COMBAT WEAPON MASTERY
实战武器​​师

Imperial Combat Arts is a weapon school, whether armed or unarmed. Our arts have both direct lineage to historical weapons used in martial arts, and to modern U.S. special forces weaponry and firearms. These weapons include; combat knife, club, baton, hatchet, sword, stick fighting, spear, halberd, axe, shield, specialty weapons, improvised weapons, shield, archery, pistol, shotgun, rifle, assault rifle, and more. 
Our past Grandmasters served in many wars, Qing Dynasty campaigns, WWII, Several in Vietnam including a Special Forces Green Beret Officer, as well as Instructors today with Iraqi War era military training. 
Training with weapons at Imperial Combat Arts is nothing like the flashy acrobatic weapon forms and choreographed sets you see in mainstream Kung Fu or Wushu, that use flimsy aluminum weapons. This is a fully immersive traditional military training with direct lineage to the battlefields of China, and masters melee weapons for true combat. Additionally our special forces weaponry (combat knife, club/baton, firearms, and hatchet) has been taught to our students since the mid 60's by a Grandmaster of our arts who was a Special Forces Officer. Even in the age of firearms, melee weapons are commonplace and their training in combat martial arts is a must, as most any man with intent to kill will pick up an object to use as a weapon. 

BATTLEFIELD WEAPONS

Traditional battlefield weapons are the standard issue weapons of war once used in China, some for thousands of years. These weapons like the Saber, Spear, Axe, and Bow are undisputed in their combat effectiveness. Our traditional combat training can hold its own with, or surpass any other traditional system in the world. This study blends seamlessly with our hand to hand, ground systems, and chin na as part of complete combat study.
​Enter Page> Battlefield Weapons

SPECIALTY WEAPONS

Specialty Weapons are traditional martial arts weapons that were not military issue but used by a number of different martial arts styles, rebels, bandits, and warlords, or come from farming tools, and fishing spears. These weapons include; hooks swords, staves, canes, antlers, hammers, deer horn knives, tri staves, and more. Specialty weapons can be created for all types of unique purposes, or be a everyday tool you've already strengthened for.
​Enter Page> Specialty Weapons.

SPECIAL FORCES WEAPONS

Our school has taught special forces weaponry since the mid 60's under C. E. Smith an Airborne Ranger / Army Ranger Green Beret Officer and our past Grandmaster Long who taught and served during Vietnam and was an instructor in Combat Knife, Vietnam Tomahawk, Survival, Camouflage, Evasion, and hand to hand combat. These weapons are Combat Knife, Club/Baton, Firearms, and Hatchet.
Enter Page> Special Forces Weapons.

FIREARM TRAINING

Firearm training at Imperial Combat Arts is derived from our long military history. Our Grandmasters served as Imperial Bodyguards, Veterans of the Second Sino-Japanese War (WWII), Vietnam era Special Forces (Green Beret Officer), as well as an instructor today with Iraq War era U.S. military training. This extensive study of modern combat tactics masters all types of civilian firearms. Enter Page> Firearms

TRADITIONAL ARCHERY

​Imperial Combat Arts teaches advanced archery, from our ancient military history. This training includes mastery of straight bow, Manchurian recurve bow, and crossbow. Chinese bow varies from western archery in several ways, bows are drawn with the thumb and arrows knocked on the opposite side. This allows for much faster and more dynamic reloading and shooting. Enter Page> Archery

THROWING WEAPONS

Hand-thrown and projectile blades are a traditional part of Chinese Weapon study. While some of these weapons had direct military applications, most are specialty weapons that were designed to deliver poisons, or were used to surprise and soften targets upon approach with a primary weapon. These thrown weapons include Knives, Axes, Spears, Needles Thorns, and Darts. Enter Page> Throwing Weapons

CHINESE SWORDSMANSHIP

​Chinese Swordsmanship at a historically accurate combat level is a very different study than the theatrical and acrobatic sword training seen in many modern Chinese martial arts schools. Our combat level sword training has direct lineage to the battlefield, and can hold its own with, or surpass any other weapon system in the world, and blends seamlessly with our hand to hand, ground systems, and chin na, as a complete combat study. This study teaches both traditional & specialty swords.
​Enter Page> Chinese Swordsmanship.

AXE TRAINING

Chinese Axes date back to the stone age and throughout history have held a prevalent place in battle. The Axe is a primary tool and weapon of all northern regions of the world where the winters are cold and the wood is hard. This effective weapon is still standard issue in most militaries today including the U.S. armed forces and was the close quarters weapon of choice of our Grandmasters who served in WWII and Vietnam. Small Axes are to this day as  the signature weapon of our Instructors.
Enter Page> Axe Training

CLUBS & STICKS

Shorter than staves Imperial Combat Arts teaches the combat use of the Stick and Club.  A standard Club is one the first weapons taught to students, a study that includes 100's of Chin Na (joint lock) techniques, grappling, and various chokes. Other Traditional Clubs are also trained such as the; T-Batons, and Whip Stick. Some of these weapons also feature hand guards like the Iron Whips. Enter Page> Clubs

WARHAMMER & MACE

War Hammers are devastating weapons that have been used in many cultures and are still primary weapons trained in our combat systems. Unlike most modern Wushu demonstrations that use light, hollow, mock weapons, our practitioners train with actual full weight weapons, and real combat sets. Spiked Maces are trained as well as blunt Maces like the 8 Sided Hammer. Enter Page> Hammer & Mace

SPEAR TRAINING

The spear is a powerful weapon know to the Chinese as "The King of All Weapons". There are several types of Spears trained at Imperial Combat Arts that vary in design and function. These traditional Chinese spears include the; Shuttle Spear, Raven Spear, Hook Spear, Snake Spear, and several more. The Spear is one of mankind's oldest weapons and is still the most common of all Pole Weapon. Enter Page> Spear

CHINESE HALBERDS

Chinese Halberds were used in war for well over 3000 years and have taken several different forms. These weapons combine either an Axe head, or Dagger Axe, with a spear point allowing for thrusting, chopping, and hooking in battle. These weapons have reverse crescent blades signature to many Chinese weapons. These blades curve the opposite way of most Axes allowing for lighter weight. Enter Page> Halberds

CHINESE GLAIVES

Glaives are long and powerful pole-arm weapons that are essentially single-edged swords on a long staff. Also known as sword-staves these weapons have been used the world about for ancient and medieval warfare. The Glaive or Fauchard is a European term for these weapons though there are several types of Chinese Glaives including the Assault Sword and the Reclining Moon Blade. Enter Page> Glaives

MILITARY FORKS

Military Forks are weapons that primarily came from the hunting forks used to kill Tiger and Bear in China.  Unlike basic pitch-forks that have only sharp points, a Military Fork, such as the Fork Axe depicted above, has two flat curved blades that are double edged plus a double edged point in the center. The curved shape of the outer blades can be used like a double headed Axe. Enter Page> Military Forks

FLAILS & SOFT WEAPONS

Flail Weapons can deliver tremendous impact force and strike around enemy defense on unpredictable angles. These weapons evolved from ancient farming tools to become common place on many battlefields. Classic Chinese flails taught at Imperial Combat Arts include weapons such as The Meteor Hammers, Spiked and Ball Flails with one to three heads, as well as Two and Three Section Staves. Enter Page> Flail

STAVES & POLES

Staff fighting is a traditional and important part of melee weapon mastery. Training wooden staves of various lengths teaches weapon handling for many other weapons such as Swords and Pole-arms. Sticks and staves are also common everyday objects. At an advanced level this study also includes Iron Staves, Cane Fighting and traditional staff variants such as the 8 Sided Staff. Enter Page> Staff Fighting

WAR SCYTHES & SICKLES

These weapons were often farming tools used by peasants for self defense and at times in warfare with large groups of peasant infantry. Evolving from these improvised weapons is a class of Combat Sickles and War Scythes that were crafted of weapon grade steel and designed strictly for use on the battlefield. There are numerous weapons in Chinese martial arts that have come to feature Hooks. Enter Page> Sickles

IMPROVISED WEAPONS

Improvised weapons study is a powerful favorite of the Masters of Imperial Combat Arts from small pressure point tools, to traditional improvised weapons such as the iron rings, rope, jacket, and more. As true weapon Masters generations of our Masters have put knowledge into these vast books. In the end its the Master who is the weapon, and any object his extension. Enter Page> Improvised

WU TANG WEAPONS

Fighting with weapons is a large and traditional part of training the Wu Tang Arts. H'sing I (xingyi) trains weapons from the longest like spear, down to short weapons, and then empty hand. A H'sing I Master can fight with any weapon. Pa Kua (baqua) is famous for its training with huge oversize weapons and toughened hands. Tai Chi Chuan (Tijiquan) trains straight sword, cane, and saber. 
​Enter Page> Imperial Wu Tang

8 ANIMAL WEAPONS

The Imperial Animal Styles also master melee weapons for combat. The weapons of choice for each Animal directly complement their martial art making use of the same techniques and body development they've already mastered with the empty hand. Each Imperial Animal has its own unique ancient weapons, favored battlefield weapons, and each masters weapons for ranged combat, long weapons, and for close quarters combat. Enter Page> 8 Animals

SHIELD TRAINING

There are many types of Shields that were used throughout the history of China with the most recent still being military issue in the early 1900's. Many assume with the invention of firearms that shields have become obsolete. In reality they have again just evolved and Masters today train with ballistic shields able to stop the rounds of some firearms. A Shield is most always and advantage against melee weapons, and can also be improvised in many modern combat situations. Enter Page> Shield Training

TOUGHENED WEAPONS

Even without a weapon, Imperial Combat Arts is a weapon art. This level of toughening is for true combat, far from wrapping the wrists and wearing gloves for competitive sport, these are true weapons forged for life-and-death combat. ​Highly trained Masters at Imperial Combat Arts demonstrate the true power of Kung Fu, some with decades of extensive toughening. Demonstrations are done in a variety of ways such as tearing the eyes and throats from... Enter Page> Hand Toughening

WEAPON FORMS
Imperial Combat Arts weapon forms are not like the flashy acrobatic forms you may see in popular modern form competitions. These ancient forms hold vast amounts of knowledge about combat with weapons. Every set included in these forms has and will work in combat vs. multiple opponents. Our forms are much more guarded, more practical, and train students in brutally effective techniques, that transfer directly to matching and combat.

WEAPON CONDITIONING

Weapons are in many ways the core and pinnacle of combat martial arts. Aside from their obvious lethality and effectiveness, training weapons strengthens and conditions the body for combat by developing the grip, strength, and body conditioning required to wield a real weapon such as a sword or axe. Flashy forms with light aluminium weapons, acrobatics, and silk robes is not weapon training. Mastery requires the shock of sets, matching, and the deep study weapon interaction.

WEAPON EXERCISES

There are many traditional exercises that develop the speed, power, reflexes, timing, and accuracy to master combat weapons. These exercises start easy with basic flexibility and strength training to avoid injury, then move up to the highest levels of weapon manipulation. Our Masters can train forms, sets, engage in matching, and do target cutting at full speed for hours at a time. Some of our weapons like the 30lb Iron Staff trained in Tiger require the highest human levels to wield.

WEAPON SETS

Traditional sets are a big part of mastering melee weapons, through these sets our Masters pass on ancient, battle proven techniques to the next generation of warriors. The extensive study of these sets enables students to develop the control, reflexes, coordination, and muscle memory needed for weapon matching and finally true combat. These sets teach the rules and intricacies of how all types of weapons interact with each other, and how to engage any type of weapon.

WEAPON DRILLS

Combat drills are an important part of all Imperial Combat Arts classes. Drills are used to incorporate strikes, techniques, maneuvers, etc. into the body as a second nature reflex, as is required for battle. Weapon drills are done in the air, vs partners, dummies, and all types of specialized equipment. The intricate artwork painted on the floor of the school at Imperial Combat Arts is designed for students to drill attacks against multiple opponents in all directions. 

TARGET PRACTICE
Imperial Combat Arts indoor/outdoor headquarters school boasts numerous modern and traditional targets and devices used to practice cuts and strikes with weapons, and to develop the reflexive speed, power, and accuracy required to master the use of melee weapons in combat. This equipment is equivalent to the bags, mitts, and toughening equipment use to master empty hand weapons, and is an important and traditional part of true weapon mastery.

WEAPON MATCHING

Matching with training weapons and armor against multiple trained opponents is a intense and punishing part of forging weapon masters. It is in these intense scenarios that students and masters alike meet, and have the priceless opportunity to test their skills against other trained warriors. This part of training will always require control and reservation as to not cause serious injury to the practitioners, and it's the closest one can get in practice for their ultimate test in battle.