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Function - The missing variable in the martial equation.
By Micah Chipchase aka KungFuKiller 7-19-2005  

The last time you saw a martial arts tournament and watched the weapons competition what did you see? Did you see an amazing display? A beautiful flashy exhibition? Maybe you saw an incredible amount of skill. Hours upon hours spent perfecting an amazing art. I see all these things, but there is one missing piece to the puzzle.

The creation of these weapons was brought about by the need for one simple thing, function. If the weapon could not be used to defend one's self in a life or death situation, the weapon would be useless. The masters of old where not concerned with all the 360 degree spins and what have you. Now do not jump to conclusions as to the point I am trying to make.There is certainly nothing wrong with the newer, flashy techniques. The better your skill with a weapon, the better you know your weapon, and the better you know your weapon, the more it will cease to be an object in your hand and will become an extension of yourself. One should strive to be as skilled one can be with their weapon.

Also, just as these new techniques help to improve our skill, they also help to keep us motivated, Striving to be better, to learn more, to be able to do more. How many of us would stick to our daily practice if all we ever did was practice the basic strikes and techniques? Or would we in our typical American way quickly become bored and move on to something new and more exciting?

However this being said, let us not forget, ignore, or pass over our basic, fundamental, functional techniques.

How many nunchaku practitioners would have their weapon fly out of their hands if they where to strike a heavy bag? If we can not use our skill, if we don't learn to also practice function, what are we doing? Practicing a martial art? Or just practicing an art? If someone where to break into your house and you where to reach for your nunchakus or your bo staff would you be able to defend yourself?

I think the ancient masters would be proud of what we have accomplished with our martial arts, as long as we remember to not only practice the flash, but also the function.