The intense ending of Legendary Weapons of China provides a must-watch showcase of nearly every major weapon ᴀssociated with kung fu. While hand-to-hand combat is obviously a staple of the genre, martial arts films – particularly those that are period pieces – often lean heavily on weapon fighting. Among the most common weapons to appear in old school kung fu movies are Chinese swords, spears, nunchucks, and bo staffs.
Weapon fighting was typically crucial to these sorts of films, especially those made by Shaw Brothers in the 1970s and 1980s. Carefully choreographed fight scenes were devoted to the handling of these weapons, which were often combined with a mulтιтude of kung fu styles. One of the many movies to take this approach was Legendary Weapons of China, but it actually went further than most, in that it found a way to include demonstrations of every weapon ᴀssociated with the genre.
Legendary Weapons Of China Features The 18 Weapons From Chinese Martial Arts
Each Of The 18 Weapons Plays A Role In The Action
For centuries, it’s been understood that there are 18 weapons tied to Chinese martial arts, each with their own purpose in combat. The full list goes by different names, including “The 18 Arms of Wushu.” Typically, a handful of these weapons will appear in an old school kung fu movie, but Legendary Weapons of China notably uses them all, and in just one – albeit long – action sequence. It accomplishes this by incorporating them into the plot. Lau Kar-Leung, who both directs and stars in the film, plays Lei Kung, a martial arts master known for his expertise in not one, but all 18 weapons of kung fu.
- Double hammers
- Bo staff
- Rope dart
- Guan dao (Chinese pole-arm)
- Three-section staff
- Double daggers
- Trident
- Spear
- Tonfa (stick-like weapon)
- Axe
- ʙuттerfly sword (short-bladed sword)
- Jian (long-bladed, double-edged sword)
- Double broadswords
- Hook swords (used for catching enemies’ swords)
- Halberd
- Shield
- Monk’s spade (pole-arm carried by Shaolin monks)
- Chain whip
Lei Kung’s collection of weapons and unique skillset is on display throughout the film, with each of the weapons getting some level of attention. They’re deployed in various scenes, with the film’s stars – Lau Kar-Leung, Lau Kar-Wing, and Gordon Liu – being the actors who handle the 18 weapons. In other words, they’re shoehorned into the action via mere minions; each is used by one of the two main combatants in one-on-one fights.
Legendary Weapons of China’s Final Fight Uses 13 Of The 18 Weapons
The Fight Shows Off Each Weapon’s Weakness & Stength
The martial arts choreography of Legendary Weapons of China is impressive throughout the film, but the true highlight of the movie is the ending. Surprisingly, the movie succeeds in expertly weaving 13 of the 18 weapons into a single action sequence. For the final between Lau Kar-Leung and Lau Kar-Wing’s characters, they’re allowed to pick one of the 18 weapons. When one starts to gain the upper hand or disarms the other, an additional weapon enters the fight. This continues until 13 of the weapons have been used, making it one of the most diverse and fascinating demonstrations of Chinese martial arts on screen.
