Chain Whip recommendations

[Judge Pen]

I'm looking for a good 9 section chain whip. Do you guys have any recommendations? Of course I'm leaning toward the one offered at Martial Arts Mart, but I have questions. What is a "traditional" weight for chain whip? I tend to lean toward heavier weapons for training purposes; is this a good idea for whip or would it be preferable to learn on a lighter whip?

Thanks for your input.

[MasterKiller]

I get most of my weapons from Jinheng Li's store:

http://www.worldmas.com/

[norther practitioner]

I've been told that it doesn't have to be 9 sections, so go with what works, if you have to take a link off, don't be affraid to...
I have a traditional weight (not the biggest, but def. not wushu weight) one that I play around with.. I can tell you, it hurts like a summabiatch when you mess up. They aren't all too expensive, If I were to go and get one now, I'd prob. get a wush weight one. Hey, it is still steel, and would still f**k someone up real good.


They are also usually pretty cheap on ebay here I even did the search for you

[norther practitioner]

Oh, and most of those chain whips on ebay are from Jinheng Li.

[Judge Pen]

Thanks NP. I'm going to try to play around with a couple and see what weight I'd prefer. I expect to feel pain while learning this weapon. In the whips from Jinheng Li do not appear to have a knob handle. Is there a risk of the whip flying out of your hand without one?

E-bay is a wonderful resource. I just bought a nice pair of old hook swords from a guy in Shanghi.

[norther practitioner]

There has been more and more stuff up there for Kung fu..


Mine has a nut type thing on the end..

[Sho-dan]

JP, I practice with a standard weight chainwhip, and as other practitioners mention, it is extremely unforgiving if you don't focus. I started by wrapping the end dart with pipe insullation and duct tape (but it still hurts to get hit, it just doesn't break the skin). I also practice this only when I have people around in case I knock myself out (for instance when I grab the 3rd link in my teeth if the timing of the release isn't correct it can dot your eye/forhead/cheekbone, etc.). It also helps to have a knob at the end of the handle, it does slip when your hands get sweaty and I have to pat my hands in the dirt for grip/friction. It took a lot of practice before I decided to take the protection off. This is my favorite weapon so far.

[MasterKiller]

Mine has a handle, but I always wrap my handles with flag material, and then tape over it with medical tape, to give some cushion.

[John Dufresne]

Ben,

What ever whip you get, just retape the handle to meet your hand specifications- Jin Hung has good whips so does Bak li tat in Ny york-All I can say is remmeber to keep your mouth closed while training, An out of control whip can knock out a tooth very easily. Good luck with it!

Sincerely
Sifu John

[themeecer]

Ben, I really really like the one from tigerclaw (martialartsmart.com) I always wanted one like thaddru has. It was custom made and the guy only made like 13. It is a thing of beauty. It has an iron wood handle. I was afraid all others would be wussy in comparison. Master Green has a wonderful one as well that Master Hiang The found for all the students years ago. They were made by hand in Indonesia. I contacted some of his current students to see if they have a source for some good ones, and they didn't.

I was greatly pleased by the one I bought through here. It has some decent heft to it and the swivel on the handle is nice. I took a black and a white boot lace and crisscrossed it to make a non-slip handle. I also rigged a practice chain whip to start out on. It is basically a rope with a wooden handle and the other end has a racketball filled with BBs. The physics of it is a little different, so I wouldn't use this for too long but it really did help me in the beginning. I'll try to take a digital pic of both of these tomorrow and post it.

I see the chain whip like a woman. You have to respect it. You have to spend time with it. If you don't spend the time with it that it requires it will come back to sting you. I even named mine.

[Ben Gash]

Personally I favour a medium weight one (which is what I learned with). I currently have a heavy one (from Kwon), but it doesn't spin as nicely and isn't as flexible. I've used lightwieght wushu ones, but I find that they whip around too much and you can't get a feel for them.

[Judge Pen]

Originally posted by themeecer

I see the chain whip like a woman. You have to respect it. You have to spend time with it. If you don't spend the time with it that it requires it will come back to sting you. I even named mine.

Please don't take this anaology too far!

Serioulsy, pics would be appreciated. After what Ben posted I'm thinking about a medium weight whip. I want one with the "nut" type handle and I'll be sure to tape the handle and pipe insulate the point while I'm learning the spins this summer.

[themeecer]

Here is the pic of my chain whip I got through tigerclaw. It also came with that carrying pouch.

[themeecer]

Here is my 'starter chain whip.'

[norther practitioner]

Nice whip... lose the rug