BATTLEFIELD WEAPON TRAINING

Traditional Battlefield Weapon training is a fully immersive combat study taught at Imperial Combat Arts in Denver CO. These powerful weapons were once the standard issue weapons of war used in China, some for thousands of years. China's legendary weapons like the Saber, Spear, Axe, and Bow are undisputed in their combat effectiveness.
Our weapon training 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.

BATTLEFIELD WEAPON CATEGORIES

Traditional Battlefield Weapons fall into 5 distinct categories of weapons, with several styles of weapon per category, each one designed with a specific purpose or enemy in mind. These weapon categories are Swords, Axes, Pole-arms, Ranged Weapons, and Blunt Weapons. This study also includes traditional shields.

BATTLEFIELD SWORDS

Chinese Swords date back to the bronze age and have been adapted throughout history into some of the most effective and well know sword styles used in the world. These weapons include Daggers, Short Swords, Sabers, The Assault Sword, and The Horse Beheading Sword. There are other rare swords taught at Imperial Combat Arts as Specialty Swords, that were not military use but used by civilians, nobility, warlords, assassins, and bandits. Enter Page> Swordsmanship

BATTLEFIELD AXES

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 known to this day as weapons of Chinese gangs, assassins, and the signature weapon of our Instructors.
Enter Page> Axe Training

RANGED BATTLEFIELD WEAPONS

There are three primary ranged weapons taught in Battlefield Weapons.
  • The Recurve or Horse-bow: The Manchurian Bow is the primary bow taught at Imperial Combat Arts. 
  • The Chinese Straight Bow: Used primarily in wet, humid, southern regions that would damage the Recurve. 
  • The Crossbow: Dating back the bronze age the Chinese first developed this powerful weapon of war.
​​Other ranged weapons are trained as modern, improvised, or specialty ranged weapons. Enter Page> Archery

BATTLEFIELD POLEARMS

Battlefield Pole-arms include several types of spears and halberds with various lengths and heads. These include classic spear tips, hook spears, axe heads, the traditional dagger-axe, and the legendary Kwan Tao. Carrying long weapons is not common today largely because they're cumbersome and stand out,  however the superior reach of these weapons still give them a huge advantage over shorter melee weapons and they can be used in many types of situations, such as wilderness excursions or home defense. Enter Page> Polearms

BATTLEFIELD BLUNT WEAPONS

Blunt weapons like the Chinese Mace come in a variety of shapes, weights, and sizes. This category is the smallest of all the battlefield weapons with maces, staves, and clubs usually falling under specialty weapons, although they have been military issue at points of Chinese military history. Blunt weapons like clubs are also extremely common improvised weapons and still used extensively in modern time as police and defense weapons. Modern batons are prioritized first and maces/war-hammers later. Enter Page> Blunt Weapons

TRAINING BATTLEFIELD WEAPONS

Melee weapons are as important today as they ever have been. Most any man with the intent to kill you will use a weapon, or improvise one. This traditional training taught at Imperial Combat Arts was forged in a time where melee weapons were the primary focus of battle. Through this rigorous and fully immersive study practitioners today can become just as powerful and effective in melee as our warriors and champions of old. Full weapon training involves, drills, forms, sets, targets, and matching.

WEAPON DRILLS

Drills and exercises are one of the first steps in training weapons. These drills teach the primary hand positions, postures, maneuvers, cuts, and thrusts for each specific weapon and help develop the coordination, strength, and control needed to wield it. Initially, and especially with heavier weapons, just a few minutes of drilling with a weapon can be quite fatiguing and stressing to the joints. However this first step can eventually lead to dynamic flow, impressive skill, great strength, and true mastery. 

WEAPON FORMS

Weapon forms are one of the primary ways Masters pass on the ancient knowledge of weapons to the next generation of Warriors. These challenging forms teach dynamic flow, maneuvers, weapon handling, and numerous proven and effective techniques. Every movement and technique in the weapon forms at Imperial Combat Arts relate directly to combat, and are trained dynamically in sets, and matching. Forms are a way to practice your techniques routinely, and turn them to muscle memory, as needed for battle.

WEAPON SETS

Sets are an important facet in complete weapon training. This repetitive partner interaction is one of the ways effective and proven techniques are passed down to the next generation of warriors. At Imperial Combat Arts weapon sets are done vs multiple opponents, with realistic training weapons, as well as with padded weapons. This training allows students to focus on and perfect individual techniques, that they will later test in matching, and perhaps battle.

WEAPON TARGETS

Throughout history target practice has been a crucial part of weapon development, as it still is today. In all parts of the world Straw Men, and Wooden Pell's of various types, have been the primary targets used to practice attacks and maneuvers. Imperial Combat Arts indoor/outdoor school has a full array of traditional and modern training dummies designed specifically for weapon use. Additionally the school has an archery range used for all manner of ranged weapons.

WEAPON MATCHING

Aggressive matching with training weapons is an important part of preparing for the chaos and fray of battle. This matching is done with all the weapons taught at Imperial Combat Arts and often in unusual and compromised ways, such as blindfolded, or on beams and posts. Most all matching done at our school, whether armed or unarmed, is done versus multiple opponents. These intense matching sessions are designed to be painful, yet safe, and push practitioners ever forward in skill.