- Gun (staff)
The Chinese word Gun (zh-cp|c=棍|p=gùn) refers to a long Chinese staff
weapon used inChinese martial arts . It is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the "Qiang (spear) ", "Dao (sabre)", and the Jian (sword), called in this group "The Grandfather of all Weapons".Variants
There are various kinds of "gun" (pronounced g-oo-en), and they include (since olden days) the following:
* Monkey Staff (zh-cp|c=猴棍|p=hóugùn)
* Biangan (zh-cp|c=鞭杆|p=biāngān)
* Mad Demon Staff (zh-stp|s=疯魔棍|t=瘋魔棍|p=fēngmó gùn)
* Tianqi Staff (zh-stp|s=天齐棍|t=天齊棍|p=tiānqí gùn)
* Staff of Five Tigers and Goat Herds (zh-cp|c=五虎群羊棍|p=wǔ hǔ qún yáng gùn)
*Nunchaku (zh-stpl|s=二节棍|t=雙節棍|p=èrjié gùn|l=two section staff)
*Taiji Staff of Thirteen (zh-stp|s=太极十三秆|t=太極十三杆|p=tàijí shísān gǎn)
* TaijiQuarterstaff (zh-stp|s=太极大秆|t=太極大杆|p=tàijí dà gǎn)
* TaijiStaff (zh-stp|s=太极棍|t=太極棍|p=tàijí gùn)
* Staff of Eight Trigrams and Seven Stars (zh-cp|c=八卦七星竿|p=bāguà qīxīng gān)
* Staff of Eight Fairies (zh-cp|c=八仙棍|p=bāxiān gùn)
*Flail (zh-stp|s=梿枷|t=槤枷|p=liánjiā)The types of gun normally used nowadays for exercises and competitions are the bailangan (zh-stp|s=白栏杆|t=白欄杆|p=bái lángān) and the nangun (zh-cp|c=南棍|p=nángùn).
Traditionally, the gun is made out of a material called
wax wood , rather than bamboo as many people might think. Wax wood is strong, yet flexible, making it ideal as a material for the gun. The gun is fashioned with one thick end as the base and a thinner end near the tip, and is cut to be about the same height as the user. Today, more modern versions may be purchased made with metal and rubber parts.References
ee also
*
Chinese martial arts
*"Ji", halberd
*"Nangun ", Southern staff
*Three section staff
*Two Section Staff
*Gun for firearms
*Quarterstaff
*"Bō", Japanese staff
*"Bâton français ", French staff
*"Jogo do Pau ", Portuguese staffCharacteristics and Techniques
For a demonstration of the
wax wood style gun characteristics and techniques, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4iOO1rfBo4.Other external links
* [http://www.flashmavi.com/wushu_staff.shtml Some Basic Staff Tutorials]
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