Baguazhang Weapons: Moon Knives, Spear, Straight Sword, Broadsword, and Hook Swords
At Dragon Phoenix, Baguazhang weapons are taught as an extension of Cheng Style Baguazhang, not as something separate from the empty-hand training. The weapons are beautiful and unusual, but their purpose is not decoration. Each weapon teaches the body something specific about distance, turning, spiraling, footwork, timing, and whole-body power.
Cheng Baguazhang is already known for its circular stepping, changing angles, uprooting, throwing, and spiraling movement. Weapons training takes those same ideas and makes them more demanding. If the stepping is weak, the weapon will show it. If the waist does not turn, the weapon will feel heavy or disconnected. If the mind is not calm, the weapon becomes difficult to control.
Dragon Phoenix lists Baguazhang weapons as part of the Cheng Baguazhang curriculum, including the Double Moon Knives, Broadsword, Straight Sword, Spear, and Hook Swords. Dragon Phoenix also notes that the Double Moon Knives are a weapon found only in Baguazhang, which shows how closely some weapons are tied to the unique movement of the art.
Why Baguazhang Has Weapons Training
In traditional Chinese martial arts, weapons are not just historical objects. They are training tools. A weapon extends the body and reveals whether the practitioner understands the principles of the art.
In Baguazhang, this is especially important because the art depends on movement. The practitioner must be able to step, turn, coil, change, and maintain center while handling a weapon safely and with intention. The weapon magnifies both skill and mistakes.
A weapon can teach:
better footwork
stronger waist turning
clearer body alignment
more accurate distance
smoother changes of direction
relaxed but connected power
sharper awareness
This is why weapons are usually learned after a student has developed some foundation. The weapon should not replace empty-hand skill. It should reveal and deepen it.
Double Moon Knives
The Double Moon Knives, also called crescent moon knives or deer horn knives, are one of the most distinctive weapons associated with Baguazhang. They are usually trained as a pair, one in each hand. Their curved shape makes them very different from ordinary swords or knives.
Dragon Phoenix describes the Double Moon Knives as a weapon only found in Baguazhang. This makes them especially important for students who want to understand the unique flavor of the art.
The Moon Knives teach close-range circular movement. Because they are short weapons held in both hands, they work naturally with the turning, wrapping, changing, and entering methods of Baguazhang. They can be used to hook, trap, cut, press, and control. Their shape also helps train the student to think differently about angles.
A straight weapon often encourages a straight line. The Moon Knives encourage curves.
They teach the body to:
move both hands together
protect and attack at the same time
trap and redirect longer weapons
turn through close-range contact
use circular footwork in a compact space
coordinate both sides of the body
Because they are unusual, the Moon Knives can be confusing at first. But that is part of their value. They force the student to rely on Baguazhang principles rather than ordinary weapon habits.
Spear
The spear is one of the great traditional weapons of Chinese martial arts. It teaches length, precision, alignment, and whole-body issuing. In Baguazhang, the spear must still follow the circle. It is not simply thrust forward with the arms.
The spear trains the student to connect the point of the weapon to the feet. A small mistake in the body can make the spear tip wander. A tense shoulder can make the weapon slow. A disconnected waist can make the thrust weak.
This is why spear training is so valuable. It demands honesty from the body.
The spear teaches:
long-range awareness
direct power through the center
extension without overreaching
footwork that supports the weapon
waist-driven issuing
smooth changes between thrusting, circling, and deflecting
In Baguazhang, spear training also helps students understand how to deal with distance. Empty-hand Baguazhang often works by entering, angling, and uprooting. The spear reminds the student that before entering, distance must be understood.
A good spear does not come only from the arms. It comes from the ground, through the waist, and out through the point.
Straight Sword
The straight sword, or jian, is often considered one of the most refined weapons in Chinese martial arts. It is double-edged, balanced, and demanding. It does not forgive rough movement.
In Baguazhang, the straight sword teaches precision and clarity. The practitioner cannot simply swing with force. The sword must cut, point, circle, deflect, and change with control. The body must stay relaxed enough to move smoothly, but structured enough to express power.
The straight sword teaches:
refined hand control
lightness and accuracy
extension through the fingers and palm
smooth turning of the waist
controlled stepping
calm mental focus
The straight sword also teaches the student not to be heavy. Some weapons build obvious strength. The straight sword builds sensitivity. It asks the practitioner to be exact.
In Cheng Baguazhang, this is useful because the art is not based on brute force. The sword helps train a body that is alive, responsive, and connected.
Broadsword
The broadsword, or dao, has a very different feeling from the straight sword. It is usually single-edged and more powerful in its cutting actions. If the straight sword teaches refinement, the broadsword teaches boldness.
In Baguazhang, the broadsword trains strong waist power and decisive movement. The weapon must be carried by the body, not muscled by the arm. The turning of the waist gives the blade its power. The stepping gives the cut its position. The hand only finishes what the body begins.
The broadsword teaches:
strong cutting power
coordinated turning
clear intent
explosive changes
body-driven momentum
courage in movement
Baguazhang is famous for using unusually large weapons in some branches, including large swords and broadswords. This kind of training requires the practitioner to move from the whole body rather than relying on arm strength alone. General descriptions of Baguazhang weapon practice also note the presence of large weapons such as Bagua sword and Bagua broadsword, along with spear, staff, cane, hook sword, and other weapons.
The broadsword helps the student understand power. But it also teaches control. A weapon with strong momentum must be guided carefully. If the body is not connected, the broadsword will pull the student off center.
Hook Swords
Hook swords are among the most unusual weapons in Chinese martial arts. They are often trained in pairs and include hooks, crescent guards, sharpened sections, and pointed ends. Because of their shape, they can be used for cutting, hooking, trapping, linking, and changing range.
Dragon Phoenix lists Hook Swords as part of the Baguazhang weapons taught in the Cheng Baguazhang program.
In Baguazhang, hook swords are especially interesting because they fit the art’s changing nature. They are not simple weapons. They can connect, redirect, open, close, and shift from short to longer range depending on how they are used.
Hook swords teach:
coordination of both hands
hooking and trapping actions
changing distance
circular cutting
whole-body turning
awareness of multiple edges and angles
Because of their complexity, hook swords require careful training. They are not beginner weapons. The practitioner must already have good control, good footwork, and a calm mind.
Hook swords also teach adaptability. A movement may hook, cut, deflect, or link. The student has to understand not only where the weapon goes, but what the movement means.
How Weapons Improve Empty-Hand Baguazhang
One of the most important things to understand is that weapons training should improve empty-hand training. The weapon is not just an extra form to collect.
The Moon Knives teach close-range circular control.
The spear teaches length and alignment.
The straight sword teaches refinement.
The broadsword teaches power.
The hook swords teach complex changing and coordination.
When these lessons return to the empty hand, the practitioner’s Baguazhang becomes deeper. The palms become more precise. The stepping becomes clearer. The waist becomes more alive. The student begins to feel how the same principles can express themselves through different tools.
This is why traditional systems include weapons. They are not separate arts. They are different mirrors for the same body method.
Weapons Require Responsibility
Weapons training should always be approached with respect. Even practice weapons can be dangerous if used carelessly. Baguazhang weapons often involve large arcs, sudden turns, close-range changes, and paired movements, so students need good instruction and enough foundation before moving too quickly.
At Dragon Phoenix, Baguazhang weapons are taught in focused blocks. The weapons class opens to new students when a new weapon begins, then closes while the class concentrates on that weapon until students reach proficiency. This allows students to give the weapon the attention it deserves instead of rushing from one form to another.
This is important. A weapon should be learned with patience. The goal is not just to remember a sequence. The goal is to develop skill.
The Deeper Purpose of Baguazhang Weapons
Baguazhang weapons are exciting, but they also teach humility. Each weapon has its own personality. Some feel natural. Others reveal weakness. Some demand strength. Others demand softness. Some ask for patience. Others ask for courage.
Together, they help the student become more complete.
The Moon Knives teach the circle in the hands.
The spear teaches the line through the center.
The straight sword teaches precision.
The broadsword teaches power.
The hook swords teach change.
At Dragon Phoenix, these weapons are part of preserving Cheng Baguazhang as a complete traditional system. They connect students to the old methods while helping them develop real body skill today.
Weapons training reminds us that Baguazhang is not just a form, and not just a set of applications. It is a way of moving. Whether empty-handed or holding a weapon, the same principles remain: stay centered, keep changing, move from the waist, use the whole body, and let the circle teach.