Traditional weapons questions

[Hebrew Hammer]

In my brief stint in Choy Lee Fut, I asked one my instructors about the small rings attached to top side of chinese sword...he stated that they were used to entangle an opponents weapon. But how? The rings are pretty small and it would be hard to imagine what might get caught in there...can someone shed some light on that for me?

My second question is in regards to chinese archery and TCM...are there any styles that incorporate bow and arrow training? If not why? Is it a cost issue or where there restrictions imposed on the the people that only allowed for archery to be praticed by the military? It seems that some of the Korean and Japanese arts include archery as part of their curriculum.

[SimonM]

Do you mean the rings on the 9 Ring broadsword? AFAIK those were decorative.

[Lucas]

I always thought the rings were also there for the added weight. easier to chop through leather/bamboo armor and bone.

however if you were to lock blades withsomeone, and were to have rings, I could see how the blade would be stopped from reaching your guard. keep in mind you would have to reverse your blade though, which I dont think I would want to do.

[Hebrew Hammer]

I always thought the rings were also there for the added weight. easier to chop through leather/bamboo armor and bone.

If thats true, why not just use a heavier or thicker blade? The rings rattle, make noise, you would think that they aren't the most stealthy of items to bring into battle. Or is that their appeal/function...cause fear or to help locate someone in battle?

[xcakid]

1) added weight as already mention, to help chop through light armor and bone.
2) to blunt the other guys sword, not to tangle it with. In many forms there is a move where you encirle the sword (with the point pointing downward) around your body and then slash. The encircling is blocking with the blunt end of the sword, coming around and then slashing to the neck or ribs or any limbs that get in the way.

That's at least the application I learned in both my former Eagle Claw school and the current Long Fist school that I am now. 2 different northern schools yet same application and concept, there must be something to it.

[TenTigers]

ok, just how blunt do you need to make a sword before it won't harm you? Anyone who has ever handled a blade, be it a broadsword or a kitchen knife knows that a dull knife will cut you.
As far as entangling a weapon in the rings? Great. Now You're stuck as well.
And how exactly will a weapon get tangled? Even if it was the hairs on a spear, you would have to wrap and wind it many times to entangle it-unless the tip of the spear got caught right inside one of those little rings...remember-this is all going on in the heat of battle.
you see how silly this sounds?

Ok, here's what I heard, tell me if it sounds at least a bit probable:
There were large cadres of soldiers, such as the Big Sword Group. and they carried..um, big swords. So as these batttalions approached, their rings would make all this clamour, just as the American helicopters playing Vagner's Flight of the Valkyries in Apocalypse Now, as they launched their attack. It had a psychological effect on the enemy.

Now, the earrings on the Monk's Spade, the pom-poms on the Kuan-dao?
I think that was just good fashion sense. You need to accessorize!

[SanHeChuan]

One thousand soldiers with one thousand nine ring broadswords sound like Ten thousand soldiers. When dealing with formations of troops stealth is not an issue. Better then to be feared. It was common practice for armies to make alot of noise, marching in step, banging of shields, drums and horns, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h5wHsWkFts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PG0RnlvzmY

[uki]

AFAIK those were decorative.

don't you research anything?

[Hebrew Hammer]

Do you mean the rings on the 9 Ring broadsword? AFAIK those were decorative.

Yes...decorative? You mean like a nose ring? Are you sure about that?

[SimonM]

I've heard the weapon entangling theory. It doesn't hold water.
As for the added weight argument... it's slightly less unlikely but it's a bit impractical.

Now the 9 ring was originally an executioner's weapon. As such it's use was frequently ceremonial. Ceremonial weapons frequent gain adornments that are largely there just because.