Killer weapon in martial arts
KRIS
@ KERIS
The
kris or keris is a prized asymmetrical dagger most strongly associated with the
culture of Indonesia, but also indigenous to Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and
Singapore. It is known as kalis in the southern Philippines. The kris is famous
for its distinctive wavy blade, although many have straight blades as well.
A
kris can be divided into three parts: bilah (blade), hulu (hilt), and warangka
(sheath). These parts of the kris are objects of art, often carved in
meticulous detail and made from various materials: metal, precious or rare
types of wood, or gold or ivory. A kris's aesthetic value covers the dhapur
(the form and design of the blade, with around 150 variants), the pamor (the
pattern of metal alloy decoration on the blade, with around 60 variants), and
tangguh referring to the age and origin of a kris. Depending on the quality and
historical value of the kris, it can fetch thousands of dollars or even more.
Both
a weapon and spiritual object, kris are often considered to have an essence or
presence, considered to possess magical powers, with some blades possessing
good luck and others possessing bad. Kris are used for display, as talismans
with magical powers, weapons, a sanctified heirloom (pusaka), auxiliary
equipment for court soldiers, an accessory for ceremonial dress, an indicator
of social status, a symbol of heroism, etc.
Legendary kris that possess
supernatural power and extraordinary ability were mentioned in traditional
folktales, such as those of Mpu Gandring, Taming Sari, and Setan Kober.
KERAMBIT
Kerambit
is a small Southeast Asian hand-held, curved knife originating in Indonesia.
The karambit spelling is mostly used in the Philippines. In Western literature
it is occasionally misspelled as "korambit".
As
proven by its etymological roots, the kerambit originated in West Sumatra
where, according to folklore, it was inspired by the claws of big cats. As with
most weapons of the region, it was originally an agricultural implement
designed to rake roots, gather threshing and plant rice. As it was weaponised,
the blade became more curved to maximise cutting potential. Through Indonesia's
trade network and close contact with neighbouring countries, the karambit was
eventually dispersed through what are now Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
the Philippines and Thailand.
Culturally
the kerambit was a subject of condescension in Java because of its history as a
weapon of the agrarian peasantry, as opposed to the kesatria (warrior class)
who were trained in the keraton or palace. European accounts tell that soldiers
in Indonesia were armed with a kris at their waist or back and a spear in their
hands, while the kerambit was used as a last resort when the fighter's other
weapons were lost in battle. Nevertheless it was popular among women who would
tie the weapon into their hair to be used in self-defense. Even today, silat
practitioners regard it as a feminine weapon. The renowned Bugis warriors of
Sulawesi were famous for their embrace of the kerambit. Today it is one of the
main weapons of silat and is commonly used in Filipino martial arts as well.
Superficially
the kerambit resembles the jambiyah but there is no connection. The jambiyah
was always designed as a weapon and serves as a status marker, often made by
skilled artisans and jewelers using precious stones and metals, whereas the
kerambit was and still remains an unadorned, modest farmer's implement and
useful utility knife.
KATANA
Historically,
katana (刀?)
were one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (日本刀 nihontō?) that were worn by the samurai
class of feudal Japan, also commonly referred to as a "samurai
sword". Modern versions of the katana are sometimes made using non-traditional
materials and methods.
The
katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender,
single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to
accommodate two hands. It has historically been associated with the samurai of
feudal Japan and has become renowned for its sharpness and strength.
The
katana is generally defined as the standard sized, moderately curved (as
opposed to the older "tachi" style featuring more curvature) Japanese
sword with a blade length greater than 60 cm (23 1⁄2 inches).
With
a few exceptions, katana and tachi can be distinguished from each other, if
signed, by the location of the signature (mei) on the tang (nakago). In
general, the mei should be carved into the side of the nakago which would face
outward when the sword was worn. Since a tachi was worn with the cutting edge
down, and the katana was worn with the cutting edge up, the mei would be in
opposite locations on the nakago.
The
katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender,
single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to
accommodate two hands. It has
historically been associated with the samurai of feudal Japan, and has become
renowned for its sharpness and strength.
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