styles have cane/walking stick forms. I used to compete with BSL's Dragon Head Cane form. It's a great form, very practical.

[Zhong]

Thanks, people. A lot of good information from this. Definitely one to look at and explore.
Very practical weapon.

[TaichiMantis]

I once had the opportunity to acquire a so-called CIA umbrella which had some insane titanium shaft and kevlar webbing. It boasted a spring-loaded action that could knock people away and being kevlar, it was bulletproof against low caliber guns. The source was sketchy and the asking price was over $500, but it sure sounded cool.

Dang! Get Smart!

[Mook Jong]

this seems applicable

http://www.encyclopedia-obscura.com/gencane.html

[shuaichiao]

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=05l6jYA4t8g