Kamatuuran Kalijin Video: Fan defense

[TKDaddict]

yeah a normal one is. but you can make it harder with plastic or metal rods making it harder.

[sirdarksol]

Aside from that, if a weapon is all you have, it is better than nothing. It's kind of like what I said in the "improv weapons" thread. If it saves your life, so what if it breaks?

Admittedly, in this case the weapon has little self defense value, as it's not as common to carry a fan. But then again, there are a lot of Martial Arts weapons out there that don't have much in the way of modern self defense application.

[guramicmac]

The effectiveness of a weapon is not simply determined by what a weapon is, but also how it is used. If I take a folded up fan and jam it into someone's eye or throat, then it would be rather effective. But the same can be said for people doing open hand or kicks, how and where you strike makes a difference.

In addition, there is always the assumption that when one holds a weapon, then it's the only weapon that one can strike with. Almost immediately people forget that there is still another hand and two feet to contend with. Thus the fan has another purpose, that of distraction and illusion, a way to hide the other weapons. Or in the case where blades are hidden at the tips of the fan, it is more than just a fan.

A weapon is only as good as the one who wields it.

-Gura Michelle

Originally Posted by dasher43

i dont think a fan is that good as a weapon because it is weak, if they hit someone hard enough it would break

[Chapel]

Originally Posted by sirdarksol

She was keeping her fan between her body and her opponent. You don't want a bamboo fan to be the primary blocking mechanism, because it will break. That doesn't mean you can't keep it in the way as a backup block. Plus, blocking with the hand keeps the fan open for a followup strike.

Ok, I think I get it now. The fan really isn't a weapon in the classical sense it is much more of a tool for distraction which allows for you primary weapon to connect more often.

Kind of disappointing, I wanted to learn how to use a fan with a razor edge on the top and sides and a slicing weapon.

[sirdarksol]

Originally Posted by Chapel

Ok, I think I get it now. The fan really isn't a weapon in the classical sense it is much more of a tool for distraction which allows for you primary weapon to connect more often.

Sort of, and depending on the culture. In mainland Asia, the fan seems to be more of a backup defense (as in, if they get through your initial block)/distraction. It also could end up being used as an effective jabbing weapon, should the opportunity arise.
In Japan, the tessen (iron fan) is a backup defense (as in, if you don't have your sword on you), and is use much more aggressively. In essence, it is a short club. Because the katana was made to slice, not chop, a rod of softer iron (or ten small rods) will still stop the weapon, and might even damage the edge. You've still got to make your blocks impeccable, as you're trying to block a two to three foot blade with only six to twelve inches, but it's better than trying to stop the blade with your hand.
Further, if you don't happen to have a tessen on you, but only a regular fan, the same techniques may be used, but will likely ruin the fan. But a good samurai only needs one opening and may throw himself fully into that opening to either bring his opponent down in a brilliant flash or be brought down himself like a rabid dog.

Originally Posted by Chapel

Kind of disappointing, I wanted to learn how to use a fan with a razor edge on the top and sides and a slicing weapon.

As far as this goes, I think this it's part fantasy, part reality. In general, I don't think it was a common weapon. But this doesn't mean it wasn't used. I don't doubt that someone in the long history of strange Chinese weapons came up with the idea of a sharpened fan and used it as their personal weapon.

[47MartialMan]

My Shimu had fans that could be actually thrown like a Frisbee.

It was weighted somewhat were a edge struck the target.

Great distraction.

After doing a fan routine, it has the original purpose-to cool off!