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Hung Ga Weapons - BroadswordUsually broadsword, or curved sword, is one of the first short weapons learned in chinese 
Kung Fu. In fact its movements are very simple, so novice pupils can learn it very quickly.
Only stick was taught before, fundamental weapon for learning next ones. Throughout the training of broadsword, pupils acquire greater nimbleness in articulations and coordination. It is characterized by free wide and circular movements executed with a lot of strength. It is associated, for this reason, with the Tiger principals: strength and savagery. However the use of broadsword was very different before: it was the chinese army weapon, because it has a high barycentre towards the tip, so we can join power and handless are twined, contrary to the straight sword. 
Broadsword blade requires much more strength to handle it, but, when cutting blow is thrown, his impact is more
distructive. Thanks to its form, broadsword can slide on the opponent's body, cutting him with extreme easiness.
Besides blade doesn't remain embedded.
Instead, straight sword is made to pierce, untill we don't extract the weapon from opponent's body, we cannot defend ourselves. Broadsword has many advantages in fighting in large and wide spaces. Each these weapons need different fighting and action spaces where they can be handled. 
 In Hung Gar schools, the most taudht broadsword form is "Pek Gua Daan Do" or "Pi Gua Daan Do"
(different ways
of transcription depend on the method used, but the characters are the same.). Grand Master Lam Sai Wing introduced this form in the Hung Gar program, but there are many other versions. Dates and authors are different, because in the chinese culture, history and myths are mixed, so we cannot have exact informations.  Grand Master Lam Sai Wing introduced this form, taking it from the monkey style of Pigwa, from which it
takes the name. In fact many movements are similar, as for circular ones and the crouched positions. Form is developed totally on an imaging vertical straight line, with wide rotation movements, alternated with attacking thrust, pulled with the body on, and quickly cutting blows, to «cut» the opponent. There are, naturally, many blocking techniques, that fend the opponent's guard to attack him. Pek Gua means "break encircling", Daan Do "single broadsword". It seems strange that we use techniques of other styles, but this is usual with weapons. Besides the broadsword form, in Hung Gar, we also have the trident form of Yu family and a complete style, Lau Family one, that has been completely absorbed by Hung Gar. 
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