For
Investors - weapons
There are eleven issues. (1) With
some management and luck we will be able to convince
everyone to buy standard batons, sabers and swords. We note
that many people with autism spectrum disabilities DISLIKE the
visual, auditory and tactile experience of wushu-style
(flexible) sabers and swords as opposed to the older style
more rigid weapons. This extends beyond one's own weapon or
weapons to those of nearby classmates. On the other hand, a
minority favor noisy and visually reflective flexible blades.
This is also an issue with Kwan daos - the classical Green
Dragon is stiff and silent and heavy and long. The Eagle Kwan
dao is somewhat lighter and slightly shorter. So far, no
one has ever chosen an Elephant Kwan dao - it would be similar
to an Eagle. The wushu style Kwan dao is shorter, lighter and,
due to its flexibility, noisier. Given a choice, as a teacher I
would prefer everyone use the Eagle Kwan dao as they are silent
and take slightly less floor space than a Green Dragon. If we
eventually teach a fork set forks with more rounded blades (or
tines) appear to be much safer. The flying fork (fei cha) has a
cymbal at the junction of the handle and blade in a
configuration that is similar to the Nine Point Rake - in both
weapons the noise made by 16 or more cymbals is difficult to
teach over and almost certainly upsetting to some students. (2)
For accessories, based on a limited sample, red and white flags
are preferred to green, blue, silver, yellow and gold flags. We
did not experiment with patterns - all the saber flags were
solid colors (3) Similarly, based on a limited sample, shorter
tassels are preferred. There may be visual influences, but most
of the problems appeared to arise from tassels contacting the
hands, wrists or forearms. (4) For sabers and swords grips that
feel pleasant and which wick away perspiration are preferred. (5) A choice is whether to buy
double sabers and double swords at the beginning. (6) Because
people with autism spectrum disabilities are often very
tactilely discriminating, weapons, especially staffs and
spears (because the hands move up and down a great deal), are
often a matter of individual taste. We would NOT be surprised
if a student eventually owns several staffs: various
combinations of wooden, graphite, metal, round, hexagonal ...
There is not much choice for Kwan dao handles - wood or
stainless steel. The latter is attractive as the handles can be
unscrewed apart for easier transport, but unattractive due to
the weight. For staffs and possibly kwan daos a day may have to
be taken to have the class go shopping at a warehouse.
(7) We expect student short weapons will be kept either in
lockers or in racks at school. We anticipate either more
racks or a closet will be needed when long weapons are
studied. (8) This might imply the student buys a second
weapon to practice with at home. We remain unenthused about
wooden swords and sabers. The objective would be to
avoid the student (or parents) being obliged to transport
weapons. (9) Depending on student interest, weapons from
other arts may be taught. There are non-canonical tai chi
weapons like the Wind Fire Wheels. Bagua has a large saber,
a double-ended spear and deer horn knives. Hung Gar and
Shaolin each have at least a dozen weapons. While we are
resolved not to teach throwing knives, three section staff or
whips, and we personally despise fans, we might teach pu dao,
monk's staff, monk's spade, long sword (two handed), or an
exotic saber such as Ghost Head or Goose Wing. We find the Melon
Hammers and the Twin Short Halberds as built to have serious
balance problems so it looks unlikely that those weapons would
be taught. We have not located sets for the Gold Coin spade,
Mandarin Coin knives, hybrid weapons like the butterfly wing or
the wolf teeth mace. We currently lack enthusiasm for the
Japanese short weapons of sai, tonfa and kama. There are sets
for Nine Point Rake, rattan shield with butterfly knife, trident
(serious safety concerns), tiger head hook swords, whisk, single
and double nunchaku, axe and cane. (10) We would be willing
to teach javelin (thrown spear), atlatl and Chinese archery. (11)
While dragon and lion dancing do not involve weapons there are
definitely some challenges with both the noise from cymbals,
gongs and drums as well as getting people inside lions. |