Hey Team;
I'd like to ask about the shaolin double crutch sets. The weapon resembles a Tonfa, but is a bit longer. It is referred to as Shuang Guai where Shuang means double and Guai is from Guai Zhang which means crutch or walking stick. Here is a Video:
http://www.56.com/u47/v_MjQ1ODcwNjA.html
THis weapon is Very rare in shaolin. I have never tried to learn it as I rarely concern myself with weapons routines, but still i find myself quite drawn to it recently. In all the places i trained only my teacher YongWen had an extant knowledge of it. He had 2 forms. One Set where the crutch is held on the outside of the fore arm and one set where the crutch is held on the inside of the forearm (upside down).
Anyway, out of interest does anyone know much about this weapon?
WHy is it called double crutch when it is far too short to ever be used as a crutch or even a walking stick?
What schools and masters do you know that still practice it today?
Has anyone ever noticed how every shaolin double weapons set is really similar, no matter what weapon is being used?
Also on a side note has anyone noticed that actual shaolin monks inside shaolin almost never actually wear orange?