SICKLES & SCYTHES
鐮 - 铚 - 鉊

Sickle and Scythe training is an advanced weapon study taught at Imperial Combat Arts in Denver CO. 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 and Sickles.
Weapon training at a historically accurate combat level is a very different study than the theatrical and acrobatic training seen in many modern Chinese martial arts schools that focus on show and choreography. Our combat level weapon training has direct lineage to the battlefield, and can hold its own with, or surpass any other weapon system in the world.

COMBAT SICKLE
​武器​鐮

WU CHI LIEN | WUQILIAN
These single handed combat sickles feature a handle long enough to engage other weapons, and opposed to farming sickles, are also sharpened on the outer or top side of the blade. These hooking style weapons are trained in our arts of Mantis Kung Fu and aside from captures and controls, they also offer unique strike angles. Some of these blades are also mounted forward on the end of the weapon, a Straight Sickle.

WAR SCYTHE
​​战​鐮

CHAN LIEN | ZHANLIAN
A Scythe differentiates from a Sickle in that it is a long two handed farming tool. A War Scythe is designed for combat and though lesser known was used in many parts of the world as pole-weapons. When both sides of these weapons are sharpened they also offer powerful slashing. A Chinese War Scythe blade is also turned to point forward and not turned to the side like the farming tool, allowing for angular thrusts. 

SICKLE KNIFE
鐮​​刀

LIEN TAO | LIAN DAO
The Sickle Knife, also known as a Tiger Claw Knife or Karambit, is the smallest traditional Sickle weapon. Like other Combat Sickles it began as a small farming tool used to cut roots, thresh grain, and dig holes for planting. Evolving into a weapon its now most often sharpened on both sides allowing also for slashing as well as hooking. Additionally as a weapon its made from weapon grade materials. 

CHICKEN SICKLE
鸡​鐮

CHI LIEN | JILIAN
​These unique Sickle Weapons are trained in Hsing-I (Xingyi) and feature additional smaller reverse Sickle Blades on the back. Some of these weapons also have a small spear point on the top, and sometimes also a point the bottom although these bottom points often are more a risk than an asset. These weapons are named from their likeness to the toe and rear claw of a chicken and angle they take when the bird stands.

SICKLE SABER
​​鷄刀​鐮

CHI TAO LIEN | JIDAOLIAN ​
​This H'sing-I straight sword as a very sharp Ch'ien blade and a Sickle and Spur on the tip. This Sickle allows for both hooking, and puncturing downward strikes. The weapon is also know as a "Chicken Sickle Saber" again because of its likeness to the anatomy of a chickens foot. The unique shape of this weapon complements some of the ways in which H'sing Ch'uan is used with weapons.

HOOK SWORDS
​鈎刀 

FUTAO |FUDAO
These traditional specialty swords feature more of a hook, than a sickle shape, and often have a crescent moon hand guard. True combat Hook Swords have a out-turned point to the tip of the hook that allows for downward or sideways puncturing strikes. In addition the edges of a Hook Sword blade is fully sharpened allowing for slashes with the convex arch of the curve and straight thrusts that can severe the trachea. 

SICKLE SPEAR
鐮鎗

LIEN CH'IANG | LIAN QIANG
​The Sickle Spear or Hook Spear is a classic Chinese weapon that features a Sickle blade on the side that is sharpened on all sides. The angle of this blade is such that it allows for downward strikes and is used for dismounting cavalrymen, hooking shields and weapons to open spear thrusts, and also serves the important function of a wing or stopper to prevent over-penetration of the spear head.

SICKLE GLAIVE
​钩镰刀

KOU LIEN TAO | GOU LIAN DAO
​This powerful pole-arm shares the same razor sharp blade as the Eyebrow Glaive plus features a sharp sickle, that can be used to capture weapons or dismount enemy cavalrymen. Hooked Glaives are designed to be effective at slashing, chopping, thrusting, and capturing. Today this Glaive is still one of the primary pole-arms mastered in battlefield weapon systems.

DUAL WIELDING SICKLES

Single handed Chinese Sickle Weapons are often sold and trained in pairs. Being shorter in length than swords and pole-weapons it takes two short weapons or a shield to be able to effectively engage against longer weapons. Fighting with two sickles opens up all manner of weapon captures and disarms unique to these weapons. Dual wielding was a common practice on Chinese Battlefields and is done with several types of weapons trained at Imperial Combat Arts. 

SICKLE & SCYTHE DRILLS

Drills are an important part of training Combat Sickles and War Scythes. These drills teach primary grips, stances, maneuvers, strikes, hooks, cuts, 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, and against weapon dummies. The intricate artwork painted on the floor of the school at Imperial Combat Arts is designed for students to drill attacks and defenses in all 8 directions. 

SICKLE & SCYTHE FORMS

Sickle and Scythe forms are one of the primary ways Masters pass on the ancient knowledge of these weapons to the next generation of Warriors. These challenging forms teach dynamic flow, maneuvers, weapon handling, and numerous proven and effective techniques. All movement and technique in the Combat Sickle and War Scythe forms at Imperial Combat Arts relate directly to combat, and are trained dynamically in sets, and matching.

SICKLE & SCYTHE SETS

Dynamic sets allow students to learn effective techniques and Sickle and Scythe applications that could never be used in sparring. Even with full pads a training weapon can cause serious injury, therefore mastering these weapons requires a skilled and dedicated partner with focus and control. This repetitive partner interaction is one of the ways proven techniques are taught. At Imperial Combat Arts sets are done vs multiple opponents, and with realistic training weapons.

SICKLE & SCYTHE 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, accuracy rings, cutting posts, and dynamically moving targets. Some are designed to practice cuts with Sickles and Scythes.

SICKLE & SCYTHE MATCHING

Aggressive matching with training Sickles and Scythes 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 weapon matching can only be done safely with padded weapons and armor.

SICKLE & SCYTHE VS OTHER WEAPONS

There are numerous traditional sets that 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 Scythe vs Spear and Sickle vs Sword. Single handed Sickles are often trained as doubles or with a shield. Shield training is an important part of weapon study that is can be used with any single handed weapon.

EMPTY HAND & HOOKING

There are many weapon techniques that are then used with the empty hand such as Spear Hand, Blade Hand, Secret Sword, Hammer-fist etc. These toughened empty hand weapons allow weapon masters to apply their weapon skills to the empty hand. The Hook Hand is an art of hooking with a bent wrist in combat to open up strikes or perform Chin Na. Most famous in our art of Mantis Kung Fu there are several arts we teach that employ hooking.  Enter Page> Toughening