Nineteenth in a series: Sifu Randy Choy is a well-respected martial arts teacher in Hawaii. Sifu Fong thanks him for graciously sharing his thoughts on training here.

Chinese Double Crutches

During the 1970s, Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers movie studio produced many classic martial arts movies. One such movie that was quite popular in Hawaii was entitled "Legendary Weapons of China."

This movie contained numerous fight scenes involving the eighteen ancient weapons of China. Its hero was a patriot, Lei Kung, who defends himself against the ruthless Mao Shan Clan during the Boxer Rebellion (1900). Near the end of the movie, there is a showdown between Lei Kung and his brother, Lai Yao. There is an awesome fight scene between Lei Kung with his chain whip against Lai Yao and his double iron crutches. That particular movie had ignited a fire in me, a desire to learn all eighteen ancient Chinese weapons from qualified masters. Yes, even the double iron crutches was now on my "must" training list.

The double crutches (Shang Guai) are an unorthodox ancient Chinese weapon which can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period (770-221 BC). The double crutches were also popular in many Japanese martial arts movies. It was called the "tonfa."

The main reason for writing this article was to explain how I trained in the Chinese double crutches.

A key point to remember: learn one technique at a time. The double crutches form which I learned came from the Taiji Praying Mantis Boxing School. The form itself consists of thirty movements, which involves learning thriteen basic crutch techniques. These crutch techniques are: to open (Kai), to release (Fang), to bind (Shou), to collide (Zhuang), to brush (Dan), to split (Pi), to stab (Ci), to block (Jia), to pluck (Tiao), to cloud (Yun), to sweep (Sao), to obstruct (Lan), and to press (Ya).

The first crutch technique is to open, which is found in movement 3, "Ride the tiger and separate both crutches" and at the end of movement 18, "Fierce tiger glancing backward."

The second technique is to release. There is the vertical release (Zhi Fang Guai), found in movement 4, "Legs together while lifting both crutches." There is also the horizontal release (Heng Fang Guai), found in movement 19, "Left climb the mountain to get the moon" and in movement 20, "Right climb the mountain to get the moon."

The third technique is to bind. To bind or to close is a method of retracting the crutch after blocking or striking at an adversary. There is the vertical bind (Zhi Shou Guai) which is found in movement 15, "Immortal Da Xian welcomes his guests." There is also the horizontal bind (Heng Shou Guai), found in movement 28, "Climb the mountain and embrace both crutches."

The fourth crutch technique is to collide. This technique is found in movements 2 and 17, "Climb the mountain with double colliding attacks" and at the end of movement 15, "Immortal Da Xian welcomes his guests."

The fifth technique is to brush horizontally (Heng Dan Guai), found in movement 7 and 27, "The great roc spreads its wings."

The sixth technique is to split, to strike downward when attacking an opponent. Splitting is found in movement 6, "Turning the cart up-side-down" and in movement 23, "The tyrant king whips the stone."

The seventh crutch technique is to stab, found in movement 8, "Turning the body to make a right straight stab." The seventh technique is also combined with the eighth technique of blocking upward. For example, blocking upward and stabbing front (Shang Jia Qian Ci Guai) are used together at the beginning of movement 18, "Fierce tiger glancing backward." Another example is, blocking upward and stabbing backward (Shang Jia Hou Ci Guai), used together at the end of movement 26, "Flying dragon guides the phoenix." And, there is also the double front upward block (Shang Qian Shang Jia Guai), found in movement 22, "Crossing the tent beams followed by twin legs."

The ninth technique is to pluck, found in movement 12, "Leading the hands upward."

The tenth and eleventh crutch techniques of clouding and sweeping are combined in movements 10 and 11, "Sweep of a thousand troops" to "Body flies, horizontal sweep" and in movement 21, "Jade ring horizontal sweep."

The twelfh technique is to obstruct, found in movement 5, "Turning the body to separate crutches up and down."

And finally, the thirteenth crutch technique of pressing downward, is found in movement 16, "Jade ring pressing elbows downward."

With persistent training of the double crutches and by practicing these thirteen basic crutch techniques, you can almost consider yourself an "expert." Just a few basic rules to remember: your crutch is more than just the mere extension of your arms. Pay attention on how you exert your strength from your legs, your arms, your shoulders, your neck, your abdominal muscles, and your wrist. Practice the pivoting points of your body. How is your waist turning? How is your shoulders rotating? And, how balanced is your stance? Remember, it takes a lot of practice and hard work in order to master this unorthodox weapon. And for those practitioners who are familiar with this weapon form, you will probably identify a few more hidden techniques which I didn't discuss. Don't worry about it. Just pat yourself on the shoulders, as the intent of this article was to get you to put on your thinking cap. Now, you are on your way to becoming an "expert" in the double crutches.

Mahalo,
Professor Randy Choy
Founder of the Chinese Athletic Arts Academy
Advisor to the Hawaii Martial Arts International Society
Chuk Kai Tai Chi Praying Mantis Organization, Hawaii

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