During the last week of the Spring 2000 term, Sensei John Foster treated the youngsters at our Secord location to a demonstration of traditional martial arts weaponry. You can click the smaller images to view larger ones. Please use the "back" button of your browser to return.

Sensei Foster immobilizes Brad Reed with the bong sool (Korean for "short stick"). Mr Reed isn't going any place.

Mr Foster stops Brad from approaching by simply raising the bong sool to a 90-degree angle. This is also a Hapkido cane technique.

Like the cane, the bong sool is light. Swift, decisive motions can block a strike or punch.

The famed nunchaku. Like many traditional Asian weapons, the nunchaku has its origins in farming, where it was used as a tool for pounding wheat. Because weapons were often illegal, Asian farmers learned to improvise with what they had.

Now the strike. The nunchaku is a very deceptive weapon because its reach, once deployed, is greater than arm's length. It is a powerful weapon because of its speed. Hard nunchaku -- made of ratan, wood, or metal -- are illegal in Canada. Only foam-padded demonstration models may be purchased here.

Brad attacks John with a jo (Japanese for short staff, essentially a modified bo, or long staff). John prepares his defense, using sai.

John Foster responds, showing the versatility of the sai, which are normally used in pairs. The sai were designed for bailing hay, but also are very effective in trapping weapons and striking, as shown here. The sai may also be used to pierce and opponent.

Brad attacks with a jo. John deflects with a bo. The bo usually measures at about six feet in length. Farmers used the bo to carry buckets of water.

This time Brad is attacking with a shinai, a bamboo practice sword. John defends with a jo. Sensei Foster is wearing the traditional hakama over his gi pants. As a shodan (first-degree black belt) in Aikido, Mr Foster is permitted to wear this garment, which denotes a student of the Samurai arts.

Photos on this page courtesy of Gordon W.E. Nore © 1999 - 2007