Tiger Fork

- Traditional inward fork style
- Fork is electroplated alloy
- Wooden shaft - 30mm diametre
- Acrylic red hair
- Suitable for everyday training
- Fork Length (central spike) – 36cm
- Fork Width – 35cm
- Overall Fork and insert length – 52cm
- Overall Length including wooden shaft – 190cm
- Total Weight – Approx 1.5kg

Available for PICK UP ONLY VIA THE ONLINE SHOP. DELIVERY CAN BE ARRANGED BUT PLEASE CONTACT US FOR COSTINGS AND DETAILS.

More About Tiger Forks
Forked long weapons have been popular with Chinese Martial artists for centuries, and the inward angled tines of the Tiger Fork are simply one variation of forked weapons, mostly used in Southern Styles such as Hung Gar and Lau Gar.

Southern Style forks usually have tapered tines as opposed to their Northern cousins that are flat with sharp edges and points. The forks were most likely to have been originally designed to kill or fend off dangerous animals. In the case of the Tiger Fork, as its name suggests, to hunt or kill Tigers. Tigers were abundant in rural China until the early 20th century and posed a genuine threat to villages, so most villages would have tiger squads armed with Tiger Forks to protect the people. Apparently, the hunters would hold the trident upward at a 45-degree angle with the butt wedged into the ground or something else solid (hence the butt still displaying a steel base to this day). The other method of attack was to lay the trident flat on the ground and then raise the fork end as a tiger pounced to attack, with the animal then impaling itself on the fork. A great act of courage and faith on the part of the Tiger Squad member.

The trident design of the fork was also believed to ward off evil spirits so many temples in the countryside would have one nearby, along with families who could afford to enjoy their spiritual protection.

As with so many implements initially created for agricultural, hunting or survival purposes, the Tiger Fork quickly became another weapon in the martial arts pantheon. While not a favourite battle weapon it was very popular in performance as well as in blocking and locking opponent’s weapons or stabbing and sweeping aggressors. The tiger fork in martial arts is usually slightly longer than the user, with a shaft made of wood and occasionally metal, and as with the spear, sports a tassel. The tassel being used for tactical as well as practical purposes.

Today, there are many variations of the Tiger Fork available for martial arts practice, from extremely heavy, ornate forks to lighter-weight performance models. However, the lighter-weight ones have definitely taken dominance.