XXL - one size doesn't fit all

[fearn]

Hi All,

Something to note about oversized weapons: yes, they could be status symbols. A good example of this is the currently called "Bagua dao" that you see for sale in catalogs. The current name is because Baguazhang is about the only martial art outside China that uses this particular weapon.

However, if you dig deeply enough, you find that these oversized daos were actually associated with the imperial court, as was Bagua (one Bagua master was the Dowager Empress's personal bodyguard). They are status symbols, basically a flagrant and oversized use of metal. If you've ever played with one or seen a Bagua master swing one, they're also pretty darned impressive. Regardless of what the catalogs say, you're supposed to swing it with one hand (you can, as long as you have strong wrists and use your hips...).

Now, this contrasts with the horsechoppers (pu dao) and the European two-handed swords (or the medieval Japanese "field weapons" like the bisento and the o-kama). These weapons were often (not always!) built for the purpose of cutting big things down to size.

The contrast I'm drawing is between oversized weapons built primarily for display and intimidation, and those built for cutting down pikes, horses, and other recalcitrant targets. In the real world, obviously, these two functions get mixed, so we have monstrously huge two-handed swords built for display and Bagua masters who like using the big dao in duels. Still, it's a distinction worth thinking about.

my 0.02 cents,

F