Gun (staff)



The Chinese word gun (, literally, "rod", "stick") refers to a long Chinese staff weapon used in Chinese martial arts. It is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the qiang (spear), dao (sabre), and the jian (sword), called in this group "The Grandfather of all Weapons".

Variants and styles
The gun is fashioned with one thick end as the base and a thinner end near the tip, and is cut to be about the same height as the user or 6 foot. Besides the standard gun, there are also flail-like two section and three section varieties of the staff as well as non-tapered heavier variants. Numerous Chinese martial arts teach the staff as part of their curriculum, including:


 * Staff of five tigers and goat herds
 * Bailangan, Northern staff
 * Nangun, Southern staff
 * Taiji staff (
 * Taiji thirteen staff
 * Bagua seven star rod
 * Qún Yáng Gùn, Shepherd staff (This routine is performed with a straight heavy red oak staff)
 * Pigua Zhang's Feng Mo Gun - 'Frenzied Demon Staff' (劈掛拳 瘋魔棍).

Bailangan and nangun are frequently found in modern exercise and competitions.

Modern staffs are often made from wax wood or rattan, both of which are strong woods, but flexible and light. Some versions may also feature metal or rubber parts.