My New Shaolin Rope Dart and Sash Whip Release!
December 15, 2009
This is the first actual blog post on this website. I tend to prefer more long winded articles than quick updates, but that’s usually because I don’t have anything I’d like to update people on. But today is different.
I’ve just released my new soft weapons. For those who don’t know, soft weapons are a class of weapons that are flexible and tend to conform to, or wrap around, the objects they encounter. The meteor hammer, the rope dart, the nine segment lash, and the chain whip all fit into this obscure category of martial arts weaponry. My personal background, as mentioned in the ‘about Tom’ page, is with the meteor hammer and the nine segment lash. But I’ve always felt that these weapons, while very exotic and stimulating, are a tad outdated.
So I’ve designed my own versions of the nine segment lash and the rope dart using beautiful silk brocades. The New Rope Dart, as I’m calling it, is a single piece of fabric, 4 meters long, with a pocket at each end designed to hold a steel meditation ball for weight. The other weapon, a Sash Whip, is 2 meters long, also with pockets at each end. I’ve been experimenting with this material for months now and find them both better alternatives to the traditional soft weapons. They remove all danger of rope burn that comes with rope dart play, and they transition incredibly well for in-close trapping and grappling techniques.
For those interested in learning more or seeing a few pics of both weapons, check out my other website Shaolin Rope Dart.