Question: Chinese spears

[fearn]

With regard to Na and Lan: are we talking about something like palm up and palm down on the lead hand on the spear? I know in bagua that some teachers make a big deal out of yin to yang (palm down to palm up) and yang to yin (palm up to palm down) changes as part of generating power.

F

[KuKulzA28]

Originally Posted by fearn

With regard to Na and Lan: are we talking about something like palm up and palm down on the lead hand on the spear? I know in bagua that some teachers make a big deal out of yin to yang (palm down to palm up) and yang to yin (palm up to palm down) changes as part of generating power.

F

Yes! Exactly.

Na is palm down, and Lan is palm up. For the spear, if you have your left hand forward, your spear would lan or na, left or right, to block incoming stabs as guided by your left hand.

Lan is also used to mean blocking in some Chinese swordplay.

I have little knowledge of Bagua itself so I can't really comment on it, though the yin-yang balance and duality is heavily emphasized throughout Chinese culture.

[KuKulzA28]

I've been experimenting with oak, ash, and waxwood.
Tapering by hand gets tedious, but I guess compared to carving knife handles, clubs, and making bowing, it's not so bad
Oak seems too brittle, but the 8' tapered oak stave at 5 lbs is good for strength and form training.

Question:
Does anyone have genuine antique Chinese spears (intact) and can tell me how far the point of balance deviates from the center?

I want to get it as authentic as possible.

[Gavin Nugent]

G'day Vinny,

I have a complete old one here.

It is 87 inches long with a POB at 41.5" from the butt.
It is a little under 4 lbs
1&3/4" across the butt
1" wide below the socket.

I hope it helps.

Gavin

[KuKulzA28]

Thanks Gav, hmmm, that sounds like good specs... so point of balance justa little behind mid-point...

I'm going to try to emulate that... going to get a thick piece of rattan, waxwood, and quality ash and see how I do