MILITARY FORKS
​武器​叉

Military Fork training is an advanced weapon study taught at Imperial Combat Arts in Denver CO. This unique pole-weapon was used throughout much of world for ancient and medieval combat. These Forks Weapons evolved from Hunting Forks that have been used for thousands of years to kill and hold back large aggressive animals such as Tigers and Bear. Today these Forks still plays a crucial role in survival training being used for hunting, fishing, and defense from large animals.
Weapon training at a historically accurate combat level is a very different study than the theatrical and acrobatic weapon training seen in many modern Chinese martial arts schools. These theatrical weapons do not even begin to compare with the true Chinese Military Forks listed below. Our combat level Fork 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 study.

MILITARY FORK
​​武器叉​

WU CHI CH'A | WUQICHA
Opposed to a Hunting Fork a Military Fork is made to fight on the battlefield. It has flat blade-like prongs like a sword or spear that are sharpened on all sides. These blades can be used for thrusting and keeping opponents at distance but can also slash, draw-cut, or chop. Military Forks are also made of the best grades of combat steel and strongest woods unlike basic farming or hunting equipment.

FORK AXE
​​战叉斧

CHAN CH'A FU | ZHANCHAFU
The Fork Axe is a powerful Chinese Military Fork with more curve to the outer prongs than a standard Military Fork. This shape allows the weapon to hit like a Pole-Axe blade. This weapon brings all of the best parts of the Fork, Spear, and Pole-Axe together into one devastating weapon. For this reason the Fork Axe is one of the primary and preferred Military Forks trained at Imperial Combat Arts.

 TWO PRONG FORK
​​​二叉戟

ERH CHA CHI | ERCHAJI
​Faster and lighter than a standard Military Fork this Fork features only two prongs that are essentially two spear blades on one shaft. Two prong forks are the favored Forks of smaller practitioners and for use in lighter faster fighting styles. All Forks offer a larger tip of the pole-weapon for controlling enemy weapons, and at reduced weight from the large blades of some other pole-weapons such as Glaives. 

FORK SPEAR
​​​叉枪

CH'A CH'IANG | CHA QIANG
​This Spear/Fork Hybrid has a central spear point as well as one outer fork prong. This outer prong is often curved like the outer prong of the Fork Axe to allow for slashing, and to reduce the surface area of a chop, causing for localized force on impact. Opposed to other Forks a quick rotation of this weapon can also free it to the straight side helping to prevent any unwanted weapon entanglements.

DRAGON PALPUS
​​龍须叉

LUNG HSU CH'A | LONGAUCHA
​This unique Fork weapon is essentially two Snake Spear blades that are curved to increase cutting and thrusting damage. This weapon gets its name from the long fleshy appendages on a dragons upper lip and is also known as a "Dragon Mustache Fork" depending on different views of the great mythical creatures anatomy. This Fork is trained in Snake Kung Fu alongside the other Signature Snake Weapons.

FLYING FORK
​飞叉​

FEI CH'A
Not to be confused with the acrobatic fork style that spins a fork around the body without using hands, the Flying Fork is a thrown Fork used for hunting and fishing. These Forks are often barbed to keep hold of smaller prey where the weight of the fork is enough to hold it down or a line or rope is attached to to pull and hold larger prey. While not a common javelin it does offer more points when used in combat.

THREE STRAND FORK
 三股叉

SAN KU CH’A | SAN GU CHA
A Strand Fork is a Farming Fork with prongs that are round and thin and have only sharpened points, lacking a Military Forks flat sharp blades. These inferior weapons are much easier to craft and like the farming tool are also commonly found with four of five prongs. People often mistake Military Forks for these simple Forks that were at times wielded by peasants on the battlefield. 

TRIDENT
​捕鱼叉​

PU YU CH'A
Fishing Forks are barbed and designed for spear fishing. While the Trident has 3 prongs like a Military Fork there are all manner of fishing forks with various numbers and designs of prongs. Large Fishing Forks used in Ocean hunting for big fish have been used as improvised pole-arms by fisherman. Survival Spear fishing is trained in our wilderness classes.

TIGER FORK
​虎叉​

HU CH'A
The Tiger Fork was once used as a primary hunting tool for large ferocious animals. Allowed to be carried by common folk, like pitch-forks and tridents, these tools have long been improvised pole-arms. While far closer to a Military Fork, these Forks are still focused on strictly thrusting, and not for chopping or slashing like a battlefield weapon. People often mistake these for Military Forks as well.

FORK KNIVES
​叉​​劍

​CH'A CHIEN | CHAJIAN
Not to be confused with the similar looking Sai which is a blunt tipped non-sharpened police weapon in Asia, this knife if designed off of Military Forks and features a sharpened central blade with two signature points on each side that constitute a guard.
Like the other specialty knives on this page these short knives have additional points used to control longer weapons so the other blade can attack. 

POLE WEAPONS
武器杆

WU CHI KAN | WUQIGAN
Military Forks are one of a family of other pole-arms trained at Imperial Combat Arts. These Pole-Weapons include also Spears, Halberds, Flails, Staves, and Glaives. The handling of these various weapons have many similarities and also each have their own unique uses and techniques. The study of these begin with a basic staff and then the study of each one builds up to next, as a complete combat study. Enter Page> Pole Weapons

FORK SETS

Weapon sets teach all the primary ways in which weapons are used against other weapons. These sets allow practitioners to develop techniques that that can later be used in matching or combat. Even with full pads a training weapon can cause serious injury and therefore skilled and dedicated partners are needed to practice these traditional battlefield sets. This repetitive partner interaction is one of the ways proven techniques are taught and practiced before battle.

FORK DRILLS

Weapon drills are an important part of training Military Forks. These drills teach primary grips, stances, maneuvers, cuts, chops, slashes, blocks, parries, and thrusts, and build these important movements into the body as a second nature reflex. Weapon drills are done in the air, vs partners, dummies, and all types of specialized equipment. The intricate artwork on the floor of the school at Imperial Combat Arts is designed for students to drill against opponents in all directions. 

FORK FORMS

Weapon forms are one of the primary ways Masters pass on the ancient knowledge of Fork-fighting to the next generation of Warriors. These challenging forms teach dynamic flow, maneuvers, Fork handling, and numerous proven and effective techniques. Every movement and technique in the fork forms at Imperial Combat Arts relate directly to combat, and are trained dynamically in sets, and matching. Several of the types of forks on this page share the same basic forms.

FORK 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 targets used to practice weapon attacks. Imperial Combat Arts indoor/outdoor school has a full array of both traditional and modern training dummies, accuracy rings, cutting posts, and dynamically moving targets designed specifically for melee and ranged weapon training.

FORK MATCHING

Aggressive matching with training weapons is an important part of preparing for the chaos and fray of battle. 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. Aggressive matching can only be done safely with padded weapons and armor and still requires a degree of control to not use the body for strikes.

FORK VS OTHER WEAPONS

There are numerous traditional sets to teach each weapons interaction with other weapons. Many schools only spar with like weapons when in actuality most fights are mismatched, and some of these pairings are legendary such as Fork vs Spear. Additionally learning how to use long weapons in close quarters is an important part of melee weapon mastery. These important concepts and lessons transfer directly to empty hand tactics, such as fighting opponents in tight spaces. 

SURVIVAL & HUNTING FORK

Hunting and Fishing Forks made from nature are some of the most important survival tools a human can make. Imperial Combat Arts students have the option to learn to craft these Survival Forks alongside Survival Spears, Bows, and Clubs. With the required training and licenses students can join the school Hunting and Fishing trips each year in the nearby Rocky Mountain wilderness. These trips teach all aspects of hunting and survival and are an important part of traditional training. Enter Page> Wilderness Skills