Wushu Cudgels

- Tapered natural White Wax Wood wushu cudgels (poles or "Gùn")
- Wax Wood is recommended for wushu cudgels as it is strong, durable, flexible and light weight. These cudgels can easily absorb shock without breaking
- Can easily be cut down to suit your use as a Short Staff (Duan Gùn or Bang), Monkey Staff etc. or purchased to make your own spear

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

More About Cudgels
The cudgel or staff, called "Gùn" in Chinese is referred to as the "Grandfather of all Weapons,". It is considered one of the four basic Chinese martial arts weapons and usually consists of a simple wooden pole. Depending on the style of martial arts, the pole may be uniform or thicker at the base, tapering toward the top.

Use of the Cudgel goes back thousands of years and is one of the oldest weapons known to man. In the Chinese Martial Arts the Gùn has had a fascinating evolution, starting as nothing more than a stick to strike animals or ward off invaders, through to its use as a lethal and remarkable weapon of great versatility, and now to its use as a weapon for modern elite sport.

The length of the cudgel is dependent on the style of martial art you are practising and should always be based on the height of the practitioner. Some examples include:
Flute or Ruler
Usually about arm’s length or shorter so as to be easily concealed on the body or in the sleeve

Walking Stick or Short Staff
Usually 12 to 13 hand widths high – roughly midway between the hip and the belly button.

Monkey Staff
Traditionally level with the practitioner’s eyebrows, the Monkey staff can be made out of all wood, wood and metal or all metal depending on the style. No matter what, a Monkey Staff practitioner is remarkable to watch as they climb effortlessly up the Staff.

Shaolin Staff
 Approximately the height of the user. These were traditionally used by wandering monks and were employed for everything from creating a lean-to shelter, testing swamp ground, and carrying their belongings, to being a fishing rod, knocking fruits, berries and birds’ eggs from trees through to their obvious use as a weapon.

Dragon Stick
 Normally 1 ½ times the height of the user and quite heavy and thick. These are a real test of the practitioner’s control, inner strength, and focus. It is believed that in older days they were sharpened to a point so they could be used as a weighted spear.

Modern Cudgel also known as a Whipping Staff
Measured to the base of the practitioner’s hand when held above the head, this cudgel has become the standard for modern wushu but has a rich history in the fighting arts.

So you can see that what appears to be a length of wood actually has an incredibly rich history.

For Modern Wushu practitioners, the White Wax Wood has always been a popular choice for its strength, flexibility and lightness. We are now seeing some variants incorporating metal or rubber sections and there is even a move to use carbon fibre, as it doesn’t have the potential to break like the wooden ones and is even lighter in weight. That said, if you aren’t competing at an International Level, nothing beats the feel of a natural material in your hands.

What is White Wax Wood?
White Wax Wood used in cudgels and spears is from a type of Privet with the botanical name of Ligustrum Lucidum. Its common name is Glossy Privet, Chinese Privet or Broad-leaf Privet. It has been used for thousands of years in China both for its use as a wood in making walking sticks, cudgels and spears, but also for its medicinal properties. The fruit, seeds and bark are used in TCM but it is the wood itself that gives us our amazing weapons.

Originally the Ligustrum Lucidum was only found in China but has now become a popular plant around the world for hedging and ornamentation. It is actually related to the Olive Tree.

The wood has remarkable properties as it is incredibly flexible and springy. It’s naturally straight growth habit makes it perfect for long weapons and the beautiful feel of the waxy wood as it slides through your hands makes it the perfect material for a long weapon.

The other thing to enjoy with a Wax Wood weapon is that the longer you use it the more beautiful it feels. The natural oils in your hands penetrate the wood until it has a magnificent patina.