Hook Sickle Spear (钩镰枪, Goulian Qiang) is a type of cold weapon from ancient China.It was used in infantry combat and was one of the weapons in ancient chariot warfare tactics. Its form consists of a long spear with a barbed hook on the sharp blade of the spearhead, specifically designed to counter enemy cavalry.
Many practitioners of Xingyi Quan (形意拳) encounter a very real predicament: during daily practice, the Five Elemental Fists (五行拳) are performed with formidable power, the routines are memorized to perfection, and movements flow like water. Yet once they put on boxing gloves and engage in sparring, their minds instantly go blank. They frantically search their memory
Wang Ensheng was master of the brush and the sword. He created the most works for Tianjin publishers. Before the Cultural Revolution, Wang Ensheng painted approximately thirty comic books for various publishing houses in total. He also created some short comic book pieces for various comic book periodicals and art journals. It can be said that he was one of the representative outstanding comic book artists of the first generation in Tianjin. As well as being an inheritor of the Wudang Sword.
Warlord Cao Kun (曹锟), noting the martial spirit of the Cangzhou region, specially recruited soldiers there to form a martial arts battalion. The battalion appointed Liu Yuchun, Ren Xiangrong, and others as instructors to teach the two‑handed sabre technique, which was called “Miao Dao” (苗刀). Hence, the battalion was also known as the “Miao Dao Battalion.” In fact, only one battalion specialised in training Miao Dao, and Tong Zhongyi (佟忠义) served as its company commander.
He Yunheng (贺运亨, 1839–1924), a native of Menggao Village, Taigu, Shanxi, and the second Shanxi disciple of Li Laoneng, the founder of Xingyi Quan, and the second‑generation Chuojiao grand master Wei Changyi (魏昌义, est 1835–1915, from Xiqizhuang, Lixian County, Hebei), who was then in charge of the Fuyuan Security Logistics Bureau in Beijing, formed a bond through martial arts.
With single-arm strength, Wang Zhan Ao (王占鳌) executed “Dragon Coiling the Sea” (盘龙搅海), then “Golden Rooster Nods” (金鸡乱点头), forcing Li Gong to retreat. A final strike, “Kun Peng Spreads Its Wings” (鲲鹏展翅), sent the spear whipping toward Li Gong like lightning. The bandit barely dodged, but the shaft grazed his back, knocking him down.
By reviewing precious old photographs and publications from the Republican era, we are able to glimpse the true appearance of the Jiangsu Provincial Martial Arts Institute (江苏省国术馆). It was the official orthodox martial arts institution of Jiangsu Province at that time, and also the most prosperous testament to the martial arts movement in Jiangsu during the Republic of China period.
The Han Dynasty (汉朝) saw the rise of the Huán shǒu dāo (环首刀), The Tang Dynasty (唐朝) introduced the liuyedao (柳葉刀), the khanda (खंडा), a double-edged straight sword and The scimitar (saif al-muqawwar سيف المقور),
A sword needed much more than just a sharp edge to be useful. In addition to a blade geometry suitable for its intended function, it required a controlled combination of hardness, toughness, strength, elasticity, edge retention, and fracture resistance